Game 139 Recap-
The Boston Red Sox rallied from a 4-0 7th inning deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 5-4 Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park in Boston. CF Jacoby Ellsbury’s sacrifice bunt was thrown away by RH Jim Miller for the decisive run in the 9th. MVP candidate 2b Dustin Pedroia(3 for 4) started the comeback with a solo shot in the 7th while SS Alex Cora added 3 hits and the winning run.
The Orioles, depleted pitching wise to begin with, skipped staff ace RH Jeremy Guthrie(tired arm) and had to spot start RH Lance Cormier(2-3,4.37), his 1st start since last September. Cormierwas great for 32 pitches and 3 innings, he allowed 2 hits and struck out 1. RH Dennis Sarfate(4-3,4.77) followed with his own 3 shutout innings, striking out 5 and one hit. If the Orioles relief corps(depleted with closer George Sherrill on the DL and set up man Jim Johnson also ailing) pitched well this was a win.
RH Daisuke Matsuzaka(16-2,2.88) started for Boston and gave a quality start. Over 6 innings, he touched 4 hits and 4 runs(3 earned) with 7 Ks and 4 walks. The Os scored a run in the first after 2b Brian Roberts led off with a double, he scored on an error. Baltimore scored 3 in the 4th. DH Luke Scott(rbi double), LF Lou Montanez(ground out) and C Guilermo Quiroz(rbi single) produced runs in the big inning.
After the homer by Pedroia, a bases loaded walk to Coco Crisp made it 4-2 in the 7th vs LH Jamie Walker(1-2,6.23). The game was tied in the 8th after 1b Mark Kotsay tripled to center off of rh Rocky Cherry(0-2,6.10). The Boston bullpen tandem of lh Javier Lopez(1 inning,2.75) and rookie rh Justin Masterson(2 innings, 5-4,3.24) pitched 3 strong innings to allow the comeback.
The Boston winning rally started with a single by Cora off of rookie rh Jim Miller(0-1,3.75). Crisp reached on a bunt single,advancing Cora to 2nd. Ellsbury’s bunt was misplayed by Miller and threw the ball into left field, missing 3b 3b Aubrey Huff.
Star of the Game-
Pedroia- 12 for 18 with 2 home runs and 7 rbi in 5 games in the cleanup hole, serious MVP candidate and the energizer bunny for the Red Sox
Orioles Notes-
Hitting coach Terry Crowley was ejected in the 9th inning for arguing balls and strikes… Huff led the team with 2 hits… Alex Cintron started at SS
Next Game-
Team off Thursday, start 3 game series vs Oakland A’s at Camden Yards
7:05 Friday
Baltimore LH Chris Waters(2-1,5.45) vs Oakland LH Dallas Breaden(4-3,3.88)
