Game 162: Sox 3, O's 4

I went into total media blackout for this game. Sorry if you emailed, called, or text. Nothing personal! I also decided to keep a running live log as the game progressed:

Top of the 1st:

- Ortiz works a walk after getting down in an 0-2 count. Classic Big Papi. He's been awesome this year after two really disappointing years.

- NESN announcers tell us this Francona picked this lineup with an eye to getting his 4 best batters as many at bats as possible. Uhh... why weren't you doing that all year?

Bottom of 1st:

- Lester gives up a 1 out double to Hardy, then strikes out Markakis. Phew! I was nervous after all the talk of 1st inning meltdowns by Lester. He's looking good, neigh, downright dominant at this point.

- Yanks up 1-0!

Top of 2nd:

- Drew gets a single. As much as I like Reddick, I'm glad to have the veteran in tonight. I want someone in there who's been in bigger games; not a rookie who may get intimidated.

Bottom of 2nd:

- Lester's pitching on 3 days rest?! I had no idea. I guess this really is a playoff game. I wonder if we'll see a starter come out of the bullpen if it comes to that. Please not Lackey. Please.

- Every time Reynolds comes up to bat, the NESN guys remind us of how many times he's struck out this year. Yes, I know, he strikes out a lot. He also hits a lot of home runs. There's hardly any difference between a fly out and a strike out.

- Double play! Pitcher's best friend.

Top of 3rd:

- Ellsbury now has a 13 game hit streak. In September. With his team in the thick of the playoff hunt. If he's not the MVP, I don't know who is. Two on, nobody out.

- Pedroia!! Sox up 1-0 on the single!

- Ortiz! Double play on a ball to third that would have gotten through if the normal Ortiz shift was on. Damn.

- Yankees up 5-0 on Teixeira grand salami!

Bottom of 3rd:

- Buchholz was taken off the DL today? Why? You're not going to pitch him today. Or tomorrow? That seems like an odd move.

- F-bomb. Hardy hits a 2 run shot. O's up 2-1.

Top of 4th:

- Boy has Scutaro looked good this month. Great defense, losts of hits. Add a 1 out double to that.

- Scutaro moved over to 3rd. With two outs he dances around the bag, O's starter Simon flinches, and Scutaro scores on the balk. Woo hoo! Sox tie it up 2-2.

- Aviles would have knocked him in anyway. But then gets caught stealing by a country mile to end the inning. Boo...

Bottom of 4th:

- 1-2-3 inning. Nothing to see here.

Top of 5th:

- C'mon Buck! Get thrown out of the game arguing balls and strikes. Nobody likes you anyway.

- Pedroia!! Home run! Sox up 3-2. Lazer Show!

- Yanks up 6-0! Teixeira hits home run number 2 on the night.

- Ok, I'll say it. This game has the feel of game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. We will win, right? Anytime you can compare how you feel to the 2004 playoffs is a good sign.

Bottom of 5th:

- Terrible play off the wall by Drew. Reynolds may have gotten to 2nd even if he had played it well but still, he looked like a fool. I take back my earlier "veteran over rookie" talk.

- Yes. Play at the plate. Sox win. Nice.

- Yanks up 7-0 now.

Top of 6th:

Another 1-2-3. Moving along.

Bottom of 6th:

- Oooohh... dramatic music, slow motion video. You're better than this NESN. Don't be Fox or ESPN. There's a reason I like you better.

- Hardy leadoff BB. At least he didn't get another home run. He's been all over Lester.

- Back to back BBs. Thus must be Lester's wild inning. Get the hook ready.

- Wow! Scutaro starts the DP by tossing to Pedroia from his glove. Amazing!

- BB number 3. Hook please!

- Strikes out Jones. Phew. This has got to be Lester's last inning. He looks done and getting 6 innings of 2 run ball on 3 days rest is about as much as you can expect. That's downright Lowe-esque (from Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS? Anyone? Anyone?).

Top of 7th:

- Dammit, Ortiz! Out at 2nd trying to get the double for out number 2. Pedroia gets to third on the play.

