Game 43: Tiggers 3 Sox 4

Wow! I might start calling these guys the Kardiac Kids. Sox scrape 3 runs together against Verlander. Drew had a couple of bad plays in the outfield but the early offense was brought to you by the letters J and D (sac fly in the 2nd, HR in the 4th). Ortiz also had a HR against Verlander and put together some good at bats against a tough pitcher. Same goes for Varitek as well.

Beckett left early (83 pitches after 6 innings) with neck tightness (I haven't heard any updates). Albers held the 7th but Bard coughed up the 2 run lead by giving up back to back solo shots on off speed pitches. Why, when you can throw 100 mph, would you toy around with off speed pitches? In the ninth, Papelbon puts a scare in the fans by loading the bases with one out on 2 singles and a walk. He works his way out of it with 2 Ks.

In the Sox half of the ninth, they get the bases loaded with no outs on a Youkilis walk, an Ortiz single, and an intentional walk to Drew. Lowrie has a great 10 pitch at bat working back from an 0-2 count but his bloop into left field gets Iglesias (pinch running for Youkilis) stuck guessing if it would get caught or not. So he was forced out at home. Not to worry though, Mr. Clutch himself, the King of the Walkoff, Carl Crawford hits a stinging line drive to center field with the outfield drawn in to drive in the winning run.

A lot of fun to watch this team when it's clicking and taking care of business against a top notch pitcher like Verlander. Sox next host the Cubs for three at Fenway for the first time since the 1918 World Series. Should be fun.