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Grady Sizemore's
hit wins the game May 6, 2014 ... But after belting a walk-off single off the Green Monster to lead the Red Sox to a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the Reds, Grady Sizemore let loose the joy that had been absent during monotonous comeback attempts in recent years. Sizemore is indeed back, and he jumped into a collection of teammates in celebration of his satisfying hit. It was the fourth walk-off hit of Sizemore's career, but first since Aug. 11, 2006. Playing the Reds at Fenway Park for the first time since 2005, it was fitting that the game went 12 innings, the same distance as that legendary Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Though there was no Carlton Fisk homer off the foul pole, Shane Victorino made a catch that had shades of Dwight Evans against Joe Morgan in Game 6 of 1975. In the top of the ninth, the Reds had a golden chance to take the lead when Tucker Barnhart crushed one to right. But Victorino got a great jump and hauled it in just in front of the wall between the visiting bullpen and the right-field stands to save a run. Zach Cozart tagged and went to third. Chris Heisey reached on a bunt single, but Cozart wasn't able to advance. Uehara got out of the inning by getting Joey Votto on a popup to third. David Ortiz and Mike Napoli set the table for Sizemore's winning hit with singles. With nobody out, Sizemore took aim at the first pitch he saw from Logan Ondrusek and Ortiz scored easily from second. When Ortiz reached second on Napoli's hit, he looked toward the dugout, thinking Farrell might send in a pinch-runner. Felix Doubront gave the Red Sox 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and a run. He walked three and struck out three, throwing 97 pitches. /With Doubront in trouble after walking to batters in the sixth, Farrell called on Burke Badenhop, hoping for a double play. And with his first pitch, Badenhop did the job, thanks to a nice sliding stop by Dustin Pedroia, who flipped the ball out of his glove to Xander Bogaerts to complete the 4-6-3 double play. However, the Reds were able to come back against Junichi Tazawa in the eighth. Votto started the rally with a one-out walk. Brandon Phillips followed by lining a double. Todd Frazier's line single to left brought home Votto and it was a one-run game. Ryan Ludwick's fly ball to right was plenty deep enough to be a sacrifice fly, tying the game. The Red Sox did have an early lead. Pedroia led off the bottom of the first with a walk and Victorino followed with a single up the middle. Napoli made it 1-0 with a fielder's-choice groundout. The Reds answered in the top of the second. Frazier led off with a walk. Ludwick stepped up next and belted a double to center. Skip Schumaker came through with an RBI single to tie the game. Pedroia again going the Red sox going in the third, this time with a double that moved Jackie Bradley Jr. to third with nobody out. With one out and first base open, Reds manager Bryan Price called for an intentional walk of Ortiz. That move did not have the desired effect, as Homer Bailey walked Napoli to force in a run. Sizemore laced an RBI single to make it 3-1. The game still had some drama left, but the Red Sox ultimately took care of business. |
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