This was a close game mostly due to home plate umpire Tim McClelland’s tight zone in the first inning. Bedard got squeezed in the first walking 4 and giving up 2 runs. The rest of the game McClelland’s zone seemed pretty fair but that first inning he was giving the hitters anything on the edge of the strike zone. Sox had gotten 2 walks in their half of the inning too but couldn’t push anyone across.
After that inning Bedard went 4 more scoreless innings giving up 2 hits and striking out 4. It was a good start for him and hopefully as he builds up his arm strength he’ll be able to go further and further into games. Albers gave up another run in an inning pitched on a single and a double. Morales went 2/3 of an inning and Bard went 1 1/3 to get to Papelbon, who had a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save.
The offense was pretty meager, limited to a 2-4 night from Gonzalez with a double and a 2-3 night from McDonald with his 4th HR of the season. Pedroia showed some impressive plate discipline working 3 walks. In fact, the Twins gave up 9 walks on the night; only McDonald and Ellsbury went walkless. Yes, even Crawford got a walk.
The winning run came on the rare infield single from Ortiz. Sox loaded the bases on two walks and Gonzalez’s double. Ortiz hit a tapper back to the mound and the pitcher went to toss it home to get the force out but ended up not getting anyone. It’s a game of inches sometimes.
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