- Ergh. Scoring threat over after Gonzales intentionally walked and Lavarnway grounds it out.

Bottom of 7th:

- Aceves in, Reynolds hit by the very first pitch, Young on the bullpen phone. Sigh.

- Hit batter number 2 now. Jeez. Aceves has hit a ton of batters this year. $10 says the Orioles retaliate next inning. Young visits the mound.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa! Rays have tied the game?!? What?! It was 7-0 in the 6th last inning, now it's 7-7 in the 10th? What happened?

- Big K!! 2 outs.

Top of 8th:

- Scutaro is batting .299 on the season now? Really? 299?

- Aagh! Scutaro was running on the play when Crawford hits a double. Gets thrown out at home, barely, on a perfect relay throw. Shoot-fire.

Bottom of 8th:

- Bard in. Hold on to your butt cheeks.

- Guerrero hits a deep fly to left. Deep. Out 2.

- Phew! Wieters hits a deep fly to right. Inning over.

Top of 9th:

- C'mon! Dreamboat not only beat that throw, Reynolds didn't even catch the ball! He's safe.

- And it's been reversed. Good job by the umps.

- Tacoby Bellsbury steals 2nd. 39 on the season. That's a little low but the HRs have been a good replacement.

- Orioles closer Johnson bluffs to first then throws to 3rd, nearly getting Ellsbury. Weird.

- Ortiz gets on with a swinging bunt fielder's choice. They pinch run with Gathright. I sure hope we don't need his bat in extra innings.

- Gonzalez gets his 3rd IBB of the night? After Lavarnway hit two dingers yesterday?

- And Lavarnway grounds into a double play. That's why I'm not a baseball manager.

Bottom of 9th:

- Papelbon is in for the save. Jones K's. Reynolds, ditto. Of course. He always strikes out!

- Davis hits a double but Aviles saves the day by backing up the errant throw from Gonzalez to 2nd base. That would have been third easily. maybe even home.

- Ground rule double by Reimold! Noooooooooo!! Game tied, 3-3.

- F-bomb x infinity. Crawford goes for the catch on Andino's sinking liner. Misses a ball he should have caught. Because he went for it, he's too slow to get up and throw the ball home to get the runner out. Sox lose, 4-3.

- Now we wait to see if the Rays lose too. Tied at 7s in the 12th.

- Longoria hits a home run, Rays win 8-7. Season over. Unbelievable.

Game 161: Sox 8, O's 7

Sox finally get a win... but barely. Papelbon gives up a run in the ninth but strands the tying run on 2nd to get the save. Phew! The hero of this game was Lavarnway, making a spot start at catcher after Varitek took a hit by pitch off the knee in the Yankee series and Saltalamacchia took a foul ball off the collar bone yesterday. How does the rookie respond? Two for four with 2 home runs and 4 RBI including what ended up being the deciding run. Ellsbury also hit a home run trying to secure his bid as AL MVP this year.

Bedard started the game but was largely ineffective. Three and a third innings, 5 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs. Still, that kept the Sox in the game and Aceves was able to eat up 3 2/3 innings for his 10th win of the season. The Sox bullpen almost lost this game too though as Bard gave up 2 runs in the 8th and Papelbon gave up that one run in the 9th.

Tomorrow's game is our Day of Reckoning. Win and we're at least getting a 1-game playoff. Lose and we'll need the Yankees to beat the Rays to stay alive. I don't think I've ever wanted the Yankees to win before but these are special circumstances. Win Sox, win Yanks. Nevermind that the Sox haven't won 2 games in a row since August. The time is now...

Game 160: Sox 3, O’s 6

Sigh. Against the hapless Orioles the Sox again cough up the lead. Beckett gives up another 6 runs over 6 innings. The biggest hit came on an inside the park home run in the 6^th. I wouldn't have called it a hit though as the the ball hit Ellsbury in the glove and Saltalamacchia had the runner out at home if he had caught the ball. But still, three runs scored on the play. Sox loaded the bases in the 8^th but couldn't push any across. The tying run was at the plate in the 9^th but Gonzalez hit a fly ball and Lowrie struck out to end the game.

