The Red Sox came into this game with the series tied 2-2 and had Jon Lester on the mound, however they had to face Anibal Sanchez who almost no hit them the last time they faced one another. This time the Sox offense seemed to figure Sanchez out and while Lester didn't have his best stuff, it was good enough to win.
The Red Sox offense got all over Sanchez in the 2nd inning and took control early. Mike Napoli hit a no doubt monster solo HR to start off the inning. He definitely seems to have come out of whatever slump he was in and that's good good news. Next Ross hit an RBI double to score Gomes and then Ells hit an RBI single to score Bogaerts. Sox 3-0. In the 3rd the Sox would score their 4th run when Napoli scored from 3rd on a wild pitch. Sox 4-0.
While the Sox offense was working, Lester was pushing through. He kept getting himself in trouble and then he would wiggle himself out of it. He didn't look like the crazy dominant guy we saw to start the series, however this time he was playing with a lead. The Tigers were able to get their first run on the board in the 5th when Miggy hit an RBI single to center. Sox 4-1. Lester started the 6th, but when two runners got on Farrell came out to get him and Junichi Tazawa was in the game. Taz gave up a run when he gave up an RBI single to Pena to score VMart before getting Jackson to ground into a double play. Sox 4-2. Tazawa went back out in the 7th and with runners on the corners, Miggy ground into an double play, but a run did score pulling the Tigers within one run. Taz was done and Craig Breslow was in the game. Breslow got the final out to end the 7th and got the first out of the 8th before handing the ball over to closer Koji Uehara. Uehara has made a habit of having saves of more than 3 outs lately. Koji got the 2 outs to end the 8th and we were on to the 9th. The Sox offense had a great opportunity to get an insurance run when Middlebrooks was on 3rd base with only one out, but they were unable to get him home. Koji took the mound in the 9th with no room for error. Thankfully, Koji was his usual self and retired the Tigers in order.
Red Sox 4 Tigers 3 BOXSCORE Sox lead Series 3-2.
WP: Lester (1-1) LP: Sanchez (1-1) SV: Uehara (2)
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