Red Sox Lose Extra Inning Heartbreaker To O's (28-27)

Lester was decent, but
was hurt by bad defense

The Red Sox fell back into last place at 28-27 after last night's extra inning debacle that saw them lose to the first place Orioles. After a couple of scoreless innings, the Orioles got going in the third when they put runners at the corners with two outs. Adam Jones delivered by driving a single into left-center that both scored a run and moved Robert Andino to third base. After that, it was Matt Wieters delivering with an RBI single to left field to score another run and give the O's a 2-0 lead. Both of those runs were unearned after an error earlier in the inning to shortstop Mike Aviles. After a few more scoreless innings, the Red Sox got in business in the fifth when Daniel Nava and Mike Aviles singled to start the inning. Scott Podsednik did the Bobby Valentine thing and bunted them over-- however, first baseman Mark Reynolds thought he could be a hero and tried throwing it to third base to get the lead runner. His throw was both wide and late, and deflected off third baseman Steve Tolleson's glove to score a run to make it 2-1. They would score again when Dustin Pedroia hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Mike Aviles.

Saltalamacchia had a two-out, two-
strike, two-run homer in the bottom
of the ninth to tie the game at 6-6

The Orioles would answer in the sixth, however, leading off the inning with a Matt Wieters double and Mark Reynolds single. Steve Pearce hit a sac fly to center to score a run and that would be all. The Red Sox answered that in the bottom half, putting two runners on with one out. A Mike Aviles RBI single and Scott Podsednik sacrifice fly would give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead. However, the Orioles would score three times in the seventh-- on RBI singles by J.J. Hardy, Mark Reynolds, and Steve Pearce to make it 6-4. The Red Sox answered for that in the best possible way when Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-out, two-strike, game-tying two-run homer just over the green monster in the bottom of the ninth. However, two RBI singles in the tenth by Ronny Paulino and Endy Chavez netted the Orioles a 8-6 lead and a win.

Bright Spots:
Matt Albers- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K
Scott Podsednik- 2-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Daniel Nava- 2-5, 2 R
Mike Aviles- 3-5, 1 R, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Scott Atchison- 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB
Alfredo Aceves- 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K, L (0-3)
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-5, 5 LOB
Kevin Youkilis- 0-5, 2 K, 3 LOB

Player of the Game:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- It couldn't be anybody else after Salty tied the game with his clutch two-run homer as part of a 3-4 day to make him .279/11/27 this year.