On
a night where Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista single-handedly
defeated the New York Yankees, the Red Sox used a tag-team effort
from shortstop Marco Scutaro and starter John Lackey to beat the
visiting Seattle Mariners 6-3.
John
Lackey (12-7, 4.51 ERA) had a season high strikeout total of 7 in one
game going into tonight. This game would be different as John baffled
the Mariners re-setting his season high with 10 over 8 innings of
work. His counterpart Doug Fister (4-9, 3.87 ERA) was game for 6
innings before the Sox got to him.
The
first shot was fired by Seattle in the top of the third. Ryan
Langerhands walked and advanced to second when Matt Tuiasosopo
grounded out. Chris Woodward became Lackey's next strikeout victim
then intentionally walked Ichiro to get to Chone Figgins. This move
backfired as Jed Lowrie bobbled a ground ball which Langerhands
scored off of to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. Russel Branyan was whiffed
to end the inning but the damage was done.
Fister
and Lackey got through the 4th inning without any problems then
Lackey pitched a scoreless 5th, setting up the big bottom of the
inning. Adrian Beltre singled but Mike Lowell whiffed, bringing up
Jed Lowrie for the key play of the game. Jed hit a lazy fly ball that
left fielder Langerhans dropped into the stands for a ground-rule
double. Daniel Nava then walked to load the bases with 1 out rather
than first and second with 2 gone. Tonight's hero Marco Scutaro
stepped to the plate and singled home Beltre and Lowrie to give the
Sox a 2-1 lead. JD Drew tacked on another run by singling home Nava
to end the 5th inning rally.
Just
as soon as the Sox took the lead, Lackey wasted no time in giving it
away. Ichiro and Figgins hit back to back singles before Lackey
punched out Branyan again. The Sox shoddy defense then faltered when
Franklin Guitierrez hit a ball that John Lackey booted to load the
bases. Right on cue Casey Kotchman singled home Ichiro and Figgins to
tie the game. The Sox then caught a break when Adam Moore hit a
ground ball to Beltre who then caught Guiterrez in a run-down for the
second out. Langerhans flew out to end the rally and effectively the
scoring for the Mariners.
Doug
Fister set the Sox down in order in the bottom of the 6th then Lackey
pitched a 1-2-3 scoreless 7th to set up the heroics. Jed Lowrie and
Daniel Nava hit back to back singles and Ryan Kalish laid down a
picture perfect sacrifice bunt that moved the runners into scoring
position. That did it for Fister as Sean White was brought into the
game. Darnell McDonald came on for Nava as a pinch runner as Marco
Scutaro came to the plate. Marco drove in his 3rd and 4th run of the
night with a base hit, scoring Lowrie and McDonald. JD Drew then
pitched in with a base hit that sent Scutaro to third, who then was
brought home with a sac fly by Victor Martinez. David Ortiz followed
with a single but Beltre lined out to end the inning. The Sox now led
6-3 with 2 innings to play in the game.
Lackey
came back for the 8th inning and got into immediate trouble when
Chone Figgins led off with a single, then promptly stole second base.
John bore down to get Branyan to pop up and Franklin Guiterrez to
ground out. With a runner on third, Lackey's 112th pitch of the night
got Kotchman to ground out to end the inning and Lackey's respectable
performance.
All
that was left was Jonathan Papelbon's 9th inning relief appearance
that yielded him his 31st save of the year and the 6-3 win. Jose
Bautista's one man show meant the victory by the Sox moved them 5.5
games behind the Yankees and the victorious Rays for the post-season
spot. Even more good news followed as the Sox put in a claim for
former Red Sox legend Johnny Damon. They will know in 2 days if they
have the ex-centerfielder or not.
In
the meantime, Josh Beckett (3-3, 6.67 ERA) looks to end his skid
against former Sox pitcher David Pauley (2-4, 3.70 ERA) tomorrow
night.
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