Red Sox Report 9/3

The Red Sox were in action tonight, looking for the sweep of their interdivision foes the Baltimore Orioles and looking to perhaps gain some ground on the elusive Rays in the AL East standings. These games are especially big for the Red Sox because, with the Rays and Yankees playing each other, if the Red Sox win, it would guarantee that the Red Sox either gain a game on the Rays in the AL East or add a game to their lead over the Yankees for the Wild Card.

The Red Sox looked sluggish to start the game, most likely because of their injuries. Injuries have ravaged the team over the past few weeks as the Red Sox were without three of their biggest bats in the lineup, Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis, and JD Drew once again in tonight’s game. Recent acquisition Mark Kotsay filled in for Kevin Youkilis at first. Rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie played third base once again in place of Lowell, while utility man Alex Cora played in place of Lowrie at short. Coco Crisp filled in for Drew in the outfield. However, injuries are excuses, and their injuries are not an excuse for the fact that after 6 innings of play, the Red Sox were losing 4-0.

However, in the late innings, the Red Sox showed the two things that have kept them alive this season as that is resilience and depth. Pedroia hit a solo shot in the 7th, his 17th on the season,  to bring the Sox within 3. Pedroia was overall 3-4 on the night as he added to his case for AL MVP and helped solidify his place atop the AL batting title race, ending the night at .333. The Sox got one more in the inning off of a Coco Crisp RBI walk with the bases loaded.

In the 8th, the Sox drew even as Mark Kotsay hit a 2-run triple into the alley. Kotsay already has 7 RBIs for the Sox in his short time with the team, showing more of the team’s depth. The Sox finally took the lead in the 9th on a bizarre play. Jim Miller misplayed a Jacoby Ellsbury bunt and Alex Cora scored the winning run on the Miller error.

Rookie Justin Masterson got the win after pitching 2 brilliant innings of relief. The bullpen as a whole was great throwing 3 shutout innings in relief of Daisuke Matsuzaka. However, this win was a team effort. Everyone who played for the Sox helped the team’s cause. It is wins like this, playing as a team and coming from behind, that can really inspire a team. This was a great win.

The Red Sox travel to Texas now to play a Rangers team that they have beaten all 6 times they have met this season including a thrilling 19-17 win in Fenway last month. Josh Beckett goes for them on Friday, as he makes his first start since returning from the disabled list. Mike Lowell is also scheduled to return sometime that series as will Youkilis. With Drew returning next week, this team should be full strength heading for the stretch run which is bad news for the Rays.

-Steven Lourie