Red Sox Nearly Come Back, But Fall Nonetheless (73-45)

Last night, the Red Sox played a good game, as they nearly came back from a 5-0 deficit planted in the 1st inning, but they couldn't quite do it and lost 5-4. In the bottom of the 1st, Ichiro took Josh Beckett's very first pitch of the game out of the park for a 1-0 lead. The Mariners proceeded to put runners at 2nd and 3rd in the inning, and a Mike Carp single made it 3-0. Then Casper Wells hit a home run that made it 5-0 in the 1st inning. In the 4th inning, Jacoby Ellsbury tagged up on a Dustin Pedroia fly ball that would have scored him. He rushed home, but collided with Josh Bard, and the umpires blew the call and ejected Terry Francona in a critical point in the game. In the 6th, with Marco Scutaro on 3rd, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a home run on a high fly ball to right field. Later in the inning, with a runner on 1st, Dustin Pedroia lifted a ball to right center which got out as well to make it 5-4.

Josh Beckett was not very good at all, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings. He earned the loss and is now 9-5/2.40/133. Matt Albers threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in an admirable outing, as he is now 4-3/2.37/52. Franklin Morales and Alfredo Aceves each relieved him with 2/3 of an inning. Jacoby Ellsbury (left) had a good game, going 2-3 with a 2-run homer, as he is now .315/20/74 this season. Adrian Gonzalez went 2-4 and scored a run in a good night. Dustin Pedroia went 1-4 with a 2-run homer, as he is now .310/16/62. Mike Aviles went 2-3 in a good game, as he is now batting .381 since joining the Sox. Marco Scutaro went 1-3 with a triple and a run scored. Today at 4:05, Tim Wakefield (6-4/4.92/62) will go for his 200th win again, versus Charlie Furbush (1-1/7.20/29) and the Mariners.

Bright Spots:

Matt Albers- 1 2/3 scoreless innings

Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-3 with a 2-run homer

Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4 with a run scored

Dustin Pedroia- 1-4 with a 2-run homer

Mike Aviles- 2-3

Marco Scutaro- 1-3 with a run and a triple

Dull Spots:

Josh Beckett- 5 runs in 5 innings for the loss

Josh Reddick- 0-4 with 2 strikeouts and 2 LOB

Jason Varitek- 0-4 with 4 LOB

This was a tough game, and it narrows our lead down to 1 in the AL East.