The Red Sox have just been finding ways to win games lately. It hasn’t always been pretty or the way the starting pitcher would have written it up, but none the less they are putting Ws up in the standings. Erik Bedard was making his second start in a Sox uniform. Bedard was not on a limited pitch count last night, so we hoped to see more of a normal outing from him and we hoped he’d get a first win in a Sox uni. Unfortunately, Bedard would have to wait for another day for that.
Photo Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Bedard had some problems in the first inning. The main problem was that home plate umpire Tim McClelland had the tiniest strike zone ever. Bedard ended up walking 4 batters in the inning and allowing 2 runs to score. The strike zone was so off that the Twins announcers were even admitting that Bedard was being squeezed something fierce. Bedard adjusted though and pitched well for the rest of his outing. He threw 90 pitches and his line for the night was 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BBs and 6 Ks.
The Sox tied the game when Darnell McDonald hit a 2 run HR in the top of the 5th inning off of Liriano. The Sox snagged the lead with a Varitek RBI single in the bottom of the 6th inning. Bedard was now in line for the win. Unfortunately, the bullpen once again denied the starting pitcher a win. Matt Albers came out and gave up a run with a double to tie the game. However, the Sox would snag the lead right back in the 7th on an infield hit from David Ortiz. Franklin Morales, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon both pitched scoreless innings and the Sox won 4-3. Papelbon got his 21st consecutive save which is the longest streak in his career.
Red Sox 4 Twins 3 BOXSCORE
WP: M. Albers (4-3)
LP: M. Capps (3-6)
SV: J. Papelbon (26)
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