Last night's game was the prime example of why you don't leave a game early, no matter the score. The Sox were facing Felix Hernandez on the mound and Ryan Dempster put them in a hole early, however a rally was in order in the 9th and the Sox had themselves another exciting walk off victory!
The Mariners took the lead early and looked like they weren't looking back. Dempster gave up an RBI bunt single to Seager in the 1st inning. In the 3rd Dempster gave up another run when he allowed an RBI single to Smoak. Sox 0-2. While we were up against King Felix the game still felt within hand at this point. In the bottom of the 3rd the Sox cut the lead in half when Papi hit a sac fly to score Ellsbury. Sox 1-2. The game would take a decidedly bad turn in the 5th when Dempster didn't just bend, he broke. Dempster gave up an RBI single to Morales and then gave up a grand slam to Blanco to have the Mariners leading 7-1. Dempster pitched a scoreless 6th, but the damage was done. Dempster's line for the night was 110 pitches, 6 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 5 BB and 6 Ks.
Steven Wright took the mound in the 7th and was looking to have mop up duty. Wright continued to pitch well and his 3 innings of relief were what allowed the Sox to make the rally. The Sox grabbed another run in the bottom of the 8th when Victorino hit a solo HR. Sox 2-7. In the 9th the Sox would need 5 runs to tie the game or 6 runs to get a walk off win. The bats got to work and did something that seemed miraculous. Mariners closer Tom Wilhelmsen took the mound just to get some work and it ended up being a bad choice. Wilhelmsen walked Nava, gave up a single to Lavarnway and then an RBI double to Brock Holt. Sox 3-7. Wilhelmsen walked Ellsbury and he was done for the night. What happened next was amusing. The Mariners meant to bring in Medina to face Victorino, but brought in Perez instead. Oops! Perez gave up a 2 RBI single to Victorino and an RBI single to Pedroia. Sox 6-7. Papi recorded the first out of the inning when Perez struck him out. The Mariners finally went to get Medina to come into the game. Medina gave up the game tying run with a Gomes single that scored Victorino. Sox 7-7. Medina walked Drew and then Nava came to the plate with one out and Pedey on third. Nava hit an RBI single to deep center and the Sox won 8-7! It didn't seem real watching the game, but the Sox scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th and only recorded one out.
Red Sox 8 Mariners 7 BOXSCORE
WP: Wright (2-0) LP: Perez (2-3)
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