Ross The Hero Again As Sox Walk Off (48-45)

Buchholz allowed just a run in
eight innings

This was one of the most exciting games that I've ever watched, and almost certainly the most exciting this season. It was a pitcher's duel between two unlikely counterparts-- Clay Buchholz (5.53 ERA entering play) and rookie Jose Quintana. However, both of them were dominant as it was still scoreless entering the fourth inning. That was when the White Sox put a little rally together-- putting runners at the corners with no outs on an Adam Dunn walk and Paul Konerko single. That set things up for Alex Rios, who hit a fly ball to Cody Ross in right to score the game's first run. However, Clay Buchholz worked out of the jam and another run did not score in the fourth. Not only was Quintana holding the Red Sox from scoring, but Pedro Ciriaco's third inning triple was their only hit until the seventh inning of this game-- that's just how dominant Quintana was.

Ross had a three-run walk-off homer

Speaking of that seventh inning, the Red Sox put together a rally of their own in that inning. After Carl Crawford grounded out to open the inning-- three consecutive singles by Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, and Cody Ross put the Red Sox in a great position to score. Will Middlebrooks stepped up in this key situation and hit a one hopper to shortstop Alexei Ramirez-- who promptly turned two to end the inning and keep the score at 1-0. However, the Red Sox would have the last laugh in the ninth inning. Carl Crawford singled to lead off the inning, but a Dustin Pedroia fielder's choice put Pedey at first with one out. Adrian Gonzalez would single to right to put two men on with just one out for Cody Ross. Ross had hit two three-run homers the night before, and figured that his time was now as he lifted a fly ball to deep left, up and over the monster for a three-run homer to make it 3-1 Red Sox-- final.

Bright Spots:
Clay Buchholz- 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4
Cody Ross- 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Mike Aviles- 1-3
Pedro Ciriaco- 1-3, 1 3B

Dull Spots:
Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-4, 1 K, 2 LOB
Will Middlebrooks- 0-3, 3 LOB
Kelly Shoppach- 0-3, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Cody Ross- Despite Clay Buchholz's magnificent start, the Red Sox owe this game to Cody Ross-- who hit that walk-off homer in the ninth and is now .274/16/50 this season.