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Red Sox Win Slugfest, 11-7, To Vault Into First Place
By Administrator | May 18, 2008
In the final game of their three-game series, the Red Sox and Brewers engaged in an old-fashioned slugfest at Fenway Park this afternoon — combining for eight home runs in Boston’s 11-7 win over Milwaukee.
Josh Beckett, who had allowed five home runs in forty-seven innings entering the game, surrendered four home runs in just seven innings… two of the bombs he allowed were to young slugger Ryan Braun (#12 and #13). In seven innings, Beckett (who improved to 5-3) allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out nine.
David Ortiz, who just a couple of weeks ago was hitting a buck-sixty-two, went 3-for-5 with two HR and four RBI… raising his batting average to .250 for the season. Kevin Youkilis (#9) and Dustin Pedroia (#2) each added a home run and two rbi.
It was the 31st multihomer game in Ortiz’ career — his 29th with the Red Sox (third most in Red Sox history, behind Ted Williams and Jim Rice).
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The Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Ryan Braun’s first home run of the game.
The Sox halved the lead in the bottom of the inning on an Ortiz rbi-double, and then took the lead in the third inning on back-to-back home runs by Pedroia and Ortiz.
Milwaukee immediately re-captured the lead on JJ Hardy’s two-run home run in the fourth inning, but once again the Sox answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning on Julio Lugo’s bases-loaded walk and Jacoby Ellsbury’s two-run single.
Ortiz doubled the lead with his second home run of the game (a two-run blast) in the fifth inning… but the Brewers responded with two runs of their own in the top of the sixth — on back-to-back homers by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.
But like two heavyweight fighters in a title fight, the teams just kept on beating one another about the head… the Red Sox scored another run in the sixth inning (Pedroia rbi-single) and two more in the seventh inning (Youkilis’ two-run home run).
Milwaukee scored another run in the eighth inning on a single, double and ground out… but that is where the offensive onslaught finally ended. Manny Delcarmen retired the next two batters… and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth inning (in a non-save situation).
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Manny Ramirez went 1-for-5 (a single) and remains stuck on 498 career home runs… he has had only two home runs in his last twenty-four games.
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Jacoby Ellsbury was finally caught stealing as the Brewers guessed right and caught him on a pitchout… he had been 25-for-25 in stolen bases — only two shy of the MLB record (Tim Raines).
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The Red Sox started play today in a virtual first place tie today — with Tampa Bay. The Sox ended the day in first place all by themselves as the Rays lost to St Louis, 5-4.
Topics: Sox Games, Sox Players |
