Red Sox Make Some Timely Plays In Walk-Off Win (6-2)

Beckett threw 4 strong innings

Yesterday's game was an exciting one for the Sox as I luckily got a chance to record and watch the game, which is why it's coming out this morning rather than last night. The 1st inning was a bit rough for the Sox, a one-out double for Emilio Bonifacio. Beckett proceeded to hit two of the next three batters to load the bases with two outs. He then broke the cardinal rule of pitching to not walk in a run by walking Chris Coghlan. However, he settled down after that, and the Marlins were still only up by one when the Sox came to bat in the third. After two quick outs, Mike Aviles lined a ball over Bonifacio's head in the center field and trucked around the bases for a triple. I personally thought that the chance was squandered as Nick Punto came up to bat, but Punto lined a double into left to tie up the game at 1-1. The Sox came back strong in the fourth, after a David Ortiz walk to lead off the inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to right with one out. With runners at the corners, Cody Ross blooped a single into right to score one. Kelly Shoppach then flew to center to score another and give the Sox a 3-1 lead. All the while, Josh Beckett had certainly settled down-- throwing three shutout innings after the rough first and looking like this on the day: 4 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts. After Beckett was done, the two biggest offseason acquisitions came in to pitch: Mark Melancon struck out one in a perfect inning and Andrew Bailey allowed a run on three hits in his inning to put the Sox up 3-2 after six. Ross Ohlendorf came in to throw his first innings with the Red Sox, and was pretty good-- 2 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 1 walk. However, Scott Atchison was a bit rough. With a man on first, Clint Sammons doubled to left-center, but a wonderful, gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic relay got the runner out at home. However, a run would still score on another play at the plate to tie up the game off Atchison, who allowed a run and three hits in his inning. The Sox went down scoreless and the game went to extra innings, where Jesse Carlson threw for 1 inning, 1 hit, no runs or walks, 1 strikeout. However, in the 10th, after a one-out single by Nate Spears, Pedro Ciriaco launched a 2-run homer to win the game for the Red Sox.

Bright Spots:
Josh Beckett- 4 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
Mark Melancon- 1 inning, no runs or hits, 1 strikeout
Ross Ohlendorf- 2 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Jesse Carlson- 1 inning, 1 hit, no runs, 1 strikeout
Nick Punto- 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 double
Pedro Ciriaco- 1-2, 1 home run, 2 RBIs
David Ortiz- 1-2, 1 run, 1 walk
Cody Ross- 1-3, 1 RBI
Mike Aviles- 2-3, 1 run, 1 triple

Dull Spots:
Andrew Bailey- 1 inning, 3 hits, 1 run
Scott Atchison- 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 run
Kevin Youkilis- 0-3, 2 strikeouts, 2 left on base
Juan Carlos Linares- 0-2, 1 strikeout