Red Sox Fall Apart Late As Rays Avoid Sweep (68-82)

Matsuzaka only lasted three innings

This was a pretty miserable game for the Red Sox as it went from being a reasonably close game to a bloodbath almost instantly. The Red Sox got off to a good start, as Pedro Ciriaco singled and stole second to lead off the first. He would score on a bloop single to left for Jacoby Ellsbury. That would be it for them in the inning, though, and the Rays would come back in the second. The Rays loaded the bases on three straight singles to start the inning, and tied things up on a walk. Amazingly, they didn't score again the inning as Dice-K tightroped out of danger. The Red Sox would also get that run back in the third, as they led off the inning with a walk and a single. They'd score two on a Jacoby Ellsbury single and a Dustin Pedroia forceout to make it 3-1. However, a Ben Zobrist RBI single would cut into that and make it 3-2.

This was a frustrating game for the
Red Sox, illustrated by this pickoff

From that point on, it was all Rays. They got off to a screaming start in the fourth when Jeff Keppinger led things off with a home run. Matt Joyce followed him up with a single, and then another home run-- this time by Carlos Pena would make it 5-3. However, the real damage came in the sixth inning. The Rays started things off by putting two in scoring position with no outs due to some shoddy defense. Both runners scored when Desmond Jennings tripled into the gap in left-center to make it 7-3, but on an error in right field, Jennings scored as well to make it 8-3. The Rays kept going, loading the bases still with no outs. They'd score two more runs here on a sacrifice fly by Luke Scott and an RBI single by Jeff Keppinger. They proceeded to load the bases again and on two walks, scored two more runs to end the scoring in a seven run sixth, making it 12-3. They grabbed one more run on a Matt Joyce single in the ninth, but the damage was largely done.

Bright Spots:
Scott Atchison- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Pedro Ciriaco- 2-4, 2 R
Jacoby Ellsbury- 3-3, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
The Pitching- 8 IP, 15 H, 13 R, 10 BB, 5 K, L (68-82)
Cody Ross- 0-3, 2 K, 2 LOB
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-3, 1 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Jacoby Ellsbury- Going 3-3 with 2 RBIs on the day, Ellsbury was certainly not the reason the Sox were stymied by Chris Archer and the Rays-- he is now .280/4/26.

Red Sox Win Tight One In Toronto (65-80)

Matsuzaka was roughed up as usual

Last night was a surprisingly good game for the Red Sox as they won a fairly exciting game in Toronto. This game started off like a pitching duel as neither team scored until the bottom of the third when the Blue Jays broke out. Daisuke Matsuzaka loaded the bases entirely on his own accord on a hit by pitch and two walks, with one out. The first run scored, also on Dice-K's own accord, on a wild pitch while Brett Lawrie was batting. Lawrie would wind up walking on another wild pitch for Dice-K to make it 2-0 with the Blue Jays' bats not even coming off of their shoulders. The final run of the inning came on a groundout by Adam Lind. That was bad, but the Red Sox struck back in the top of the fourth. A Cody Ross walk and Mauro Gomez put runners at first and second to start things off. Ryan Lavarnway did the damage by raking a line drive just over the wall in left field to make it 3-3.

Gomez's go ahead triple was the key hit

The Red Sox just kept rolling along in the fifth inning as well. With two outs in the inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases on a single, walk, and a fielder's choice. Two runs came in on an RBI single to right for Daniel Nava, giving the Red Sox a 5-3 lead. It stayed there until the bottom of the sixth when Adam Lind's one out triple put a good chance to score up. That score happened on an RBI single by Yunel Escobar to cut it to a 5-4 lead. The Jays kept eating into that lead as a leadoff single in the eighth by Colby Rasmus set up a key hit. That key hit was Brett Lawrie's game tying RBI triple. However, the Red Sox would have their key strike in the ninth inning, as a couple of singles and a fly out put runners at first and second and one out. It would be Mauro Gomez with the key hit, as he tripled into the gap in right-center past a diving Anthony Gose. That scored two runs, and a third came in on a Ryan Lavarnway sac fly as the Red Sox wrapped up a win.

