BoSox rally late to edge O's |
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Alex Cora scored the game-winning run in the ninth to help the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles to complete a three-game sweep at Fenway Park.
In the ninth, Cora led off with a single and Coco Crisp then reached first with a bunt that just stayed fair along the right line. Jacoby Ellsbury then laid down a bunt and pitcher Jim Miller (0-1) opted to go to third, but threw the ball well wide of the bag and Cora came home for the win.
"We won a game that was losable, and we'll take every win we can get," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored while Mark Kotsay hit a two-run triple for the Red Sox, who have won five of six.
Daisuke Matsuzaka started on the mound and was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in six frames. Justin Masterson (5-4) got the win for throwing two scoreless innings for Boston, which trails Tampa Bay by three games for first place in the AL East. The Rays lost, 8-4, to the Yankees Wednesday night.
Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Lance Cormier started on the mound and gave up just two hits in three innings of work for the Orioles, who have dropped their last six games. Cormier started in place of ace Jeremy Guthrie, who was skipped a turn in the rotation due to a tired arm.
The Orioles went 0-6 on their road trip, during which time they allowed 60 runs.
"It just wasn't a good road trip, all in all," said Huff. "We didn't even win a game on the whole road trip. We knew it would be a tough road trip with these guys and Tampa at their place but we've got a lot of young guys up here learning on the job and there's going to be a lot of lumps and there's going to be some peaks and valleys with that. When you go young, you've got to just keep playing the guys and that's the only way they're going to learn."
Baltimore got on the board in the first inning as Brian Roberts led off with a double and later came home when Nick Markakis lofted a fly ball to center field that Crisp dropped for a 1-0 lead.
The Orioles padded their lead further in the fourth. Huff led off with a single and Oscar Salazar then worked a walk. Luke Scott brought home Huff with a double to left center and Lou Montanez followed with a groundout to plate Salazar. After Alex Cintron popped out, Guillermo Quiroz singled to center to score Scott for a 4-0 lead.
Boston finally got on the board in the seventh inning. Jamie Walker started the inning on the mound and got the first out, but Pedroia drove a pitch over the Green Monster. Later with the bases loaded and Rock Cherry on the mound, Crisp worked a walk to force home Jason Bay and make it a 4-2 game.
The Red Sox then tied the game in the eighth. With one out, David Ortiz walked and Pedroia then doubled. Kotsay then cleared the bases with a triple off the center field wall.
Game Notes
Baltimore batting coach Terry Crowley was ejected by home plate umpire Jeff Nelson in the bottom of the ninth...Boston hits the road and starts a three- game series in Texas on Friday...Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis missed his second straight game with back spasms...The Orioles host Oakland for three straight games starting on Friday...Boston took 12 of the 18 games against Baltimore this season...It was Miller's first loss of his career...The Red Sox sold out their 455th straight game, which tied a major league record set by Cleveland from June 12, 1995 through April 2, 2001. Boston's current streak started on May 15, 2003.
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