Red Sox Hold On To Win 3rd Straight (8-11)

Last night, the Red Sox beat the Angels 4-3 in a tightly contested ballgame, where the Red Sox just held on to beat them. The scoring started when, with 1 out in the third, Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a high fly ball into deep right field. Torii Hunter leapt up to grab it, but it hit off his glove for a double by Saltalamacchia. In the next play, on a fly ball to right by Marco Scutaro, Salty tagged up and made it to third on a questionable call, with two outs. Jacoby Ellsbury then ripped an RBI double along the right field line, 1-0 Red Sox. In the very next inning, after Jed Lowrie reached with a walk and J.D. Drew with a double, with two outs, the Sox scored again. Carl Crawford (bottom left) hit, what looked harmless, a fly ball to center fielder Peter Bourjos, who dropped it, allowing for 2 runs to score and a 3-0 Red Sox lead. In the top of the 6th, after Jed Lowrie reached third to open the inning, J.D. Drew knocked him in with an RBI single, making it 4-0 Red Sox. However, in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Angels began to score. With two outs in the inning, Jeff Mathis singled to score Erick Aybar, making it 4-1 Red Sox. In the bottom of the 8th, an RBI single by Bobby Abreu, and a passed ball scoring Bobby Abreu were enough to cut the Red Sox' lead to one run.

Jon Lester (top right) was magnificent last night, allowing 4 hits and no runs over 6 shutout innings, striking out 8. He earned the win, and is now 2-1/2.59/30. Matt Albers and Bobby Jenks, however, had rough outings in relief, allowing one earned run each. After them, Jonathan Papelbon came in for the 3rd straight game, earning the save with a shutout inning. Jacoby Ellsbury has been a power hitter this year, as after that double in a 1-4 night, he is now .190/4/12 this year. Jed Lowrie went 1-3, scoring 2 runs, and walking once. J.D. Drew also had a very good game, going 2-3 with an RBI and a double, he is now .280/1/5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had that nice double, as he went 1-3 and scored a run last night. Tonight at 9:05 EST, the Red Sox will send Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-2/6.43/7), coming off a great outing, to face Ervin Santana (0-2/5.26/19).

Bright Spots:

Jon Lester- 8 strikeouts in 6 shutout innings

Jonathan Papelbon- His 5th save of the season with a scoreless inning

Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-4 with an RBI double

Jed Lowrie- 1-3 with a walk and 2 runs

J.D. Drew- 2-3 with an RBI and a double

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-3 with a rally starting double

Dull Spots:

Bobby Jenks- 2 runs, 1 earned, in an inning

Dustin Pedroia- 0-4 with 2 strikeouts and 3 runners left on base

Adrian Gonzalez- 0-5 with a strikeout and 3 runners on base

David Ortiz- 0-4

Marco Scutaro- 0-3 with 3 runners left on base

I am glad that the Sox won, and this is their 3rd straight, as they are just 3 games under .500!