Bright Spots:
Junichi Tazawa- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Andrew Bailey- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-5, 1 R
Cody Ross- 1-4, 2 R
Mauro Gomez- 2-4, 3 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI
Ryan Lavarnway- 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Daniel Nava- 2-5, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Vicente Padilla- 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R
James Loney- 0-4, 1 K, 3 LOB

Player of the Game:
Mauro Gomez- Not only did Gomez have the key hit, a two run triple, but he also went 2-4 and scored three runs-- he is now .297/2/14.

A's Get The Better Of Sox Again As Skid Continues (62-73)

The 2012 baseball season is becoming miserable as the Red Sox lost again today to extend their skid to six games. This was a rough game for the Red Sox pretty much from the start as the game began with a tough pitching matchup-- Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-3, 5.10) and Brett Anderson (2-0, 0.64). The A's started off the bottom of the first on a walk by Coco Crisp. Crisp scored almost immediately when Seth Smith drove a high home run to center field to make it 2-0 early. It took them only one inning to get another run when Stephen Drew crushed a hanging sinker to left-center to make it 3-0. They just kept on rolling in the third as well, putting runners at the corners with one out. They'd score a run on a sacrifice fly for Josh Reddick. Later in the inning, they'd score again when Stephen Drew knocked a line drive single to left to make it 5-0.

Ross had an RBI single

The A's just kept pounding Matsuzaka in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. They scored one run when Yoenis Cespedes grounded out to second base to make it 6-0. It took the Red Sox until the sixth, but they eventually got their first run of the game--loading the bases with one out. Cody Ross singled to left, scoring one run before Scott Podsednik was nailed at the plate, making it 6-1. It stayed there for a while, but the Red Sox picked up another run in the ninth after a leadoff double for Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia would eventually score on a sacrifice fly for Mauro Gomez to make it 6-2. However, it wasn't nearly enough to dig into a huge A's lead.



Bright Spots:
Andrew Miller- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Craig Breslow- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Junichi Tazawa- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Mark Melancon- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Dustin Pedroia- 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Cody Ross- 1-4, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 4 K, L (1-4)
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-4, 2 K
Mike Aviles- 0-3, 1 K
James Loney- 0-3, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia acted as the catalyst today, going 3-4 with a double and scoring a run in a bad game-- he is now .288/12/55

Dice-K Powers Sox To Series Win Over Royals (62-67)

Matsuzaka went seven strong innings

The Red Sox have gotten off to a good start in the post-Gonzalez realm as they edged out a win yesterday before a fairly easy feel good win at Fenway Park today. The game got off to a predictable start with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound as he walked the leadoff hitter Jarrod Dyson and allowed him to steal second. Dyson would eventually score on a sacrifice fly for Alex Gordon but as it turned out, Matsuzaka really settled down from there on. The Red Sox got that early run right back in the bottom of the first when Jacoby Ellsbury belted a solo home run just over the three foot wall in right. Neither team scored in the second inning, but the Red Sox put a little rally together in the third inning. Two one out singles for Scott Podsednik and Dustin Pedroia set up an eventual two-run single for Cody Ross to make it 3-1.

Cody Ross went 2-4 with 3 RBIs

After strong fourth and fifth innings for Luke Hochevar (7-11, 4.95), he ran into trouble again facing the Red Sox' bats in the sixth inning. With one out, Jacoby Ellsbury and Cody Ross knocked back-to-back doubles as Ross drove in Ellsbury and also put himself in scoring position. He would extend the lead to 5-1 when James Loney drove him in with a single up the middle. Those would be the last runs of the ballgame for either side as Daisuke Matsuzaka settled down to really have a great day in his grand return to the majors-- finishing with a line of 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K and earning his first win of the year. After his departure, Clayton Mortensen and Vicente Padilla combined for a scoreless eighth and Andrew Bailey walked one in an otherwise shutdown ninth. Overall a good win in Boston.