Sox are tied with the Rays now. It may be a problem that the Sox haven’t won consecutive games yet this month as they’ll likely need three wins to make it to the playoffs at this point.

Game 159: Sox 7, Yanks 4

Sox salvage the day night doubleheader split (of course) in 14 innings. Ellsbury didn't look that good for 13 innings but hit a three run shot in the 14^th to give the Sox the win. That's his third home run of the day for those of you keeping score at home. Lackey did what he needed to to keep the Sox in the game. Six innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, and 4 Ks. Aceves, Bard, Paplebon, Morales, and Dubront all keep the Yankees B-team from scoring through extra frames.

Sox have a 1 game leading coming into the final series against the Orioles. All we need to do is match the Rays for three games. I DO NOT want to see the Rays for a one game playoff, especially now that it's become clear that the Rays would host a one-game playoff.

Game 158: Sox 2, Yanks 6

Game 1 of the doubleheader and the Yankees are only playing half of their starting lineup. Sox lose their 8^th series despite 2 home runs from Ellsbury. He has 30 now on the season and 100 RBI, a far cry from anything anyone expected from him this year. That was pretty much all of the offense. Wakefield pitched and suffered from more defensive miscues including 2 errors, a passed ball, and a wild pitch. That turned 3 earned runs into 5 runs. Albers gave up another run for good measure.

This is getting depressing.

Game 157: Sox 1, Yanks 9

Sox got rained out in NYC the day before so we got a doubleheader on Sunday instead. Sox were baffled by Garcia for 6 innings and could only push one across in the 7^th on a Crawford double. Sox put together 9 hits and a walk in the game but just couldn't get anything going at the plate.

Lester was pitching and gave up 8 runs over 2 2/3 innings. No big hits, just a bunch of hits in a row in the 6 run 2^nd. This was another game where the Sox could do nothing right and everything seemed to break the Yankees way.

Game 156: O’s 6, Sox 4

Another late game rally for the O’s gives the Sox their 7^th straight series loss. Even the home town fans started booing in this, the Sox last home game. Beckett gives up 6 runs over 7 1/3 innings but 2 of those came after he left the game. I’m pinning the loss on Aceves. Every Oriole got a hit except their number 9 hitter and Reynolds had two home runs against Beckett. On the Red Sox side, Crawford had three hits including a triple and Gonzalez had 2 hits. But per typical this month, 4 runs are not enough to win a game.

Game 155: O’s 7, Sox 5

Three runs in the 8^th. Typical of this month. Sox had the one run lead with Bard coming back after pitching the 7^th. He gives up 2 singles before making way for Papelbon. He gets a strikeout and a single before giving up the 3 run double that loses the game. Fantastic.

Game 154: O’s 9 Sox 18

Sox avoid the day night doubleheader sweep with a drubbing of the Orioles. Seems like these doubleheaders almost always result in a split. And right now the Sox would take a split any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Sox put together 20 hits and 8 walks to create 18 runs. Lowrie and Conor Jackson had conventional home runs; Ellsbury hit the unconventional inside the park home run. One of the most exciting plays in baseball.

Lackey benefited from the run support, per his usual. He only went 4 1/3 innings and gave up 8 runs on 11 hits, 2 walks. Fortunately, the bullpen was able to pick up the slack and only gave up 1 run over 3 2/3 innings. And the offense provided the runs for a win.

Game 153: O’s 6 Sox 5

Game 1 of a doubleheader making up a rain day in May(?). Weiland pitching again as I think Bedard is the injured pitcher now. He gives up 2 in the third, back to back home runs in the 4^th, and a solo shot in the 5^th before getting the hook. Sox rally for 2 in the 5^th and 1 in the 7^th but can get no more. The rough times continue.

Scutaro went 3 for 3 with a walk and both Gonzalez and McDonald were 2-4. The offense just doesn’t seem to click with the pitching, leaving the Sox with a lot of 1 run losses. And like I said earlier, the Sox seem to have lost that killer instinct that gets them that one extra run they need to create a win.

