Red Sox Drop Pitching Duel In Extras (41-37)

Middlebrooks scored on a passed ball

I guess that this series is just a pitching kind of series-- as after a 1-0 loss in the opener in 5-0 win in the second, there was yet another pitching duel last night. Josh Beckett was squaring off against Erasmo Ramirez and both did well until the third. In the third, Ramirez was forced to leave the game on a problem with his right elbow. However, former starter Charlie Furbush entered the game and continued to dominate the Red Sox' offense. Only in the sixth inning was the scoreless tie finally broken as the Mariners got a rally going. With one out in the inning, Ichiro singled to left and stole second base. He was followed up on a walk by Casper Wells and a single by Kyle Seager to load the bases with one out. John Jaso came up and lined a ball hard off the wall in right and just over the outstretched glove of Cody Ross to score two and make it 2-0 Mariners.

The Red Sox offense was stymied

Josh Beckett was taken out of the ballgame after that inning; his final line was a relatively impressive 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K-- however, he was set for the loss. The Red Sox answered in the seventh to completely erase all thoughts of a Beckett loss though. Three straight singles by Adrian Gonzalez, Will Middlebrooks, and Cody Ross started off the inning. Ryan Kalish grounded into a potential double play but beat out the back end, putting runners at the corners and cutting the Mariners' lead to 2-1. It quickly became 2-2 though, as Miguel Olivo let a ball get by him and Will Middlebrooks raced home from third base to tie the game. The score stayed knotted at two all the way until the eleventh inning. One out singles by Dustin Ackley and Miguel Olivo put runners at the corners for Chone Figgins. Figgins hit a liner to right on another where Ross made a good throw home but Saltalamacchia let it pass him for a 3-2 Mariners win.

Bright Spots:
Josh Beckett- 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Andrew Miller- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5, 1 R
Cody Ross- 2-4, 1 BB
Ryan Kalish- 1-5, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daniel Nava- 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K, 4 LOB

Player of the Game:
Josh Beckett- Beckett pitched very well in his first start back from shoulder inflammation, he went six strong innings and is now 4-7/4.06/60 this season.