Lester got the ball in the top of the first inning and Elvis Andrus grounded out to short to start. David Murphy lined out to center but Lance Berkman walked. Adrian Beltre singled to left but Nelson Cruz struck out swinging to end the inning. The Red Sox continued their incompetence with runners on in the bottom of the first inning against Texas starter Derek Holland. The returning Jacoby Ellsbury (about time) led off with a single to center and Jonny Gomes followed with one of his own. Unfortunately, Dustin Pedroia banged into a double play. Ortiz grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Rangers struck first in the top of the second. AJ Pierzynski led off with a ground rule double which led to Jeff Baker. He is a notorious Lester killer and he struck again, belting a 2 run home run to give the Rangers the lead. Craig Gentry flied out to center but Lester walked Jurickson Profar. Andrus grounded out to third and Murphy grounded out to second to end the inning with the Rangers up 2-0.
Could the Sox answer in the bottom of the second? Mike Napoli singled to center to lead off.....and was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Daniel Nava took strike three and David Ross swung at air to end the inning.
Captain Sisko doesn't like Napoli's baserunning decision
The Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the third. Jose Iglesias worked a walk but Pedro Ciriaco struck out swinging. Ellsbury singled to right and Gomes advanced Iglesias to third with a liner to right. Pedroia then ripped a herculean double that scored Iglesias and Ellsbury to cut the lead. Ortiz grounded out to first to end the inning with the Rangers ahead 3-2.
Lester escaped a jam in the top of the fourth as Baker popped up to second to start. Gentry walked but Profar flied out to left. Andrus singled to left but Murphy lined out to left to end the inning. Napoli flied out to right to begin the bottom of the fourth before Nava did the same. Ross singled to right and Iglesias walked to put two mean on. Ciriaco.....grounded out to short to end the inning.
Lester FINALLY pitched a clean inning in the top of the fifth. Berkman popped up to first, Beltre struck out swinging and Cruz grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox tried to rally again in the bottom of the fifth as Ellsbury hit a ground rule double to begin. Gomes singled to left to advance Ellsbury to third but Pedroia's swinging bunt got Ellsbury thrown out at home. Ortiz capped off the incompetence with a double play to end the inning.
Lester gave up a lead off double to Pierzynski in the top of the sixth but struck out Baker looking. Gentry grounded out to third and Profar took strike three to end the inning. That was it for Lester after 108 pitches. 6 innings of 3 run ball is normally good enough to keep you in a game, too bad the Sox couldn't score more for him.
The Sox threatened in the bottom of the sixth although Napoli flied out to center to start. Nava walked but Ross popped up to first. Iglesias singled in the hole at short and both runners moved over on a wild pitch. With a chance to do damage....Ciriaco whiffed to end the inning.
Junichi Tazawa of the Orient Express replaced Lester in the top of the seventh. Andrus flied out to right but Murphy doubled to left. Berkman lined out to third but Beltre singled Murphy to third. Taz got Cruz to line out to center to end the inning.
The Sox tried the game in the bottom of the seventh with Robbie Ross Jr now on the mound. Ellsbury doubled to left and Gomes singled him to third. Pedroia whiffed but Ortiz walked to load the bases. Jason Frasor came in to pitch to Napoli and Mike grounded out to first....but Ellsbury scored the tying run. Nava struck out swinging to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Koji Uehara, the other half of the Orient Express came on for the top of the eighth inning and Pierzynski whiffed to start. Baker took strike three and Leonys Martin pinch hit for Gentry. Martin flied out to right to end the inning. Tanner Scheppers came in for the bottom of the eighth and Mike Carp pinch hit for Ross. Carp struck out swinging but Iglesias worked a walk. Stephen "PU" Drew pinch hit for Ciriaco and struck out swinging. Ellsbury grounded out to short to end the inning.
Andrew Bailey came on for the top of the ninth with Jarrod Saltalamacchia now behind the plate. Profar reached with a single to center and Andrus bunted him over to second. Murphy popped up to third and Berkman struck out swinging to end the inning. Michael Kirkman relieved Frasor for the bottom of the ninth and served up a double to center by Gomes to start. In the most peculiar move of the night, Ron Washington had Pedroia intentionally walked to get to Ortiz. Huh? The master of the walk off delivered again, swatting a line drive into the bullpen for a 3 run walk off home run to win the game 6-3.
Hero of The Night is obvious, Big Papi. David Ortiz launched the walkoff home run to win the game.
The Good:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Jonny Gomes was 4 for 5 with a run scored to raise his average to a lusty .202.
David Ross was 1 for 3.
Jose Iglesias was 1 for 1 with 3 walks and a run scored.
Jon Lester tossed 6 solid innings of 3 run ball. He walked 3 and struck out four batters.
Junichi Tazawa pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Andrew Bailey got the win to improve to 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Mike Carp pinch hit for Ross and struck out.
Mike Carp pinch hit for Ross and struck out.
Pedro Ciriaco was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Stephen Drew pinch hit for Ciriaco and struck out.
The Ugly:
Daniel Nava was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but did work a walk.
Daniel Nava was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but did work a walk.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in 2 runs and scored.
Mike Napoli was just 1 for 4 with an rbi off a groundout.
Honorable Mention:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia caught the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
It seemed like the Red Sox were heading for another un-clutch loss but a few big hits turned the game into a 6-3 win. Why did Washington choose to pitch to Ortiz, no one will ever know. With Middlebrooks and Victorino coming off the DL soon, saying goodbye to Jackie Bradley Jr seems to be logical...but which infielder goes? Iglesias has played flawless defense and found ways to get on base....but management STILL has hard ons for .233 PU Drew and .220 Pedro Ciriaco. If Iglesias is demoted he may strangle Pawsox manager Gary DiScarcina. The win gave the Sox a series win against Texas and improved their record to 37-24, 1 1/2 games in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.. Tomorrow night the Sox open a three game set with the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Felix Doubront takes the hill for the Red Sox against Tommy Hanson of the Angels. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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