Red Sox Drop Series Finale To Tigers (26-25)

Beckett was tagged with
the loss last night

In one game that, if the Red Sox won, they could have been tied for fourth with the Blue Jays and two games out of first place-- however, they decided to lose. This game was different from the rest, as the Red Sox actually scored first but lost. They got that first run when Jarrod Saltalamacchia crushed one to right-center for his 10th home run of the year. Ryan Sweeney singled after him, but the next two hitters got out so it was up to Scott Podsednik to drive in that run. He would deliver with a line drive just over center fielder Quintin Berry's head that would result in an RBI double to make it 2-0. However, the Tigers put together a rally of their own in the third, putting runners at second and third to begin the inning. A Quintin Berry single and a Brennan Boesch sacrifice fly would tie things up at 2-2. Later in the inning, the Tigers took the lead when Prince Fielder singled up the middle to score a run and make it 3-2. The Red Sox put together a two-out rally in the third, though, as Kevin Youkilis doubled to left with two outs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove him in with a line drive to center field to net things up at 3-3.

Saltalamacchia had a good
game, with two RBIs

From that point on, it was all Tigers, as they put Quintin Berry on first to start the fifth. Berry stole second and advanced to third on a shaky throw by Saltalamacchia-- all of this with one out. Miguel Cabrera promptly singled up the middle to score Berry and make it 4-3. The score stayed there until the eighth-- Beckett was taken out of the game with a 7 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 1 K line and Franklin Morales entered. Delmon Young welcomed Morales into the game by shooting a home run to left field-- his fourth of the season-- to make it 5-3. After a two-out single by Miguel Cabrera, he stole second and advanced to third on another bad throw by Saltalamacchia. As it turned out, he wouldn't need those steals when Prince Fielder hit a triple on a fly ball that ricocheted off Ryan Sweeney's glove and into the triangle. Fielder would come in to score on a line drive single into right by Delmon Young to make it 7-3. The Red Sox offense wouldn't step up at all and that would be the final score.

Bright Spots:
Scott Podsednik- 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
Franklin Morales- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB
Rich Hill- 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- Salty had a nice night at the plate, going 2-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single to make him .281/10/24 on the year.