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THE RAYS and A ONE WAY
TICKET TO "MANNY-WOOD" ...
The Sox sweep the Twins with a blow-out
July 9,
2008 ...
It was an 18-5 win for the Red Sox as they completed a three-game
sweep of the Twins. Josh Beckett pitched, going five innings and
allowing eight hits, five runs, and two walks with two strikeouts.
The
excitement came from a seesaw score that spiraled out of control in the seventh,
the Sox tallying seven runs for their most productive inning of the season. So,
the Sox swept a series from a surging opponent in front of 37,470 overheated
fans, the finale a laugher after Boston had played four straight one-run games.
Though the
Twins took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, including Justin Morneau's two-run
homer off Beckett, then kept it close with two more in the sixth on a home run
off the light tower in center by Kubel and an RBI single by Nick Punto, the Sox
ended any doubt with their seventh-inning explosion. Six hits and two walks
added up to 11 batters heading to the plate, seven of them scoring, and the game
out of reach.
The Sox
finished with 23 hits, their most since they banged out 27 May 28, 2005, against
the Yankees in New York. That's not to say that it wasn't close, at least at one
point. With the Sox leading, 7-5, in the top of the seventh, the Twins loaded
the bases with one out. Morneau singled past Pedroia at second, then Kubel
walked. Craig Hansen replaced Javier Lopez and allowed a single to Delmon Young,
the one lost in the sun by Moss in right. But Hansen got Mike Lamb to fly to
shallow left, and Punto grounded out.
Besides an
almost triple play, there was a fan interference call on a Monster ball, a 6-4-5
double play, a rare error by Kevin Youkilis, an 11-batter inning, a pinch-hit
home run over the Sports Authority sign by backup catcher Kevin Cash, and a need
for new sunglasses all over the outfield.
Jacoby
Ellsbury got four hits, a career high; Dustin Pedroia two; Kevin Youkilis three;
Manny Ramirez three; Mike Lowell two; Sean Casey three; Jason Varitek two; and
Julio Lugo two. Every starter also scored at least one run. From those slumping,
notably Varitek, to those on fire, notably Pedroia, there was hitting up and
down the order. |
