Red Sox Ride Early Rallies To First Place (34-26)

Last night, the Red Sox moved into a tie for first place with the Yankees by beating the Yanks 6-4. It all got started on the 5th pitch of the game, that Jacoby Ellsbury hammered over the short porch in right field. After Dustin Pedroia walked, Adrian Gonzalez almost had another homer, but the ball ricocheted off the base of the wall in right center for an RBI triple to make it 2-0. Gonzalez soon came in on a fly ball to Brett Gardner for a sacrifice fly and making it 3-0. With runners on the corners for the Yankees, Robinson Cano delivered with a single to center, making it 3-1. With runners on first and second in the 2nd inning, Dustin Pedroia knocked a double down the left field line to make it 4-1. With Adrian Gonzalez on first in the 5th inning, David Ortiz hit a shot to right field to make it 6-1. However, later in the 5th, with Jorge Posada and Russell Martin on base, Nick Swisher hit a big 2-run double to make it 6-3. In the 9th, Jorge Posada singled in Brett Gardner to make it 6-4.

Jon Lester (top right) was not terribly sharp in last night's game, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits

through 6 innings. He earned the win, and is now 8-2/3.98/79 this year. Bobby Jenks came in and walked a better before scoreless innings by Matt Albers and Daniel Bard. Jonathan Papelbon then came in and earned a save by allowing 1 run in an inning. The Red Sox wen nuts on Freddy Garcia (left) as Jacoby Ellsbury was 2-5 with a solo home run, and he is now .301/7/30. Dustin Pedroia was 1-3 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Adrian Gonzalez went 1-2 with 2 runs and 1 RBI, along with 2 walks. David Ortiz went 1-4 with 2 RBIs on a huge home run, as he is now .324/14/32. Tonight, Tim Wakefield (2-1/4.40/20) and A.J. Burnett (6-3/3.86/57) will square off as the Sox will look to be alone at the top.

Bright Spots:

Matt Albers- a scoreless inning

Daniel Bard- a scoreless inning

Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-5 with a solo home run

Dustin Pedroia- 1-3 with a run and an RBI

Adrian Gonzalez- 1-2 with 2 runs and an RBI

David Ortiz- 1-4 with a huge 2-run shot

Dull Spots:

Carl Crawford- 0-4

Well, one more win and we can get the Yankees fans to stop telling us off.