Game 152: Rays 8, Sox 5

Sox lose their 6^th straight series and are only 2 games up on the Rays now. Sox literally knock Price out of the game when Aviles hit a line drive off his chest. But 6 runs from Wakefield (of which only 2 were earned) put the Sox in too deep of a hole. Miller came in and gave up 2 more runs in 1 inning for good measure. It was a messy game with 2 errors on Aviles, 4 passed balls from Saltalamacchia, and 2 wild pitches. When things are going poorly, they seem to go very poorly.

Most of the offense came from Aviles as he hit a three run home run in the 7^th to make it a three run game. Ellsbury had a multi-hit game too but the 8 runs allowed were too many for the offense to make up (story of the month).

Game 151: Rays 4, Sox 3

Aagh. With Lester on the mound and a big game, you really want the win. But Lester gives up 4 runs over 7 innings on 5 hits and 4 walks and the offense can't overcome. Crawford had two hits and Aviles had three (a day after hitting his first home run as a Red Sox). But we got nothing but walks out of the middle of the lineup and the Rays did just enough to win.

It’s games like this that just make you shake your head because the Rays didn’t seem like the better team but they somehow found a way to win. Playoff teams find a way to win and the Sox are not looking like a playoff team.

Game 150: Rays 3, Sox 4

Beckett’s back! And the Sox finally win! Coincidence? I think not.

Game 149: Rays 9 Sox 2

Sox hosting the Rays for four games with a 4 game lead in the wild card. Weiland making another spot start results in 4 runs in 3 innings. Three of those came on a Longoria home run that never would have happened if Upton hadn't managed to send a broken bat shard in the same direction as Scutaro as he tried to field his ground ball. It's just going that way for the Sox these days. Morales and Albers combine for 1 1/3 innings of 5 run relief to round out the pitching ineffectiveness.

At the plate, not much happened with the Sox only amassing 6 hits (although they did work 5 walks). Scutaro and Ortiz led the team with two hits each. But no extra base hits meant there was no chance to catch up as this turned into a laugher by the 7^th.

Game 148: Jays 5, Sox 4

Back to losing. Then again, this was the first time in 7 games that the Sox gave up fewer than 6 runs. On the other hand, the Sox had the lead going into the 8^th and coughed up 3 runs. Sigh.

We got the good Lackey this day. Five and 1/3 innings, 2 runs is about the most you can ask from him. Morales and Aceves held the lead before Bard entered in the 8^th. Two walks and an error on Bard left the bases loaded with no one out. He got a run scoring ground out to trim the lead but then gave up a 2 run single to get the loss before getting a double play and out of the inning. Papelbon pitched a perfect 9^th.

Sox only mustered 6 hits and 1 walk but turned them into 4 runs. Gonzalez hit a solo home run in the 6^th. Ellsbury had a triple and Scutaro hit a double but everything else was a single. And the Sox seemed to have lost all killer instinct late in the game to put together a rally after giving up the lead late. I know it’s not easy but you can just see it in the way the Sox players look and walk to the plate. They look defeated before they even get to the plate.

Game 147: Jays 6, Sox 18

Sox had a quick 2 game series against the Jays after the mess in Florida and before hosting the Rays for another 4 games. Wakefield finally got win number 200 in this one, probably the least likely person you would have thought would get it out of his draft class (1988!). He went 6 innings giving up 5 runs but the offense provided him with the win.

Sox took a 6-5 lead in the 4^th and ran with it for the win including 4 runs in the 6^th and 7 runs in the 8^th. Pedroia hit two home runs giving him 20 for the first time in his career and Ellsbury added his 27^th as well. They both went 4 for 5 too.

Game 146: Sox 1, Rays 9

Sox get swept and their wild card lead dwindles to 3.5 games. That was bad enough but it was particularly hard to take this loss with Lester on the mound. But Lester could only last 4 innings throwing 111 pitches. Four earned runs on 8 hits, 3 walks, and only 2 Ks. Bowden gave up 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning, although they all came after he left and Albers gave up a grand slam to BJ Upton.