Bright Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W (1-3)
Andrew Bailey- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB
Scott Podsednik- 2-4, 1 R
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Cody Ross- 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI
James Loney- 1-4, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-3, 1 K, 1 LOB
Mike Aviles- 0-3, 1 LOB
Pedro Ciriaco- 0-3, 2 K

Player of the Game:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- Matsuzaka had his best start in a long time for the Red Sox, allowing one unearned run and striking out six in seven innings-- he is now 1-3/5.10/20.

Red Sox Rally Late To Outlast Jays (39-35)

Dice-K pitched very well but did
not earn the win

With a win tonight and a Rays' loss, the Red Sox would move out of last and just a game out of third place-- and they got it with an exciting win over the Blue Jays. Daisuke Matsuzaka was the beneficiary of some bad defense in the first inning as, after a leadoff double by Brett Lawrie, Colby Rasmus seemingly grounded out to short. Mike Aviles took a chance (rightfully) at getting Lawrie at third but a bad throw allowed him to score. Later in the inning, Edwin Encarnacion seemingly grounded out to third but he made a bad throw that allowed Lawrie to score and give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. The score stayed at 1-0 for a long time as Dice-K settled down nicely and Aaron Laffey really kept him in check. The score was still 1-0 when Dice-K was taken out of the game with a line of 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K. And when Laffey was taken out of the game with a line of 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Pedroia had a tie-breaking two-run
single in the seventh

It would be the inning after Laffey left that the Red Sox' bats really got going. With two outs and nobody on base, Jarrod Saltalamacchia lifted a high line drive to left-center that got out of the ballpark to tie things up at 1-1. That homer evidently lit a fire under the Red Sox' offense as the batter after him, Ryan Kalish doubled down the first base line. Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch and Mike Aviles worked a walk to load the bases with two outs off of former Red Sox' reliever David Pauley. On an 0-1 count, Pedroia lined one right back up the middle to score two runs and give the Red Sox a 3-1 lead-- Aviles was caught in between second and third to end the inning but we'll take it. After a leadoff double by David Ortiz and a single by Cody Ross to follow him up, Adrian Gonzalez doubled off the monster in left-center to score Ortiz. Later in the inning, a Will Middlebrooks sacrifice fly would make it 5-1. That would be the final score in a good game for the Red Sox.

Bright Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Scott Atchison- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Vicente Padilla- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Alfredo Aceves- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Dustin Pedroia- 1-3, 2 RBI
David Ortiz- 2-4, 1 R, 2 2B
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Ryan Kalish- 1-2, 1 R, 1 2B

Dull Spots:
Brent Lillibridge- 0-2, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia's clutch two-run two-out tie-breaking single in the seventh was really a great moment as he appears to be breaking out of his slump-- he is now .272/5/30.

Red Sox Sweep Marlins Behind Middlebrooks (36-33)

Matsuzaka did not have a
particularly good start

The Red Sox won this game against all odds: the pitching matchup, the score in the eighth inning, etc.; but they did manage to pull off a key sweep of the Marlins. The Marlins started off fast when they put two runners in scoring position with two outs in the first. Greg Dobbs delivered with a two-run single on a liner into right. Later in the inning, Omar Infante drove in Dobbs with an RBI single of his own to put the Marlins up 3-0 early. The Red Sox put together their first rally of the night when Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were each hit by a pitch to start the inning. Will Middlebrooks would deliver with an RBI single on a line drive into right to score Ross and cut the Marlins' lead to 3-1. Ryan Kalish grounded into a forceout to put runners at the corners with still only one out. A Mike Aviles sacrifice fly would score Saltalamacchia from third to come within a run of the tie. After putting runners at the corners with two outs, they reached the tie when Will Middlebrooks on a bloop single to right to make it 3-3.

