Red Sox Cut It Close, But Blow It (10-13)

Last night, the Red Sox lost a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Orioles. After an Orioles lead, the Red Sox came back, only to have their hopes dashed by a late Orioles rally. The game remained scoreless until a big, two-run homer by Luke Scott over the big right field wall, and a solo shot, back-to-back, by Adam Jones to make it 3-0 Orioles. In the bottom of the 5th, after two singles and a wild pitch, Brian Roberts hit another run in with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 Orioles. After another wild pitch by Beckett, Matt Weiters ran home, but in a very close play, Varitek tossed it to Beckett. In the top of the 8th, however, the Red Sox battled back. After Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury reached to start off the 8th, Adrian Gonzalez came up and slapped a single to left field to make it 4-1 Orioles. The next batter was Kevin Youkilis (bottom left) who promptly smacked a home run just over the left field wall, and Luke Scott's glove, for a game-tying home run! However, in the bottom of the 8th, the Orioles scored on a ground ball up the middle by Vladimir Guerrero to make it 5-4 Orioles.

Josh Beckett (top right) was not particularly good, allowing 4 runs in 6 innings, he is now 2-1/2.65/32 this year, as for the most part, he has been fantastic. Tim Wakefield threw a scoreless

7th inning of relief. Daniel Bard blew it again, allowing a run in the 8th inning, he is now 0-3/3.97/11. Jacoby Ellsbury had another great game, as he is really settling in, after a 3-5 day at the plate, along with a run scored. Adrian Gonzalez also had a good game, going 2-4 with an RBI, he is now .290/1/13 this year. Kevin Youkilis (left) only had one hit, but it was big, as he went 1-4 with 3 RBIs and a run scored, he is now .214/5/14 this year. David Ortiz went 2-4 in a pretty good game for him. Tonight, Jon Lester (2-1/2.59/30) will go head to head with Brad Bergesen (0-3/5.40/11) in a game that the Sox will hopefully win.

Bright Spots:

Tim Wakefield- A scoreless inning of relief

Jacoby Ellsbury- 3-5 with a run scored

Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4 with an RBI and a double

Kevin Youkilis- 1-4 with that big 3-run shot

David Ortiz- 2-4

Dull Spots:

Daniel Bard- The loss, with a run in the 8th inning

Carl Crawford- 0-4

Jason Varitek- 0-3 with a strikeout

It would be so humiliating to be swept by the Orioles, so I really hope it doesn't happen.