TOO MANY INJURIES TO STAY COMPETITIVE ...
Kevin Youkilis ties it and then wins it

July 17, 2010 ... On the verge of their third straight loss, the Red Sox scored a run in the ninth inning against new Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee. Given new life by their unexpected rally, the Sox emerged with a 3-2 victory in 11 innings. The hero on both occasions was Kevin Youkilis, who had a double in the ninth inning that tied it and then a sacrifice fly in the 11th. On what was another scorching night at Fenway, the Red Sox somehow still had the energy to pile on Youkilis after his fly ball to center field.

The depleted Red Sox used small ball and good base running to manufacture the victory. Marco Scutaro drew a walk to lead off the 11th against reliever Alexi Ogando. Darnell McDonald pushed a bunt to the first base side of the mound. Ogando, a rookie, tried to make a play at second but the throw caromed into left field. Scutaro got up and advanced to third, with McDonald alertly taking second. Rangers manager Ron Washington ordered Ortiz intentionally walked then called in Darren O'Day to face Youkilis. Youkilis went after a 2-and-1 fastball and hit it deep enough to center to score Scutaro.

It was only the third victory in 10 extra-inning games for the Red Sox. Manny Delcarmen (3-2) pitched an inning for the win. Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon had combined for three scoreless innings after John Lackey allowed two runs in seven strong innings.

Mike Cameron nearly won the game in the 10th when he drove a pitch from Ogando deep to right. But Nelson Cruz reached over the short wall to pull the ball back.

Lee went into the ninth having retired 22 of the prior 23 batters, dominating the Red Sox after allowing a run in the first inning. He needed to throw only 11 pitches to get through the seventh and eighth innings.

Scutaro started the ninth with a single to center. McDonald's bunt moved him to second. Ortiz ran the count full and fouled off two pitches before grounding to second. With Scutaro on third, Youkilis doubled to left to tie the score at 2.

In his second start for Texas, Lee allowed six hits and struck out six. He retired the side in order six times. Lee actually looked vulnerable in the first inning. McDonald doubled off the wall in left field with one out and scored when Ortiz found a hole in the defensive shift and dropped a single into right-center. Youkilis followed with a single to left. The Sox had a chance to inflict more damage but Adrian Beltre bounced into a double play to end the inning.

Lackey was working on a three-hit shutout before the Rangers scored twice with two outs in the sixth. Ian Kinsler started it with a single. Vladimir Guerrero then walked on five pitches, prompting a visit to the mound by Farrell. His advice did not help. Lackey threw three straight cut fastballs to Josh Hamilton, the third of which was lined into left for an RBI single. Cruz then broke his bat on a fastball, but was able to push it into center field for a single to score Guerrero with the go-ahead run. Lackey left having allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 70 of his 115 pitches for strikes. Lackey came back to the bench to watch the final inning.