Middlebrooks had a fantastic game

The tie would quickly be broken in the sixth, though, as Giancarlo Stanton hit a line drive that just barely got over the monster to make it 4-3 Marlins. After a two-out single by Greg Dobbs later in the inning, it was Infante again with a double to center to score Dobbs all the way from first and make it 5-3. The Red Sox would make a plea at tying the game in the eighth inning when Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off the inning with a double off Marlins' reliver Edward Mujica. As it had been all game long, it would be Will Middlebrooks that had the decisive blow though. Middlebrooks would quickly deliver with a clutch game-tying home run on a high fly ball to dead center to make it 5-5. A Ryan Kalish single would become a triple as he went first to third on a ball in the infield. And it was a good thing that he did as Daniel Nava hit a weak line drive to center for an RBI single to make it 6-5. That would be the key hit as the Red Sox held on to win 6-5.

Bright Spots:
Scott Atchison- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, W (2-0)
Alfredo Aceves- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, SV (18)
Daniel Nava- 2-4, 1 RBI
Cody Ross- 1-3, 1 R
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-3, 2 R, 1 2B
Will Middlebrooks- 3-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Ryan Kalish- 1-3, 1 R

Dull Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Andrew Miller- 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Dustin Pedroia- 0-5, 4 LOB

Player of the Game:
Will Middlebrooks- Middlebrooks powered the Red Sox to a win last night with a 3-4 night plus two RBI singles and a game-tying homer in the eighth; he is now .316/8/31 this season.

Red Sox Strand 21 In Tough Loss To Cubs (31-33)

Matsuzaka struggled early

Things seemed to be going well for the Red Sox after winning two of three against the Marlins and heading to Chicago to face the worst team in baseball. However, the pitching match up of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ryan Dempster favored the Cubs, and it was indeed the pitching that decided this game. The Red Sox put two on to start the game but stranded them, and it sure cost them throughout the game. Daisuke Matsuzaka loaded the bases with two outs on three walks to Tony Campana, Alfonso Soriano, and Bryan LaHair. It wouldn't be a walk that hurt him the most, however-- it would be a first pitch bloop single to left field by Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger. The Cubs got right back to it in the second with a one-out triple by Ryan Dempster of all people. He shot a bloop into right that evaded a diving Adrian Gonzalez to put the pitcher on third base. Dempster would come in to score on a hard line drive into right by David DeJesus to give them a 3-0 lead.

He settled down to go six
innings though

Matsuzaka settled down after those early struggles and the Red Sox blew many chances at scoring to make the game close. For example, in the fifth inning, Mike Aviles singled to lead off the inning. He stole second but did not advance further as Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out on a foul bunt. Scott Podsednik then grounded a ball back to Dempster on the mound, Aviles was caught too far off the base and just like that, the scoring chance was over. In the seventh inning the Red Sox put Nick Punto on first with two outs. He stole second and Scott Podsednik advanced him to third on an infield single. Podsednik would steal second to put two in scoring position for the Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia hit a hard line drive to right-- but unfortunately it was right to David DeJesus and the inning was over. Matsuzaka was taken out of the game after that inning and his final line was a decent 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 K. The most alarming case of stranding baserunners would come in the ninth when the Red Sox stranded the bases loaded with Dustin Pedroia at the plate to end the game.
Bright Spots:
Scott Atchison- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Mark Melancon- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Scott Podsednik- 2-4, 1 BB, 2 SB

Dull Spots:
Dustin Pedroia- 0-4, 1 BB, 6 LOB
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4, 2 K, 2 LOB
Kevin Youkilis- 0-4, 4 LOB
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-4, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Scott Podsednik- Podsednik did a great job leading off for the Red Sox, reaching base three times and stealing two bases-- he is now .382/1/6.

