Pedro took the mound to begin the top of the first and Matt Lawton looked at strike three to start. Denny Hocking also took strike three as the crowd went wild. Pedro flipped the script and walked Corey Koskie on 4 pitches but David Ortiz whiffed on a 2-2 count to end the inning. Twins ace Brad Radke took the mound in the bottom of the first and the Sox rallied. Trot Nixon doubled into the left field gap and Jose Offerman jacked one just over the glove of Lawton into the Red Sox bullpen for his first home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Carl Everett flied out to left, Manny Ramirez struck out swinging and Troy O'Leary was robbed of a hit by Luis Rivas to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The Twins struck back in the top of the second although Doug Mientkiewicz struck out swinging to begin. Torii Hunter worked a walk and moved to second on the Jacque Jones grounder to Pedro. AJ Pierzynski doubled down the 1st base line to score Hunter and cut the lead. Rivas whiffed to end the inning with the Twins down 2-1.
Jason Varitek opened the bottom of the second with a single to right but Shea Hillenbrand popped up to short center. Brian Daubach doubled off the Monster to put runners at second and third....for Craig Grebeck. Sure enough Grebeck popped up to Mientkiewicz who made a diving catch in foul territory, got up and gunned down Varitek at home to end the inning. That missed chance was huge as the game went on.
Lawton grounded to Daubach who nearly airmailed Pedro on the cover for the first out of the top of the third. Hocking grounded to short and Koskie struck out swinging to end the inning. Nixon got his uniform buzzed to earn a hit by pitch to begin the bottom of the second but was erased at second on a force by Everett. Everett then swiped second then advanced to third on the wild throw by Pierzynski. He was stranded as Manny flied out to center to end the inning.
Ortiz led off the top of the fourth by striking out swinging and Mientkiewicz grounded to Daubach. Hunter singled to center but was then thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning. O'Leary grounded to first to begin the bottom of the fourth and Varitek lined out to center. Hillenbrand was robbed of a hit by a diving Mientkiewicz to end the inning.
The Twins tied the game in the top of the fifth as Jones stroked a line drive to center that O'Leary fell down trying to catch and Jones hustled to second on the error. Pierzynski dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Rivas slammed a single up the middle to tie the game. Pedro uncorked a wild pitch that moved Rivas to second and he swiped third on the strikeout looking by Lawton. Hocking struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Daubach popped up to shallow center to begin the bottom of the fifth and Grebeck also lined out to center. Nixon flied out to right to end the inning to make it seven in a row retired by Radke.
Pedro ran into trouble in the top of the sixth as Koskie flied out to left to start. Ortiz whiffed to earn the hat trick but Mientkiewicz and Hunter hit back to back singles. Jones popped up in between home and third, Hillenbrand sliding under Varitek to make the catch to end the inning. Inspired by Shea's effort, the Sox took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Offerman grounded out to third and Everett popped up to Koskie as well, but Ramirez broke thestring of nine in a row retired by Radke with a double off the centerfield wall. O'Leary singled home Manny but was fooled by the cutoff throw and was thrown out at first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
Pedro ran into trouble in the top of the sixth as Koskie flied out to left to start. Ortiz whiffed to earn the hat trick but Mientkiewicz and Hunter hit back to back singles. Jones popped up in between home and third, Hillenbrand sliding under Varitek to make the catch to end the inning. Inspired by Shea's effort, the Sox took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Offerman grounded out to third and Everett popped up to Koskie as well, but Ramirez broke thestring of nine in a row retired by Radke with a double off the centerfield wall. O'Leary singled home Manny but was fooled by the cutoff throw and was thrown out at first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
Pedro returned for one more inning in the top of the seventh and Everett made a great diving catch to rob Pierzynski of a hit to start. Not to be outdone, Grebeck lunged and made a great throw to rob Rivas of a hit. Daubach then scooped a throw from Grebeck to rob Lawton of a hit to end the inning. That was it for Pedro who left after 7 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 10.
The Sox missed a golden chance to put the game away in the bottom of the seventh as Varitek singled to right to begin. Hillenbrand flied out to center and Daubach singled to left, but Sox manager Jimy Williams decided to let Grebeck hit to keep his glove for the late inning defense. Right on cue he popped up to left amidst a chorus of boo's. Nixon whiffed to end the inning.
"El Guapo" Rich Garces came in to pitch the top of the eighth and he flashed some leather of his own by snaring a line drive by Hocking to begin. Koskie popped up to left and Ortiz struck out swinging for the fourth time in the game to end the inning. Eddie Guardado replaced Radke for the bottom of the eighth and Offerman worked a leadoff walk. Everett struck out swinging, Ramirez flied out to left and O'Leary grounded out to short to end the inning.
With Derek Lowe scuffling, Jimy Williams turned to Rod Beck to close the game out. He was better off with Lowe although Mientkiewicz grounded to Daubach to begin. Hunter flied out to center and the Sox were one out away from victory. Jones then shot a fly ball deep out to left, O'Leary jumped....and missed the catch. It fell for a double and the inning continued. It should have been caught. Beck ran the count to 2-2, one strike away when Pierzynski doubled off the Monster to tie the game. Rivas flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
"El Guapo" Rich Garces came in to pitch the top of the eighth and he flashed some leather of his own by snaring a line drive by Hocking to begin. Koskie popped up to left and Ortiz struck out swinging for the fourth time in the game to end the inning. Eddie Guardado replaced Radke for the bottom of the eighth and Offerman worked a leadoff walk. Everett struck out swinging, Ramirez flied out to left and O'Leary grounded out to short to end the inning.
