Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Jason Repko was placed on the Disabled List after hurting his shoulder crashing into the wall and the Sox brought up 2007 Lancaster Jethawk leader Lars Anderson to replace him. The Sox are desperate for outfield help with Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury out so hopefully Anderson can give them something.
Jason Marquis got the start for the Twins in the top of the first and Mike Aviles dropped a base hit just in front of Chris Parmalee to start. Ryan Sweeney struck out swinging but Dustin Pedroia blooped a base hit to center to move Aviles to third. Adrian Gonzalez hit a sac fly to left to score Mike but Pedroia was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Lester got the ball in the bottom of the first and Denard Span walked to start. Jamey Carroll banged into a double play but Joe Mauer ripped a base hit to center. Josh Willingham struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the second as David Ortiz led off with a check swing base hit down the vacated third base line. Kevin Youkilis forced David at second but Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck his second home run of the season to increase the lead. Cody Ross took strike three and Marlon Byrd made his Red Sox debut after going 3 for 43 with the Cubs and grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Justin Morneau flied out to center to start the bottom of the second but Ryan Doumit singled to left. Danny Valencia banged into a double play to end the inning.
Aviles flied out to left to start the top of the third but Sweeney doubled to right. Sweeney was thrown out at third on a grounder to short by Pedroia and Gonzalez took strike three to end the inning. Chris Parmalee struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Trevor Plouffe flied out to center. Span struck out swinging to end the inning.
Ortiz ripped a base hit to center to start the top of the fourth but Youkilis was robbed of a hit by a diving Span. Saltalamacchia banged into a double play to end the inning. The Twins exploded in the bottom of the fourth as Carroll grounded back to the mound to start. Mauer singled to left and Willingham walked, but Morneau was called out on strikes. Doumit doubled down the left field line to score both runners and Valencia smashed a two run home run all the way to the jungle of Peru to give the Twins the lead. Parmalee grounded out to third to end the inning with the Twins up 4-3.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth as Ross grounded out to third to begin. Byrd grounded out to third and Aviles flied out to left to end the inning. The Twins got another run in the bottom of the fifth as Plouffe walked to start. Span dumped a base hit to center to move Plouffe to third and Trevor scored on the double play ball hit by Carroll. Mauer walked but Willingham grounded out to third to end the inning with the Twins up 5-3.
Carroll brings a run in
Sweeney singled to right to start the top of the sixth before Pedroia dumped a base hit to left. Gonzlez beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners but Ortiz did hit into one to end the inning. Lester came back for the bottom of the sixth and Morneau hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Doumit grounded out to third and Valencia grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the top of the seventh although Youkilis grounded out to third to start. Saltalamacchia ripped a base hit to right and Ross smashed his fourth home run of the season to tie the game. Byrd got a base hit to left to chase Marquis. Jared Burton came in to get Aviles to fly out to left and Sweeney grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.
Ross ties it up
Lester came back for one final inning in the bottom of the seventh and Parmalee flied out to right to start. Plouffe grounded out to short and Span grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Lester got roughed up for 5 runs but held on to go 7 innings.
Pedroia struck out swinging to open the top of the eighth and that was it for Burton. Brian Duensing came in to pitch to Gonzalez and Adrian flied out to center. Ortiz went down hacking to end the inning. Franklin Morales came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Carroll sliced a base hit down the right field line only for Sweeney to boot it for an error to allow Jamey to take third. Morales got a big out when Mauer grounded out to first and Sox manager Bobby Valentine turned to Daniel Bard to bail him out. Willingham lined out to third and Morneau was intentionally walked to set up a force. Doumit popped up to short to end the inning. That was the turning point in the game to hold the Twins with a runner on third and nobody out.
The Sox capitalized in the top of the ninth with Matt Capps now on the mound. Youkilis grounded out to short and Saltalamacchia flied out to center, but Ross smashed his second home run of the game to put Boston on top. Byrd flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-5.
Alfredo Aceves came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Valencia grounded back to the mound to start. Parmalee singled to center to put the tying run on and Clete Thomas pinch ran for him. Plouffe flied out to left and Span grounded back to the mound to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-5.
Hero of the Night is Cody Ross. He hit the two run homer to tie the game and the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth.
The Good:
Ryan Sweeney was 2 for 4.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4.
David Ortiz was 2 for 4.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run and two total runs scored.
Franklin Morales got the first out of the eighth inning.
Daniel Bard got the win with 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Alfredo Aceves earned his third save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Mike Aviles was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Adrian Gonzalez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Kevin Youkilis was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Marlon Byrd was just 1 for 4.
Jon Lester allowed 5 early runs but battled to toss 7 innings, allow 6 hits and strike out 4.
Final Thoughts:
Of the 5 measly wins the Sox have this season, two of them happened to be ninth inning rallies. Coming off the embarrassing loss to the New York Yankees, the Sox needed to make a statement against the Twins and for 5 innings it didn't look good. Thank goodness for Saltalamacchia and Ross in this one. Ross has been the best free agent signing of the off-season with five home runs already including two tonight. Lester didn't look good at all again but at least he battled through seven innings. Bringing Bard out of the bullpen was a little peculiar but it got the job done. The Sox have a lot of work to do to right the ship but they took a good first step by the way they won. Not letting Carroll score the go-ahead run in the eighth led to Ross' blast in the ninth. Hopefully things are looking up for the Red Sox because that was truly a gutty win. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Twins tomorrow night when Josh Beckett (1-2) takes on Nick Blackburn of Minnesota. The game begins at 8:05 PM Eastern time at Target Field.
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