Dice-K's Return Spoiled By Lack Of Offense (29-30)

Matsuzaka made his first
start this year

After a stint both at and above .500, the Red Sox have fallen back below at just 29-30-- and Daisuke Matsuzaka, making his first start back from Tommy John Surgery, couldn't do anything about it. The Nationals got on the board first when Adam LaRoche took advantage of a first pitch fastball, leading off the second inning, that was down the middle,  and crushed it into the bullpens for a solo home run. However, the Nationals weren't nearly done as a Bryce Harper walk and Ryan Zimmerman single leading off the fourth put runners at the corners with no outs. Dice-K struck out Adam LaRoche after a long at bat, setting up the inning ending double play. Michael Morse would erase all thoughts of a scoreless inning, however, by lining a ball into right that fortunately would be a ground rule double and only score one. The Nationals upped it to a four run lead with the next batter as Ian Desmond singled sharply into right to put the Nationals up 4-0 in just the fourth inning. I'm sure many Red Sox fans and player alike were thinking that with the way Gio Gonzalez was pitching, that may be enough.

He only really had one
bad inning in the loss

Dice-K was taken out of the game after a scoreless fifth, and his final line was an unimpressive 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 8 K. However, he had good stuff with all his pitches moving to a degree and if he had stayed away from the one bad inning, he would've been fine. Franklin Morales came into the game and pitched a couple scoreless innings until the Red Sox got on the board in the seventh inning. That was when the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out for pinch hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Salty was first pitch swinging and crushed the ball in the air to left for what could've been a home run in many ballparks. However, this time the green monster took a homer away-- luckily, the Red Sox still scored two and the Red Sox still had runners at the corners down by only two. However, Daniel Nava struck out looking on a generous called strike and Dustin Pedroia popped out to end the inning with a 4-2 deficit. Franklin Morales continued to dominate out of the 'pen, throwing three perfect innings with three strikeouts. It would be all in vain, however, as the Red Sox lost 4-2.

Bright Spots:
Franklin Morales- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K
Alfredo Aceves- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-2, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daniel Nava- 0-4, 1 K, 2 LOB
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4, 1 K, 1 LOB
Kevin Youkilis- 0-4, 1 LOB
Kelly Shoppach- 0-2, 2 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Franklin Morales- Even though it's an odd decision to give the Player of the Game to a reliever, Morales deserved it with three shutdown innings-- he is now 0-1/3.04/20.

Growing Up With Daisuke Matsuzaka

I remember the day in December 2006. I was only 9 years old, and had payed attention to the Red Sox during the 2004 playoffs because my mom's family was from New England. My mom told me that the Red Sox had signed a really good pitcher from Japan named Daisuke Matsuzaka. I didn't know much about baseball before then, but I started playing in 2007, and I started becoming more and more interested in the Red Sox as the season went along. I remember hearing about Dice-K's debut in a Red Sox uniform on April 4, 2007. He earned the win, allowing 1 run and striking out 10 through 7 innings. However, after 2 more pretty good starts, Daisuke displayed the inconsistency he has become so famous for on April 22, 2007 against the Yankees. He earned the win, but he allowing 6 runs in 7 innings in a 7-6 win for the Red Sox. On May 3, 2007, he was shaky again, allowing 7 runs in 5 innings in an 8-7 win for the Red Sox. Dice-K wound up with a mediocre season in 2007, completely not living up to expectations by going 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA and 201 strikeouts. When it came to Playoff time in 2007, in Cleveland, after losing the 3rd game of the series to put the Sox back 2-1, he won the clinching game 7 in a 11-2 defeat of the Cleveland Indians, I remember that game. In the World Series against the Rockies, Daisuke came through, allowing 2 runs in 5+ innings to earn the win in Game 3. That was 5 years ago. In 2008, with an injury to Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka actually started Opening Day for the Red Sox on March 25, 2008. He allowed 2 runs in 5 innings in an eventual 6-5 win over Oakland. Daisuke lived up to expectations in 2008, playing very well, and making 2007 look like a bad year as he went 18-3/2.90/154 as the Red Sox went 95-67 and made it to the ALCS. As my interest in baseball and the Red Sox increased, Daisuke's stats and attributes declined. Since then, Dice-K's career has been derailed by injuries, injuring himself first in a game against Oakland in April 2009. He came back later in May, only to get injured again, as he would go an icky 4-6/5.76/54. In 2010 he suffered numerous injuries before, arguably the game I remember most about Daisuke, as on May 22, 2010, he threw 7 2/3 no-hit innings against the Phillies before a Juan Castro single broke it up in the 8th. Daisuke was ok that season, going 9-6/4.69/133. This year, Daisuke was the epitome of Daisuke, throwing 2 consecutive 1-hit gems on April 18th and 23rd against the Blue Jays and the Angels. However, those were just sandwiched by multiple bad starts that put his season stats at 3-3/5.30/26. This week, he got the news that he would have to have Tommy John surgery and would likely miss all of this season and most of 2012. Could it be the end of Dice-K's tenure with the Red Sox? Maybe. But he will go down in history as one of the most interesting players in recent years.

