Red Sox 07 Game 137 Recap

Final

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Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0		2	7	0
Boston	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	X		3	5	0

W: J. Lester (3-0) L: D. Cabrera (9-14) S: J. Papelbon (31)
HR ➢ Bos: J. Ellsbury (1) Bal: R. Hernandez (7)

☼ Sun - Ellsbury - Tough one to pick since Pedroia scored two runs but going with Jacoby's first home run.
☁ Cloud - Goat - Am not going to pick one. Hard to say there was really a goat in a 3-2 game that went down to the wire.

This game was my first game at Fenway in twenty years. Pictures posted later.

Game thoughts!

The game started out with Lester walking the first person he faced and then it seemed to be a nerve wracking game after that. The bottom of the first saw Pedroia singling to center and after moving to second on Ortiz's walk coming home for the teams first run. The second inning saw the Sox strand Ellsbury after his one out single and stolen base. Cash and Pedroia though failed to drive in the run and teeth started to grind.

Lester continued to allow a runner per frame in the first three innings and the Sox could not seem to solve Cabrera as the only person to reach in the third was a two out walk to Lowell. The fourth saw the typical bad inning by Lester. Tejada led off with a walk, Millar followed with a walk and Huff singled to center to load the bases. The game was hanging in the balance but Lester performed the Houdini act.

After a Mora liner to Pedroia the inning ended when Henandez flew out to medium/shallow right and on a running catch J.D. then nailed Tejada at the plate ending the inning with no runs scored. A colossal failure by the O's to tie the score.

Ellsbury lengthened the lead by hitting a two run home run into the Sox bull pen. His first major league home run and fortunately it went into the bull pen meaning he would be able to keep the ball. It almost seemed like the escape in the fourth allowed Lester to relax as the fifth inning was the first time he set the O's down in order. The bottom of the fifth saw Pedroi double, Cora sacrifice and Lowell deliver the Sacrifice fly to score the third run for the Sox. You could feel the entire park relaxing after that score. A sixth inning run by the O's put the edge back in the sitting on the edge of your seats but still a comfort level was felt in the park.

Lester's outing ended though as he allowed a no doubter home run over the Wall to start off the seventh. Lopez though came in and set the next three batters down in order.

Excitement was generated when Okajima came in to pitch the eighth and was greeted by a Nick Markakis double. A fielders choice to second brought up the former Sox Player Kevin Millar. Fortunately Okajima got the Oriole to strike out and then he struck out Huff to end the inning. It was obvious that Papelbon would be trotting in from the pen to start the ninth but everybody was hoping the Sox would be able to earn another run to allow everybody to breathe. The O's refused to cooperate as for the third straight inning the Sox went down 1-2-3.

The ninth demonstrated why Francona should be considered for manager of the year. Crisp replaced Moss in the outfield and Ellsbury moved to the left field position. Mora flied to Drew in right to start off the inning and Hernandez came to the plate. On an 0-2 pitch Hernandez lifted a fly ball to shallow center that Crisp was able to corral with a sliding catch. Two down and the place was ready to erupt and after Brian Roberts flew out to center field Papel-bot had recorded his thirtyfirst save and dirty water was heard.

An enjoyable day at the park was over and the Sox extended their eastern division lead thanks to the Devil Rays beating the spankees in the bronx.

Lugo watch - dnp

Coco watch - 0 for 0 - stays at .266

Drew watch - 0 for 3 - down to .254

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.