Pitcher's Duel at Fenway, Sox win

John Lackey was cruising through his first 5 IP tonight, scattering 4 hits, walking only 1, allowing no runs, all this on 75 pitches. A 31 pitch 6th inning in which the Rangers took a 2-1 lead ran his pitch count up to 106, seemed as if that would be the night for him, but he came right back out for a 9 pitch 1-2-3 7th inning to keep the Sox in it.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, McDonald doubled and Papi singled him home. That is pretty much all the offense the Sox could manage from Cliff Lee, who is garnering big dividends for the Rangers since going south from Seattle recently. After allowing 1 run on 3 hits in the 1st inning, Lee allowed 1 hit, a double by Cameron in the 5th inning. He also had not walked any Red Sox. His pitch count was absurdly low- 80 pitches through 7 innings, as he pounded the strike zone relentlessly. He had only two 3 ball counts on the night.

Papelbon came in to pitch in the top of the 9th, as the game went into the bottom half of that inning with the Rangers holding onto a slim 2-1 score. Scutaro led off with a single and McDonald moved him over to 2nd with a well placed bunt. Papi flied out moving Scutaro over to 3rd with Youkilis coming up to the plate. Youk’s clutch double plated Scutaro and sent the game into extra innings. Bard, Papelbon, and Delcarmen pitched 4 innings, allowing only 1 walk by Bard in that span. In the bottom of the 11th, Scutaro walked, McDonald bunted him over to 2nd, but Alexi Ogando’s throwing error moved them over to 2nd and 3rd. Papi being the feared hitter he once was, was walked intentionally. Youkilis who had tied the game in the bottom of the 9th hit a sac fly far enough to get Scutaro home and win the game.

Sox 3 Rangers 2 BOX SCORE

Both the Yankees and the Rays have been red hot recently. Tampa thumped the Yankees 10-5 today. Let’s hope they continue to kick the snot out of each other in this series.

Fenway West 07.17.10