I’ve written recaps of almost of the games this season that the Sox have played. I’ve resisted writing this one because it is the last Sox game of 2011, but let’s put some closure on this one.
Lester was on the mound for the Sox on 3 days rest and hoped to be able to either bring us to the post season or bring us to a one game play in, unfortunately neither happened. However, Lester did his job. Lester gutted it out through 6 innings and left the mound with the lead. We can’t ask for more than that.
The Sox got on the board first in the 3rd inning when Pedroia hit an RBI single to score Mike Aviles. Unfortunately, the O’s would score two runs right back in the bottom of the inning on a Hardy 2 run HR. The Sox tied the game in the 4th inning in an interesting way. Scutaro was on 3rd base and by dancing back and forth, he got Simon to balk and Scoot was awarded home plate. In the 5th, the Sox got a go ahead run with a Pedroia HR.
Lester looked like he was running out of gas in the 6th inning. Lester walked three batters in the inning, but was able to gut his way through the inning and not allow any runs to score. Lester was done for the night and Aceves was about to take the home, however the skies opened up and there was a rain delay.
Aceves took the mound for the 7th. He hit two batters during the inning and looked a little wilder than we’ve seen him as of late, however no runs scored and once again Aces did his job. In the top of the 8th, the Sox almost got an insurance run when Crawford doubled, but Scutaro hesitated between 2nd and 3rd and was thrown out at home. In the 9th, Papelbon took the mound with a one run lead. Pap struck out the first two batters and then gave up a double to David. Reimold scored the tying run on a ground rule double. Then, on the brink of the biggest collapse since 1978 Pap gave up the game winning hit to Sox killer Andino. Crawford came in on the ball, but was unable to make the catch.
And moments after the O’s walked off on us, Evan Longoria hit the walkoff HR against the Yankees. Sox lose. Rays win. Season over. Ah, it’s a kick to the gut. Sox went from a team destined to win the World Series to a team not even making the postseason.
Red Sox 3 Orioles 4 BOXSCORE
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