Red Sox Show Ability to Lose The Same Way Twice (88-68)

The Orioles took an early lead in the 1st inning, as Mark Reynolds sent a homer close to the third base line to make it 1-0. After a leadoff triple in the 3rd, Carl Crawford scored on a ground ball to 2nd by Jason Varitek. In the 4th, it was Carl Crawford who drove in the runs, driving a double off the green monster to score two and make it 3-1 Red Sox. Later in the inning, David Ortiz singled into right field to score another run and make it 4-1. In the 6th, Robert Andino scored on a single up the middle by J.J. Hardy to make it a slightly closer game. However, in the 7th, the big blow was delivered as Mark Reynolds lifted a ball to left-center to make it 4-4. Unfortunately, the big blow of the game came in the 8th inning, a 2-run single by Vladimir Guerrero that would put the game away at 6-4.

      Josh Beckett was not at his best, giving up 6 runs in 7 1/3 innings, while striking out 8. He was relieved by Alfredo Aceves with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Adrian Gonzalez went 2-4 and scored a run in a pretty good game. David Ortiz went 1-4 with an RBI single. Carl Crawford (left) was really the only offensive bright spot, going 3-4 and falling a home run shy of the cycle as well as scoring a run and driving 2 in, he is now .259/11/55 this season, as he has majorly failed to live up to expectations. The Red Sox will have an off day today and look to recover before sending Jon Lester (15-8/3.15/174) will go against a Yankees starter to be announced.


Bright Spots:
Alfredo Aceves- 1 2/3 scoreless innings
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4 with a run scored
David Ortiz- 1-4 with an RBI
Carl Crawford- 3-4 with a run, 2 RBIs, a double, and a triple

Dull Spots:
Josh Beckett- he did not give them a good chance to win, allowing 6 runs in 7 1/3 innings
Josh Reddick- 0-4 with 2 LOB
Marco Scutaro- 0-3 with a strikeout and 2 LOB

This was a bad game, and to top it off, the Yankees clinched the AL East.