Red Sox Rally Late; Walk Off Vs. Orioles (21-20)

Last night was a very exciting game for the Red Sox, as they worked back from a 6-run deficit to win 8-7. The Orioles got off to an early lead, scoring twice on a Derrek Lee double and a Vladimir Guerrero groundout. They made it 3-0 on a soft single by Matt Wieters, scoring Guerrero. They made it 5-0 on a Mark Reynolds single and a J.J. Hardy sacrifice fly. They then got one more insurance run in the 6th with an Adam Jones single up the middle. However, that's when the Red Sox started scoring as they put a runner at second to start the 6th. Jed Lowrie quickly doubled in that runner, making it 6-1. After a great at-bat, Jason Varitek singled to right field to make it 6-2. Several batters later, Adrian Gonzalez hit a soft single to left, scoring Carl Crawford and making it 6-3. After that, though, Kevin Youkilis ripped a double off the green monster, scoring Jason Varitek and Adrian Gonzalez and making it a one-run game. However, the Orioles got a run back with a Mark Reynolds solo home run in the 7th, to make it 7-5 Orioles. Another RBI single by Jason Varitek scoring Jed Lowrie made it 7-6 though. In the bottom of the 9th, the Red Sox put runners at first and second to start the inning, and Adrian Gonzalez delivered, crushing a 2-run double off the green monster and making it 8-7 Red Sox, the final!

Daisuke Matsuzaka was not sharp, allowing 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings, as he is now 3-3/5.30/26, as he hasn't been too bad or good this year. Scott Atchison and Alfredo Aceves each allowed a run, in 1 2/3 and 3 innings, respectively. Jacoby Ellsbury had a pretty good day, going 2-5 with a run scored. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-5 with a run and 3 RBIs, including that huge walk-off double, as he is now .327/9/37 as he has been great. Kevin Youkilis went 2-4 with 2 RBIs on another huge hit, that 2-run double, as he is now .254/7/27 this year. J.D. Drew and Jed Lowrie each went 2-4, with 1 run and 2 runs, respectively. Jason Varitek had a rare good game, going 2-5 with 2 RBIs and a run. Tonight, Tim Wakefield (0-1/5.40/11) and Zach Britton (5-2/2.42/29) will square off.

Bright Spots:

Alfredo Aceves- 1 run in 3 innings of relief

Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-5 with a run scored

Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5 with a run and 3 RBIs, including the walk-off double

Kevin Youkilis- 2-4 with 2 RBIs on another huge hit

J.D. Drew- 2-4 with a run scored

Jed Lowrie- 2-4 with 2 runs scored

Jason Varitek- 2-5 with 2 RBIs and a run

Dull Spots:

Daisuke Matsuzaka- 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings, not so good

David Ortiz- 0-4 with 6 runners left on base

I am thrilled that the Sox won this game, as they were really able to rally late!