Lavarnway Lifts Sox Over Orioles In Key Game (90-71)

With Nick Markakis on 1st with 1 out in the 1st inning, Vladimir Guerrero lined a ball into left-center field. It would fall for a double and Markakis would score to make it 1-0 early on. In the 3rd, Jacoby Ellsbury lifted a ball into right-center field for a 2-run homer which would give the Sox a 2-1 lead. With 2 runners on base in the 4th, Ryan Lavarnway crushed his 1st major league home run to left. As he rounded the bases, Red Sox fans sighed with a 5-1 lead. However, it didn't last long as Matt Weiters crushed a 2-run homer to center field in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-3. In the 6th, the Red Sox capitalized on a one-out triple by Carl Crawford when Marco Scutaro crushed a hanging slider into the left field bleachers to make it 7-3. In the bottom of the 6th, Adam Jones crushed a ball to right-center leading off the inning to make it 7-4. In the 8th, it was Ryan Lavarnway again, as his second homer of the game gave the Sox a 8-4 lead. In the bottom of the 8th, the Orioles had a runner on second with 2 outs, and a single by Chris Davis and a triple by Nolan Reimold would make it 8-6. An RBI groundout by J.J. Hardy in the 9th made it 8-7, but that was all they were gonna get.

      Erik Bedard was not particularly good, allowing 3 runs in 3 1/3 innings. However, in relief, Alfredo Aceves was outstanding, allowing 1 run in 3 2/3 innings, as his season will end at 10-2/2.63/79, great stats for a reliever. Daniel Bard relieved him, allowing 2 runs in an inning and Jonathan Papelbon allowed a run in an inning. Jacoby Ellsbury only went 1-5, but that one hit was very big, as it was a 2-run homer, as he is now .322/32/105. Dustin Pedroia went 2-4 in a good game for him. Ryan Lavarnway (left, near) had an awesome game, going 2-4 with a 3-run homer and a solo homer, as he is now .265/2/8 in his career, a decent year. Marco Scutaro also had a good game, going 2-4 with a 2-run homer and another run scored, as he is now .297/7/54, as he is having a great year. In the final game of the regular season (There's still the postseason, fingers crossed!), Jon Lester (15-9/3.49/177)  will start against Alfredo Simon (4-9/4.85/81). 

Bright Spots:

Alfredo Aceves- 1 run in 3 2/3 innings for the win

Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-5 with an important 2-run homer

Dustin Pedroia- 2-4

Ryan Lavarnway- 2-4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs in a great day

Marco Scutaro- 2-4 with 2 runs and a 2-run homer

Dull Spots:

Erik Bedard- 3 runs in 3 1/3 innings

Daniel Bard- 2 runs in an inning

Jonathan Papelbon- a run in an inning

Jed Lowrie- 0-5 with 2 strikeouts and 4 LOB

This was a huge game for the Red Sox, and we won. Now, we just need to win tonight, and we need a Rays loss!