Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the Boston Red Sox. For eight innings it looked like Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez was going to beat the Minnesota Twins. He held them to just 1 run in 8 innings while striking out 11 batters. Unfortunately the Boston bats went silent in this one as Mike Morgan of Minnesota held the Sox to 1 run in 7 innings as well. The key to the game was the Minnesota bullpen who tossed 5 shutout innings against the inept Sox offense. Finally in the bottom of the 12th inning, Pat Meares hit a two out rbi single off John Wasdin to win the game for the Twins 2-1 at the Metrodome in 12 innings.
Morgan got the ball in the top of the first inning and Darren Lewis' bunt attempt was snuffed out by Matt to start. Reggie Jefferson doubled to left but Mo Vaughn flied out to center. Scott Hatteberg flied out to left to end the inning. Martinez got the ball in the bottom of the first and Todd Walker took strike three to start. Brent Gates flied out to left but Paul Molitor doubled to center. Orlando Merced flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second when Troy O'Leary mashed his 11th home run of the season to start the frame. Midre Cummings took strike three, John Valentin struck out swinging and Mike Benjamin watched strike three go by to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Ron Coomer struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second and Matt Lawton grounded out to short. Alex Ochoa caught the Sox asleep with a bunt down the third base line but was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning.
Mark Lemke got a base hit to left to start the top of the third but was thrown out at second trying to steal. Lewis flied out to center but Jefferson and Vaughn both struck out swinging to end the inning. Javier Valentin struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third but Pat Meares drew a walk. Meares stole second but Walker struck out swinging. Gates grounded out to short to end the inning.
Hatteberg grounded back to the mound to open the top of the fourth but O'Leary got a base hit to right. Cummings grounded into a double play to end the inning. Suddenly John Valentin keeled over in the dugout, was carried out on a stretcher and rushed to the local ICU. Lou Merloni came in for him for the bottom of the fourth. Molitor struck out swinging to open the bottom of the fourth but Merced got a base hit to left. Coomer flied out to right and Lawton struck out swinging to end the inning.
Merloni grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth and Benjamin grounded out to short. Lemke also grounded out to short to end the inning. The Twins struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Ochoa took strike three to start. Valentin flied out to center but Meares doubled to left. Walker got a base hit to center to score Meares with the tying run but Gates flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Lewis took strike three to start the top of the sixth but Jefferson walked. Vaughn got a base hit to right....but Hatteberg grounded into a double play to end the inning. Molitor doubled to left to start the bottom of the sixth and moved to third on the Merced fly ball to center. Coomer struck out swinging and Lawton took strike three to end the inning.
O'Leary grounded out to first to start the top of the seventh and Cummings grounded back to the mound. Merloni got a base hit to left and Benjamin beat out a roller to third but Lemke grounded out to first to end the inning. Ochoa flied out to right to start the bottom of the seventh and both Valentin and Meares struck out swinging to end the inning.
Eddie Guardado came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Lewis walked to start. Jim Leyritz pinch hit for Jefferson and took strike three. Vaughn struck out swinging and Jason Varitek pinch hit for Hatteberg. Lewis stole second and Varitek was intentionally walked to get to O'Leary. Troy lined out to second to end the inning. Pedro returned for one final inning in the bottom of the eighth as Walker grounded out to second to start. Gates popped up to third in foul territory and Molitor grounded out to short to end the inning. That was it for Pedro who was masterful, tossing 8 innings and allowing just 1 run while striking out 11. Too bad the offense fell asleep.
Great outing by Pedro
"I don't got it" - Ochoa
Dan Naulty came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Damon Buford pinch hit for Cummings. Ochoa fell down trying to make a catch and Buford motored around for a triple. Naturally Valentin and Benjamin struck out swinging. Lemke took strike three right down the middle to end the inning. What a waste.
Tom Gordon came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Merced struck out swinging to start. Coomer flied out to center and Lawton grounded out to first to end the inning.
Lewis grounded out to short to start the top of the tenth and Leyritz grounded out to third. Vaughn flied out to right to end the inning. Ochoa grounded out to third to start the bottom of the tenth and Valentin grounded out to short. Meares flied out to center to end the inning.
Varitek popped up to short to start the top of the 11th and O'Leary struck out swinging. Buford flied out to left to end the inning. Walker grounded out to short to start the bottom of the 11th and Gates did the same. Molitor grounded out to third to end the inning.
Mike Trombley came in to pitch the bottom of the 12th and Merloni grounded out to short to start. Benjamin also grounded out to short and Lemke grounded out to third to end the inning. If Ochoa didn't fall down, the last Sox hit would have been Benjamin's in the seventh. John Wasdin came in to pitch the bottom of the 12th and Merced got a base hit to center. Denny Hocking came in to run for him and Wasdin threw the pickoff throw away to move Hocking to second. Coomer singled to right to move Hocking to third and Lawton was intentionally walked to load the bases. Somehow Ochoa struck out swinging and Terry Steinbach pinch hit for Valentin. Somehow Steinbach took strike three but Meares singled over the head of Benjamin to score Hocking with the winning run. The Twins had won it 2-1 in 12 innings.
Jackass of The Night is John Wasdin. He allowed the walkoff single in the bottom of the 12th after nearly pulling off the Houdini.
The Good:
Reggie Jefferson was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Jason Varitek walked in two plate appearances
Troy O'Leary was 2 for 5 with a home run.
Damon Buford was 1 for 2.
Pedro Martinez was impeccable, allowing 1 run in 8 innings off 6 hits and a walk while striking out 7.
Tom Gordon tossed 3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Jim Leyritz was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 3.
Midre Cummings was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
John Valentin struck out in his only at bat.
The Ugly:
Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and stole a base.
Mo Vaughn was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Lou Merloni was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Mark Benjamin was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Mark Lemke was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Final Thoughts:
Give credit to the Twins pitching staff. They survived not only Pedro Martinez for eight innings but 3 innings of Tom Gordon as well. It helped that Nomar Garciaparra didn't play but the Twins earned this one. Its a shame the Sox not only wasted Pedro's start but Gordon won't be able to go tomorrow as well. The Twins had to use 3 guns out of the bullpen as well but they'll worry about tomorrow when it comes. If you wanted a grinding, low scoring pitchers duel then this was for you. If you wanted some offense, this game would have put you to sleep. Another shame was Wasdin caused the bases loaded situation but was one strike away from escaping it. Not that the Sox would have guaranteed to score in the 13th inning but it would have been a hell of a story. Just have to tip your cap and move on. The loss dropped the Sox to 24-15, 4.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Sox now travel home for a three game set with the Kansas City Royals beginning tomorrow night. Tim Wakefield (4-1) takes on Jose Rosado of Kanas City. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
