Sox Edge Jays (8/10/10)

All good things must come to an end and Daisuke Matsuzaka's run of brilliance ended last night at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. The night was not a total wash as the offense woke up with some timely hitting to win the game anyway.

Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero was in trouble as early as the second inning. David Ortiz hit a leadoff double before Adrian Beltre doubled him in for the Sox' first run. Bill Hall's ground out moved Beltre to third base where Jed Lowrie's double scored Adrian. Jacoby Ellsbury finished the rally with a single that scored Jed from second base. The Sox looked to deliver the knockout blow in the third when ictor Martinez singled and David Ortiz doubled, which Toronto manager Cito Gaston called for intentionally walking Adrian Beltre. The tide turned in the game really when all Mike Lowell could do was hit a sac fly that scored Martinez. A Bill Hall ground out let Romero off the hook and kept the score managable.

This was not the same Dice K as his previous starts have shown. In the second inning he allowed a home run to Adam Lind but escaped with no further damage. In the third, disaster struck as "Dice K Disease" took control. After issuing back to back walks to John McDonald and Fred Lewis, Travis Snider belted a 3 run shot to tie the game at 4. He managed to get Jose Bautista to line out and whiff Aaron Hill, but Adam Lind doubled to keep the inning going. Edwin Encarnarcion flied out but the damage had been done, 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Both pitchers recovered to pitch a scoreless 4th inning showing great poise in the process when it looked like both of them could have been lifted.

In the 5th inning the Sox took the lead on JD Drew's 13th home run of the year and Dice K worked around a botched double play ball in the bottom of the frame to keep the lead intact. The rejuvinated Romero got through a Lowrie walk to record another shut-out inning and in the bottom of the frame, the Blue Jays looked to even the score.

Encarnarcion walked but Dice K got Lyle Overbay to strike out followed by a JP Arencibia fly out. John McDonald singled and manager Terry Francona had seen enough. Dice K was gone just like that after 5 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs in the process but still in line for the win. Rookie lefty Felix Doubront (2-2) came in from the pen and immediately was given trouble when shortstop Marco Scutaro (who went 0-5 in the game as well) botched another sure ground out. With the bases loaded the rookie beared down and struck out Travis Snider to end the rally.

The fun was shortlived, in the top of the 7th Scott Downs came in and shut the Sox down before Jose Bautista took Doubront deep in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Felix was able to get the next 3 batters including striking out Encarnarcion to end the frame.

Then manager Gaston made a critical mistake. After Downs got Ortiz on strikes, he brought in Shawn Camp rather than let Scott finish. Camp managed to get Adrian Beltre to ground out, but he hung a pitch to Mike Lowell who gladly deposited his 4th home run over the wall in left center to give the Sox a 6-5 lead. Ryan Kalish pinch hit for Bill Hall and continued his hot streak with a base hit. Jed Lowrie then doubled to score Kalish for some much needed insurance.

Now the Sox had the lead but with Bard unavailable, the struggling bullpen had to deliver. Manny Delcarmen came in the game and immediately struck out Lyle Overbay before retiring the next 2 batters for a perfect 8th. In the 9th inning, Jon Papelbon worked around a Snider double to end the game and record his 29th save of the year.

The Sox kept pace with the Rays and gained ground on the Yankees thanks to former Red Sox outfielder David Murphy's walk off single off Mariano Rivera. The Sox are still within striking distance in the AL East and Wildcard and just have to take care of their own business for now. Tomorrow night Clay Buchholz (12-5, 2.66 ERA) opposes Toronto's best pitcher Shawn Marcum (10-5, 3.44 ERA) in what should be a great duel. Both pitchers have had the other team's number all year.