On the other side of the diamond, Sox just couldn’t get anything going against Shields who nearly threw another complete game. The Sox only run came from a solo home run from Scutaro. Sox were able to collect 7 hits and 3 walks but just couldn’t turn those into runs.

Game 145: Sox 5, Rays 6

Rays scored a run in 5 of the first 6 innings and push one across in the 11^th for the win. Sox made it interesting with 2 runs in the 9^th to tie the game on back to back home runs from Saltalamacchia and Ellsbury. But with two on and 1 out, Ortiz grounded into a double play to end the threat. In the 11^th, Bard gave up a lead off triple. He got the next batter to ground out right at Gonzalez but instead of walking Longoria to set up the double play against Zobrist, Francona elected to pitch to Longoria. Longoria won, Francona lost.

Weiland made the spot start in place of Beckett (I think). Four innings, 3 runs isn’t bad for a spot start. Aceves was uncharacteristic in giving up 2 runs although he did pitch 4 innings and he’s been amazing this year. Papelbon pitched 2 clean innings trying to get the Sox the win.

Game 144: Sox 2, Rays 7

Sox headed down to St. Petersburg for three games 2.5 back from the Yankees and 6.5 games ahead of the Rays in the wild card race. In the series opener, the Sox get cut down by Wade Davis somehow as he pitches the complete game with 8 Ks. The only offense was a 2 hit night from Reddick and a double from Saltalamacchia. The remaining 3 hits were scattered singles.

Lackey came out after 3 innings after getting hit by a comebacker, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. The killer was a 3-run home run to Rays catcher John Jaso. Atchison gave up another 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings on 4 hits and a walk. Doubront and Morales finished the game.

Game 143: Sox 4, Jays 7

Another September series, another loss for the Sox. That's three now as the Sox are 2-6 in September so far. Again, the pitching loses the game. Miller pitched 5 innings giving up 5 runs on 8 hits including 2 home runs. Bowden gives up a run in relief, as does Doubront. Albers goes 2/3 innings clean.

Scutaro continued to scorch the ball with three more hits in this game. Ellsbury had two as well, both doubles. Unfortunately, that accounted for almost half of the Sox offense. Varitek hit a solo shot in the 9^th against Francisco but Pedroia, Ortiz, Youkilis, and Lowrie were a combined 0-16 in the middle of the lineup.

Game 142: Sox 10, Jays 11

This one was a back and forth affair. Sox jumped out to a quick 3 run lead but were down 5-3 by the end of the third. Four runs in the fourth and one in the 5^th gave the Sox an 8-5 lead. But the Jays scored 1 in the 7^th and 5 (!) in the 8^th to take back the lead. Sox fought for 2 more in the 9^th but Aviles gets caught trying to steal 2^nd to end the game. This all in Wakefield's 7^th attempt at Win 200.

Wakefield gave up 5 runs (4 earned) in 5 innings but this loss hangs squarely on Bard (5 runs) and Francona's decision to stick with him even as he was clearly taxed (36 pitches) and Papelbon was warming in the bullpen. Poor performance and poor decision making.

At the plate, the Sox did score 10 runs after all. Ellsbury, Ortiz, and Gonzalez each had home runs accounting for half of the runs. Scutaro hit well at his Canadian home again going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. Aviles’ bone headed play in the 9^th was particularly bad as Francisco was getting hit around and Molina was specifically brought in to catch Francisco due to his throwing-out-of-runners ability. Sheesh.

Game 141: Sox 14, Jays 0

Sox atone for the sins of the day before, plating 13 runs in the first 5 innings. Scutaro and Ortiz lead the attack with 4 hits each. Apparently Scutaro really likes hitting in his former home ballpark. Saltalamacchia and Reddick added home runs (2-run and solo, respectively) as the Sox amassed 20 hits and 5 walks. Felt a lot better than the day before.

