Red Sox Battle Back From Early Deficit, Beat A's (31-26)

Last night, the Red Sox rallied from behind to beat the A's 8-6 in a hard-fought match that I really enjoyed watching. The A's got off to quite a start, after putting runners at first and third with one out. Josh Willingham singled to left field, scoring David DeJesus and making it 1-0 A's. After another single, Daric Barton singled to right field, making it 2-0. A 2-run single by Mark Ellis capped a 4-run 1st inning, making it 4-0. After a single in the 1st, Jacoby Ellsbury used his speed to get to third with just one out. Adrian Gonzalez delivered with an RBI groundout to Mark Ellis, cutting it to 4-1. After a Kevin Youkilis double, David Ortiz knocked a single just over the shortstop's head for a single, making it 4-2. After Mike Cameron came in on a sacrifice fly by Jacoby Ellsbury, the Sox had cut it to 4-3. In the 3rd, after a Kevin Youkilis walk, David Ortiz hit a high ball off the monster that got away from Josh Willingham, allowing Youkilis to score and tie the game. Jed Lowrie then drove in Ortiz on a single to give the Sox a 5-4 lead. In the 4th, with runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out, Coco Crisp grounded out to Adrian Gonzalez, scoring Kevin Kouzmanoff, to tie the game. In the 5th, Daric Barton gave the A's a 6-5 lead, scoring Josh Willingham with a grounder through the right side. In the 7th, the Red Sox loaded the bases with 2 outs, to prepare for a broken bat, bloop single up the middle by Carl Crawford, scoring 2 and making it 7-6. In the 8th, a Jarrod Saltalamacchia home run pushed it to 8-6.

Clay Buchholz (top right) was not sharp whatsoever, allowing 6 runs, 5 earned in 4 2/3 innings, he earned a no-decision and made himself 4-3/3.82/49. The bullpen was great however, as neither Scott Atchison, Tommy Hottovy, Bobby Jenks, Daniel Bard, or Jonathan Papelbon allowed a run. Adrian Gonzalez had a good game, going 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI, he is now .335/10/47, as he has been great this year. Kevin Youkilis went 2-3 with 3 runs scored. David Ortiz went 2-3 with a run scored and 2 RBIs, as he is now .319/13/30. Carl Crawford (top left) only went 1-4 but he had a huge clutch single, as he is now .233/4/23. Jarrod Saltalamacchia as well, only went 1-4 but with a home run, as he is now .220/5/18. Today will be a marquee matchup, as Josh Beckett (4-2/1.80/63) and Trevor Cahill (6-3/2.31/58) will go head to head.

Bright Spots:

Scott Atchison- a scoreless inning

Bobby Jenks- the win in a scoreless inning

Daniel Bard- a scoreless inning

Jonathan Papelbon- the save in a scoreless inning

Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Kevin Youkilis- 2-3 with 3 runs scored

David Ortiz- 2-3 with a run and 2 RBIs

Jed Lowrie- 1-4 with an RBI

Carl Crawford- 1-4 with a huge 2-run single

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-4 with a solo home run

Dull Spots:

Clay Buchholz- 6 runs, 5 earned in 4 2/3 innings

Dustin Pedroia- 0-5

This was a good game, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to watch it.