Red Sox Edge Twins In Second Game of Series (72-43)

Last night, the Red Sox played a pretty good game against the Twins which they won 4-3 and extended their AL East lead to 2 1/2 games, and won their 4th straight. After the Twins led off the game with runners at 1st and 3rd, they scored their first run on a sacrifice fly by Michael Cuddyer. Later in the inning, they loaded the bases, and a Delmon Young walk pushed the lead to 2-0. In the 5th, however, the Sox got those runs back on a crushed 2-run homer by Darnell McDonald. In the 6th, the Red Sox got a lead on a an RBI single by Jason Varitek, scoring Jed Lowrie to make it 3-2. However, the Twins tied it up at 3-3 in the 6th when Danny Valencia scored on a double by Tsuyoshi Nishioka. With the bases loaded in the 7th, David Ortiz bounced a ball down the first base line which pitcher Phil Dumatrait botched, and Dustin Pedroia scored to make it 4-3.

Erik Bedard was pretty good in his 2nd start for the Sox, allowing just 2 runs (both scored in the 1st) through 5 innings. He is now 4-7/3.55/98 total and 0-0/4.50/11 as a Red Sock. Matt Albers got the win, allowing a run in an inning. He was relieved with Franklin Morales (2/3 scoreless), Daniel Bard (1 1/3 scoreless), and Jonathan Papelbon (1 scoreless). Adrian Gonzalez had a pretty good day, going 2-4. David Ortiz went 1-3 with the game-winning hit, his 76th RBI of the year. Jason Varitek went 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored in a good day for him. Darnell McDonald (left) had a great day, going 2-3 with a 2-run homer, as he is now .182/4/15 on the season. Tomorrow, the Sox will go for a sweep with Jon Lester (11-5/3.23/131) against Nick Blackburn (7-9/4.58/71).

Bright Spots:

Erik Bedard- he was very sharp after the 1st inning

Daniel Bard- a scoreless inning of relief

Jonathan Papelbon- save #26

Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4

David Ortiz- 1-3 with an RBI

Jason Varitek- 1-3 with a run and an RBI

Darnell McDonald- 2-3 with a 2-run homer

Dull Spots:

Matt Albers- a blown save, despite a win

Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-5 with a strikeout

Kevin Youkilis- 0-4 with 3 LOB

Jed Lowrie- 0-3 with 6 LOB

Carl Crawford- 0-3 with 2 strikeouts and 3 LOB

I'm glad the S0x won, because we now hold a 2 1/2 game lead in the division.