On the mound, Lester silenced the Jays over 7 innings giving 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 11. Kyle Weiland, a September call up, pitched the last two innings giving up only 1 hit.

Game 140: Sox 0, Jays 1

Aagh, this one was killer. Sox knew they needed to come into Toronto and take care of business if they were going to keep up with the Yankees for the AL East lead. And with Beckett on the mound, we felt confident. But Beckett left after only 3 2/3 innings, 58 pitches after landing awkwardly on his delivery. Still, Aceves, Bard, and Papelbon combined for 6 1/3 shutout innings to give the Sox a chance. But the offense squandered the opportunity. Four innings they got two men on but didn't score. In the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th innings they had a man in scoring position but couldn't push him across.

Then, in the 11^th, Wheeler relieved Papelbon and got two quick outs before giving up the game winning home run to some nobody named Brett Lawrie. Dagger to the heart.

Game 139: Walker 11, Sox 4

Sox lose another series as Lackey gives up 6 in 5 innings, Doubront gives up 3 in 1/3 of an inning, and Bowden gave up 2 in the last two innings. Oddly enough, despite his recent struggles, Albers was the only reliever to go unscathed over 1 2/3. At the plate, the Sox got their hits and turned 9 hits and 3 walks into 4 runs. No one batter stood out except maybe Ortiz who went 2-3 with a walk. It just wasn’t enough to get out of a 9 run deficit by the 6^th inning.

Game 138: Walker 7, Sox 12

Bedard finally gets a win as a member of the Red Sox. Sox put up an 8 spot in the 4^th on a 2-run homer from Saltalamacchia, an Aviles single, a grand slam from Crawford, a single from Ellsbury, and a bases clearing double from Pedroia. That felt good. Bedard went 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks to 6 Ks. Wheeler and Morales didn’t look so good giving up 3 runs and 1 run respectively. But the offense did enough to win this one.

Game 137: Walker 10, Sox 0

Sox played host to the Rangers for their final series against each other and the last non-AL East opponent the Sox would face. Unfortunately, the Sox got absolutely steamrolled. Rangers pitching combined for a 2-hit shutout as they only faced one over the minimum (Ellsbury was caught stealing after his single). Yikes.

On the flip side, Miller got rocked as well giving up 6 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in 1 1/3 innings. The walks were the most disappointing as Miller just couldn't find the strike zone all day. Bowden pitched well in relief but Albers coughed up another 3 runs in the 5^th including two home runs. Wakefield pitched in relief after Albers to spell the bullpen and went 4 innings with only 3 hits.

Game 136: Yanks 4, Sox 2

Sox lose the rubber game of the series as the Yankees rally in the 7^th for 3 runs off of Aceves and Bard. Lester had pitched well although briefly. He only gave up 1 run on 7 hits and 3 walks but that was only in 5 innings as the Yankees worked the pitch count. Sox had looked like they we're going to win on a 2 run home run by Pedroia in the 4^th. And even then, with Rivera pitching, the Sox looked like they might have some magic in them as they got the bases loaded with two outs. But Gonzalez struck out to end the game.

This game to me marked the beginning of the slide. It was the first day of September, a game they should have won, the offense looked good but ineffective (2 runs on 12 baserunners) and the beginning of the bullpen woes. More to come…

Game 135: Yanks 5, Sox 9

Sox held off a 6^th inning rally to get the win for Beckett against the Yankees. Ortiz, Ellsbury, and Varitek each had 2 run home runs as every Red Sox got a hit today. Beckett went 7 innings strong giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits, 3 BBs, and 8 Ks. Bard and Papelbon each had a perfect inning to close out the game.

Game 134: Yanks 5, Sox 2

After 2 days off, the Sox hosted the Yankees for the last time this season and Sabathia got his first win against the home team after 4 losses this year. This despite giving up 10 hits and 2 walks to the Sox over only 6 innings. Lackey on the other hand went 7 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 walks but was charged with 5 runs (4 earned). Sometimes baseball's just not fair.

