The Red Sox entered Saturday needing only a win or a Yankees loss to clinch their 2nd straight playoff berth. However, they got more than they bargained for when they send Jon Lester to the mound to face Toronto Blue Jay ace Roy Halladay. The Jays got to Jon Lester, who has been the Red Sox most consistent starter in his first full season, for 5 in the first two innings, including a 4 run 2nd.
The Red Sox didn't back down though, despite being down 5-0 early. They cut it to 5-1 with a David Ortiz RBI single, and then 5-3 with a Jason Bay 2 run 2 out homerun. Jon Lester, luckily would settle down. He didn't allow a run over the next 5 innings, finishing with a decent line, 7 innings 5 earned, but he was on the hook for the loss as his offense couldn't get him anymore than those 3 runs.
The Red Sox did get men on 2nd and 3rd in the 8th, but couldn't do anything with them as that orginal 5-0 deficit was just too much to make up. They would lose 6-3 and needed some help from the bottom dwelling Orioles, in beating the Yankees, if they were to clinch.
However, the Yankees survived, winning a thriller 1-0, not allowing the Red Sox to clinch. The Rays also won against Minnesota extending their AL East lead to 2.5 games over the Sox. The Red Sox would get another shot to make up ground in the AL East and clinch a playoff berth as they took on the Jays once again on Sunday.
The Red Sox struck first against Toronto starter Scott Richmond, still looking for his first career victory. They would strike again in the 3rd with a David Ortiz 2 run homerun, his 22nd, despite the fact that he missed 6 weeks with a wrist injury
Daisuke Matsuzaka was brilliant for the Sox. He kept the pitch count low, 106 over 7 innings, allowing him to go deep into the ball game. He only allowed 2 hits, 2 walks, and had really only one messy inning, the 2nd, where he allowed a man to reach 3rd, in what was at the time a slim 1-0 Red Sox lead. Hideki Okajima threw a shutout inning from the bullpen, as did Jonathan Papelbon for the save, his 40th, already a career high. Daisuke moved to 18-2 on the season, with a 2.80 ERA, as well as moving to 9-0 on the road.
The win clinched Boston their 2nd straight playoff berth, as they look to defend their World Series title. The playoff berth is their 5th in 6 years. They also gained some ground in the AL East as the Rays lost. The Red Sox currently trail 1.5 games, entering Major League Baseball's final week of the regular season. in the AL East race as they look to defend their AL East title. Next on the schedule for Boston is 4 at home against the Indians, followed by a three game series, also in Fenway, against the Yankees to wrap up the season.
-Steven Lourie
