G92: Red Sox 11, Giants 7

Giants  - 000 520 000 -  7 15  0
Red Sox - 035 002 10x - 11 16  0

The Boston Red Sox are back in first place!

Hanley Ramirez hit three home runs and drove in six runs. His third homer came off Albert Suarez, who had drilled Ramirez in his previous at-bat, prompting some glares toward the mound from the Boston first baseman. In the sixth, Ramirez stepped in and took a big cut at Suarez's first pitch, ripping a vicious line drive over the Wall, boosting the Red Sox's lead from 8-7 to 10-7.

Drew Pomeranz pitched three scoreless innings and was staked to an eight-run lead. But the Giants took him apart in the fourth: walk, single, home run, single, home run, single, single. His line: 3-8-5-2-4, 80.

Matt Barnes came into the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and Boston ahead 8-7. He escaped the jam with a 3U-2 double play (a great play started by Ramirez which survived a challenge by the Giants) and a foul pop to first. Barnes stranded runners at first and second in the seventh. Barnes ended up pitching three innings, allowing only two hits. (Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth.)

John Farrell called Barnes's sixth inning Houdini act the best relief performance of the year.

Given that he comes in in a bases loaded situation and going into tonight's game, the plan was for him to pitch the eighth. I didn't think he would pitch the sixth, seventh and eighth. He held his stuff throughout. He's done a great job with inherited runners and shutting down threats. That three innings or work, given the high stress of the first inning that he pitched, an outstanding effort on his part.

Mookie Betts had three hits, including two doubles. ... Sandy "the Beast" Leon tripled and homered. ... The Orioles (losers of their last four games) were shutout by the Yankees, 5-0.

Matt Cain / Drew Pomeranz

Betts, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Bogaerts, SS
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, 1B
Bradley, CF
Shaw, 3B
Leon, C
Holt, LF

Koji Uehara has been placed on the disabled list with a right pectoral strain and Noe Ramirez has been called up from Pawtucket. I guess Brad Ziegler is the closer now.