One of the 2 runs the Sox got off of Sabathia was a solo home run from Crawford. Every starter got a hit except Gonzalez who I do remember looking particularly lost this game going 0-5. Lowrie had three hits and Scutaro, Ortiz, and Crawford also had multi-hit games.

Game 133: A’s 0, Sox 4

Sox got the day-night sweep which had another 1 hour rain delay. That delay may have prevented Bedard from getting his first win as a Red Sox as he could only go 4 innings of 2 hit ball with 86 pitches. Aceves poached yet another win (his 9^th) with three innings of relief.

Ortiz led the attack with three hits, including a 2 run homer in the 2^nd. Pedroia and Saltalamacchia chipped in with 2 hits each as well.

Game 132: A’s 3, Sox 9

Game 1 of a doubleheader included two rain delays accounting for 3 hours of waiting. The Sox played 2 to try to avoid a future rain delay based on Hurricane Irene cutting through the East Coast. I think Oakland had to travel too and they were worried about them getting out of Boston with the storm if they played on Sunday.

Sox scored in each of the first 5 innings and turned 13 hits and 3 walks into 9 runs. Varitek had the big hit, a 2 run home run in the 2^nd. Aviles led the team in hits with 3 but Scutaro, Gonzalez, Ortiz, and Varitek each had multi-hit games too.

Lester got the win giving up 2 runs (1 earned) over 6 innings. Wheeler and Bowden finished the game giving up only 1 more run in 3 innings.

Game 131: A’s 15, Sox 5

Wakefield gets pounded again as he went for his 200^th career win for the 6^th time. Wakefield gave up 8 runs of which only 4 were earned due to a Saltalamacchia passed ball on what should have been a third out strikeout to end the 4^th inning. The bullpen didn't stop the bleeding either. Atchison looked good giving up 1 run in 3 innings but Albers gave up 4 in the 8^th and McDonald (yes, Darnell McDonald the outfielder) giving up another 2 in the 9^th.

Ortiz led the offense with 3 hits including a home run. Pedroia also hit a solo home run. Sox score 5 runs on 11 hits and 4 BBs but it wasn’t enough.

Game 130: Sox 6, Walker 0

Sox win the series with a shutout of the Rangers. Good series to win. Gonzalez continued his hot streak hitting two more home runs. Ortiz and Saltalamacchia chipped in with home runs of their own too. Miller got the start as Francona didn’t think Wakefield had much of a shot getting win number 200 against the hard hitting Rangers. Miller had his longest outing of the season going 6 1/3 innings with only 3 hits and 2 walks to 6 Ks.

Game 129: Sox 13, Walker 2

Sox pound out another win at the expense of the Rangers. Ortiz had been sitting with a heel injury but came back in this game and went 2 for 5 with 2 runs. Crawford, Ellsbury, and Gonzalez all had 2 run home runs and Beckett went 6 innings giving up only 1 run an 4 hits and 2 walks.

Game 128: Sox 11, Walker 5

And we're back.

I've caught back up on my viewing after what's been a surprisingly busy month work-wise, socially, and extracurricular-wise. I never got too far behind on the viewings, a week at most, but obviously the blog has suffered as it's been a month since I last posted.

And what a month. The Sox have gone from coasting with thoughts about what it will take to win 100 games to clinging desperately to a wild card berth, hoping to just win 90 games. The culprit has been the pitching. A combination of injuries, bullpen implosions, and just plain bad luck has left the Sox looking lost and incapable of winning "the big game."

In hopes of jump starting the team this last week of the regular season and hopefully into the playoffs, I'm going to go through the awkward process of trying to write a recap for all of the games I've watched but haven't posted about. They may be short and may just boil down to what stands out from reading the box score or watching a highlight reel, but at least they'll be there for posterity's sake. So here we go...

The good times were still rolling when this game happened. Sox came back after a first game loss to the Rangers to pound them for 11 runs for their first win of the year against Texas. Gonzalez hit two home runs and Ellsbury came back from his first game off the DL with a leadoff hit. Lackey got the win giving up 4 runs in 6 2/3 innings.