|
 |
|
JACOBY ELLSBURY |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Jacoby Ellsbury caps a dramatic
rally with a walk-off double
May 26, 2013 ...
By the end of the wild comeback, Fenway Park was in an absolute frenzy. The sellout crowd roared. Meanwhile, the Red Sox sprinted out of the dugout to corral Jacoby Ellsbury, who had just belted a walk-off two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift his team
to an improbable 6-5 victory over the Indians.
When Stephen Drew raced home for the run that ended the game, it was the first time Boston led all day. Boston trailed, 5-1, in the eighth. By the time they Sox came to the plate in the ninth, they were down 5-2. That marked the largest walk-off inning
at Fenway since the Mother's Day Miracle on May 13, 2007, when the Sox came from 5-0 down against the Orioles.
The ninth started with a series of strong at-bats against Indians closer Chris Perez. Dustin Pedroia, who seems to spark just about everything in the Red Sox's universe, opened the ninth with a six-pitch walk. Up stepped David Ortiz, who belted a double over
the head of Indians center fielder Michael Bourn. That brought the tying run to the plate, and a sense of excitement in the dugout. Pedroia scored on a grounder to short by Mike Napoli. Ortiz stole third for the second time this week, and then scored
on a fielder's choice grounder by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Jonny Gomes kept hope alive with a walk. Drew, who gave Boston some life with a leadoff triple in the eighth, drilled a single to right and Gomes raced to third. Drew then stole second, putting
the potential winning run in scoring position. Jose Iglesias walked into the batter's box and they were down to their last out. Iglesias, who isn't known for his plate discipline, drew a gritty walk on a 3-2 count. Up next, Ellsbury worked the
count to 2-1 on Perez, and the right-hander suddenly had to come out with that injury. Joe Smith was thrust into a tough spot and Ellsbury shortened his swing and ripped his first pitch into the gap in left-center. It one-hopped the scoreboard in left-center
to end the game. The two-run double was Ellsbury's fourth career walkoff hit; three have come vs. the Indians. It was also the exclamation point on an all-hands-on-deck comeback that gave the Sox their third straight win over a team that had been the hottest
in Major League Baseball over the past month.
Ellsbury also beat Smith with a walk-off homer on Aug. 3, 2011. Francona was managing the Red Sox that night. Ellsbury had one of those classic plus-minus days. In the first inning, he dropped a fly ball in center on which he had to run a long distance.
Shortstop Stephen Drew was running back on the play and the two nearly collided. Ellsbury dodged the collision, but the ball was in his mitt and popped out.
Felix Doubront held his own for Boston, giving up five hits and four runs (two earned) over six innings, walking two and striking out eight. The Red Sox moved to 31-20 with the victory and are tied with the Yankees for first place in the American League
East. |
