Rangers - 300 032 101 - 10 11 0 Red Sox - 201 020 400 - 9 12 0The Red Sox trailed, at various points in the afternoon, 3-0, 6-3 and 9-5. Yet they rallied several times and tied the game at 9-9 in the seventh inning. Texas then took a 10-9 lead in the top of the ninth and although the Red Sox had the tying run at second base with one out in the bottom half, they could not get the runner home.
Josh Beckett had another dismal start (5-8-8-2-2, 86), allowing three home runs. After giving up a two-run shot to Geovany Soto that put Texas ahead 8-5, he was booed as he walked off the field. ESPN's Jeremy Lundblad reported that this was the seventh time Beckett has allowed 8+ earned runs at Fenway Park, tying Red Ruffing for the most in the live-ball era. (Here is a list of every pitcher who has allowed 8+ runs at Fenway since 1918.)
The Rangers scored three quick runs in the first - two of them scoring on a Josh Hamilton triple into the triangle - but Boston scored twice in its half. Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross had the RBIs. The Red Sox tied the game in the third on Ross's solo home run.
Beckett gave up another three-spot in the fifth. Mitch Moreland began the inning with a solo homer and Josh Hamilton added a two-run dong. Boston again rebounded with two runs, cutting the Rangers' lead to 6-5. Carl Crawford tripled and scored on Gonzalez's double; Gonzalez later came across on a passed ball.
Although Beckett had been hit hard in the fifth, with the Red Sox down by only one run, he was sent out to pitch the sixth. He promptly allowed a single and a home run to Soto before Bobby Valentine brought the hook.
Nelson Cruz homered off Clayton Mortensen to give Texas a 9-5 lead in the top of the seventh. But, amazingly, Boston tied the score against Roy Oswalt before making an out. Dustin Pedroia singled and scored on Gonzalez's third RBI double of the day. After Ross walked on four pitches, Will Middlebrooks launched a missle over the Wall for his second three-run home run in two days. Alexi Ogando took over and retired the next six Boston hitters.
In the top of the ninth, Mortensen walked Elvis Andrus and allowed a single to Hamilton, putting runners at first and third. Alfredo Aceves came in and allowed Beltre's sac fly to center. Aceves has now allowed seven of 14 inherited runners to score.
Ross doubled off Joe Nathan with one out in the Boston ninth and Ryan Kalish pinch-ran. Middlebrooks and Ryan Lavarnway chased sliders well out of the strike zone, and both struck out swinging.
The Red Sox (55-57) begin a 10-game road trip in Cleveland tomorrow night. They will also travel to Baltimore and New York.
Ellsbury, CFVicente Padilla was placed on 15-day disabled list with a right biceps strain. Clayton Mortensen has been recalled.
Crawford, LF
Pedroia, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Ross, RF
Middlebrooks, 3B
Lavarnway, DH
Shoppach, C
Ciriaco, SS
Bob Feller 3x on that 8 run list?
ReplyDeleteWow....very interesting thx for posting it.