G74: Red Sox 13, Rockies 11 (10)

Red Sox - 000 420 320 2 - 13 15  2
Rockies - 200 006 012 0 - 11 18  0

Dustin Pedoria hit three home runs, including a two-run shot in the 10th, to lead the Sox to a wild victory in Colorado.

It was the first three-homer game by a Red Sox player since Kevin Millar went deep three times against the Yankees on July 23, 2004.

Pedroia reached base six times in six plate appearances, with a double in the first, a solo home run in the fourth, a walk in the fifth, a single in the seventh, a two-run homer in the eighth, and the two-run bomb in the 10th.

He scored four runs and tied a career high with five RBI (also on June 15, 2007 and September 2, 2008). Pedroia reached base six times on September 10, 2008, in a 14-inning loss to Tampa Bay (two doubles, two HBP, one walk, and one reached on error).

Jonathan Papelbon blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning, allowing three consecutive one-out singles. After the Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 10th, however, he got the Rockies in order in the bottom half.

Adrian Beltre singled, doubled, and homered, scoring three times and driving in three runs. Jason Varitek and Mike Cameron each had a two-run double.

The Red Sox and Rays are 2.0 GB the Yankees.

Daisuke Matsuzaka / Jason Hammel

Scutaro, SS
Nava, LF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Varitek, C
Cameron, CF
Reddick, RF
Matsuzaka, P

Mike Lowell will likely be placed on the disabled list before tonight's game because of hip discomfort. That will open up a spot for Matsuzaka.

The timetable for Josh Beckett's return in late July or early August.

On May 22, Hammel had a 7.52 ERA. In his five starts since then, he has allowed only three runs in 34.1 innings (0.74 ERA). Last Friday, he extended his scoreless-innings streak to 25.1. Hammel faced the Red Sox eight times in 2006-08 as a member of the (Devil) Rays.

The Rays beat the Padres 5-3 this afternoon to move into second place in the East. The Yankees, who are off tonight, are 2.0 GA of the Rays and 2.5 GA of the Red Sox. Boston is in third place, yet only one team in MLB has more wins.

Padres/Rays, 12:00 PM

June 24:

1911 - Cardinals player-manager Roger Bresnahan is called out on strikes by umpire Bill Klem to end the game. When Bresnahan argues too long over the call, Klem punches him -- and is later fined $50.

2005 - The Mets become the first National League to hit three sacrifice flies in one inning. It happens in the second inning of a 6-4 win over the Yankees.