With Derek Lowe scuffling, Jimy Williams turned to Rod Beck to close the game out. He was better off with Lowe although Mientkiewicz grounded to Daubach to begin. Hunter flied out to center and the Sox were one out away from victory. Jones then shot a fly ball deep out to left, O'Leary jumped....and missed the catch. It fell for a double and the inning continued. It should have been caught. Beck ran the count to 2-2, one strike away when Pierzynski doubled off the Monster to tie the game. Rivas flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Varitek grounded out to third begin the bottom of the ninth but Hillenbrand doubled to right to put the winning run at second. Twins manager Tom Kelly brought in Bob Wells but Jimy Williams countered by having Chris Stynes pinch hit for Daubach. Stynes grounded out to short but Shea moved to third. Finally Williams had the sense to pinch hit for Grebeck by sending up Scott Hatteberg to face Wells. With the winning run on third, Hatteberg flied out to right to end the inning.
Beck returned for the top of the tenth as Offerman moved from second to first, Stynes came in to play second and Mike Lansing took over at short. Lawton was 0 for 4 but stroked a single to right to begin. Hocking sacrifice bunted him to second and Koskie was intentionally walked to set up the double play. That was it for Beck as Williams brought in Pete Schourek to face the two lefties Ortiz and Mientkiewicz. Ortiz popped up to short but Doug walked to load the bases. Sox manager Jimy Williams lifted Schourek for Rolando Arrojo to pitch to Hunter. It was a bad move as Hunter cleared the bases with a double down the left field line out of the reach of Hillenbrand to give the Twins to lead. Two runs charged to Beck, one to Schourek. Jones flied out to center to end the inning with the Twins ahead 6-3, what a disaster.
Even Hogan is shocked to see the Sox blow it
Could the Sox rally in the bottom of the tenth against LaTroy Hawkins? Nixon grounded out to first but Offerman walked. Everett lofted a ball down the left field line that Jones misplayed, allowing Offerman to take third and Everett second. Unfortunately Ramirez could only get a run in on a ground out, moving Carl to third. O'Leary flied out to left to end the game. The Twins had won 6-4 after being down to their last strike in the ninth.
Twins win
Jackass of the Night is easy, Rod Beck. He not only gave up the lead in the 9th, he was charged with the go-ahead runs in the tenth too
Scream louder Jackass
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 1 for 3 with 2 walks a 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.
Beck returned for the top of the tenth as Offerman moved from second to first, Stynes came in to play second and Mike Lansing took over at short. Lawton was 0 for 4 but stroked a single to right to begin. Hocking sacrifice bunted him to second and Koskie was intentionally walked to set up the double play. That was it for Beck as Williams brought in Pete Schourek to face the two lefties Ortiz and Mientkiewicz. Ortiz popped up to short but Doug walked to load the bases. Sox manager Jimy Williams lifted Schourek for Rolando Arrojo to pitch to Hunter. It was a bad move as Hunter cleared the bases with a double down the left field line out of the reach of Hillenbrand to give the Twins to lead. Two runs charged to Beck, one to Schourek. Jones flied out to center to end the inning with the Twins ahead 6-3, what a disaster.
Could the Sox rally in the bottom of the tenth against LaTroy Hawkins? Nixon grounded out to first but Offerman walked. Everett lofted a ball down the left field line that Jones misplayed, allowing Offerman to take third and Everett second. Unfortunately Ramirez could only get a run in on a ground out, moving Carl to third. O'Leary flied out to left to end the game. The Twins had won 6-4 after being down to their last strike in the ninth.
Jackass of the Night is easy, Rod Beck. He not only gave up the lead in the 9th, he was charged with the go-ahead runs in the tenth too
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 1 for 3 with 2 walks a 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.
Jason Varitek was 2 for 4
Brian Daubach was 2 for 3
Pedro Martinez tossed 7 innings of 2 run ball allowing 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 10.
Rich Garces pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Chris Stynes was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Chris Stynes was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Craig Grebeck was 0 for 3.
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Pete Schourek walked Mientkiewicz in the ninth who came around to score.
Rolando Arrojo gave up the 3 run double to Hunter.
The Ugly:
Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
Carl Everett was just 1 for 5 but stole a base.
Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 5 but scored a run and drove in one.
Troy O'Leary was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
Shea Hillenbrand was just 1 for 4.
Honorable Mention:
Mike Lansing played shortstop in the 10th.
Mike Lansing played shortstop in the 10th.
Final Thoughts:
Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The Sox had this game won and they let it slip away. Yet another bullpen loss is very concerning to a team that's supposed to be challenging for the AL East this season. The 3-peat New York Yankees are going to win a lot of games with their bullpen and the Sox need to prove that they can too. Wasting a Pedro start is even worse considering how well he pitched too. It sucks because the trio of Beck, Schourek and Arrojo have all had a good month heading in to tonight's game. Guess they were all due for a stinker but man, what a wasted opportunity against a team that's hot like the Twins. The offense fought hard to the bitter end and the mistakes they made during the game came back to haunt them big time. The Sox look to take the rubber game of the series tomorrow night when they send Hideo Nomo (2-1) to the mound up against Eric Milton of the Twins. the game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The Sox had this game won and they let it slip away. Yet another bullpen loss is very concerning to a team that's supposed to be challenging for the AL East this season. The 3-peat New York Yankees are going to win a lot of games with their bullpen and the Sox need to prove that they can too. Wasting a Pedro start is even worse considering how well he pitched too. It sucks because the trio of Beck, Schourek and Arrojo have all had a good month heading in to tonight's game. Guess they were all due for a stinker but man, what a wasted opportunity against a team that's hot like the Twins. The offense fought hard to the bitter end and the mistakes they made during the game came back to haunt them big time. The Sox look to take the rubber game of the series tomorrow night when they send Hideo Nomo (2-1) to the mound up against Eric Milton of the Twins. the game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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