GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (86-57) at BALTIMORE (61-80)

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH)
AND JASON VARITEK

BAL - JEREMY GUTHRIE, JAMIE WALKER (6TH), CHAD BRADFORD
(7TH), KURT BIRKINS (8TH) AND RAMON HERNANDEZ, GUSTAVO MOLINA
(8TH)

HOME RUNS: BOS - NONE

BAL - MELVIN MORA (14) OFF JOSH BECKETT IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
NICK MARKAKIS (18) OFF JOSH BECKETT IN THE 6TH, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT, HIDEKI OKAJIMA (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH)
AND JASON VARITEK

BAL - JEREMY GUTHRIE, JAMIE WALKER (6TH), CHAD BRADFORD
(7TH), KURT BIRKINS (8TH) AND RAMON HERNANDEZ, GUSTAVO MOLINA
(8TH)


WP - JOSH BECKETT (18-6)
LP - CHAD BRADFORD (3-7)
SAVE - JONATHAN PAPELBON (35)

HOME RUNS: BOS - NONE

BAL - MELVIN MORA (14) OFF JOSH BECKETT IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
NICK MARKAKIS (18) OFF JOSH BECKETT IN THE 6TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:20 ATT: 39,234

PROBABLES: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS (7-3, 3.78)
BAL - VICTOR SANTOS (NR)

PROBABLES: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR (11-8, 3.79)
BOS - CURT SCHILLING (8-6, 4.04)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">BOSTON (3) VS BALTIMORE (2) - FINAL

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Ellsbury lf 5 0 1 0 0 0 2 .373
D Pedroia 2b 5 1 3 0 0 1 2 .325
D Ortiz dh 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 .319
M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 2 0 1 2 .324
J Drew rf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .254
K Youkilis 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 3 .289
J Varitek c 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .262
C Crisp cf 4 0 1 1 0 1 4 .269
A Cora ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .240

Totals 36 3 10 3 3 6 20

BATTING: 2B - D Pedroia (35, J Guthrie); D Ortiz (44, J Guthrie). RBI - M
Lowell 2 (103), C Crisp (56). 2-out RBI - M Lowell 2, C Crisp. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Lowell 1, K Youkilis 1, D Pedroia 1, J Ellsbury 1.
GIDP - M Lowell. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Youkilis (4, 2nd base off J Guthrie/R Hernandez), J Drew
(3, 2nd base off C Bradford/G Molina).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-A Cora).


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .296
T Redman cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .321
N Markakis rf 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 .296
M Tejada dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .307
A Huff 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .272
M Mora 3b 4 1 2 1 0 2 1 .265
R Hernandez c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .241
B Fahey pr-ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
b-S Moore ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .167
F Bynum lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .261
L Hernandez ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .310
a-K Millar ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
G Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

Totals 33 2 8 2 0 11 12

a-grounded to shortstop for L Hernandez in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for
B Fahey in the 9th.

BATTING: HR - M Mora (14, 4th inning off J Beckett 0 on, 1 Out), N Markakis
(18, 6th inning off J Beckett 0 on, 0 Out). S - F Bynum. RBI - M Mora (51), N
Markakis (95). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1, L
Hernandez 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Hernandez (1, 2nd base by J Beckett/J Varitek).

FIELDING: E - T Redman (1, throw). DP: 1 (L Hernandez-B Roberts-A Huff).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 002 000 010 -- 3
BALTIMORE - 000 101 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Beckett (W, 18-6) 7 7 2 2 0 8 2 3.27
H Okajima (H, 27) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.76
J Papelbon (S, 35) 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.55

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Guthrie 5 7 2 2 2 5 0 3.65
J Walker 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.90
C Bradford (L, 3-7) 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.63
K Birkins 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 7.30

J Guthrie pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

HBP - R Hernandez (by J Beckett). Pitches-strikes: J Beckett 116-79; H
Okajima 10-7; J Papelbon 13-11; J Guthrie 111-71; J Walker 13-10; C Bradford
18-12; K Birkins 17-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Beckett 7-5; H Okajima 2-0; J
Papelbon 0-1; J Guthrie 2-8; J Walker 2-2; C Bradford 2-2; K Birkins 2-1.
Batters faced: J Beckett 28; H Okajima 3; J Papelbon 4; J Guthrie 24; J Walker
6; C Bradford 5; K Birkins 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke.

T--3:20. Att--39,234.
Weather: 90 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, out to
right.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BOSTON 3
BALTIMORE 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT BALTIMORE (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOSTON 3RD: A Cora grounded out to pitcher. J Ellsbury lined out to
shortstop. D Pedroia singled to center. D Ortiz doubled to deep right,
D Pedroia to third. M Lowell singled to center, D Pedroia and D Ortiz scored,
M Lowell to second on throwing error by center fielder T Redman. J Drew walked.
K Youkilis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 4TH: A Huff struck out looking. M Mora homered to left.
R Hernandez grounded out to shortstop. F Bynum grounded out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 6TH: N Markakis homered to left. M Tejada grounded out to
shortstop. A Huff flied out to center. M Mora struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 2.

BOSTON 8TH: B Fahey at shortstop. G Molina catching. J Drew singled to left
center. K Youkilis lined out to second. J Drew stole second. J Varitek flied
out to center, J Drew to third. C Crisp singled to center, J Drew scored.
K Birkins relieved C Bradford. A Cora grounded into fielder's choice to second,
C Crisp out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, BALTIMORE 2.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (3) AT BALTIMORE (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boston Starting Lineups -- J Ellsbury LF, D Pedroia 2B, D Ortiz DH, M Lowell 3B,
J Drew RF, K Youkilis 1B, J Varitek C, C Crisp CF, A Cora SS, J Beckett RHP.

Baltimore Starting Lineups -- B Roberts 2B, T Redman CF, N Markakis RF,
M Tejada DH, A Huff 1B, M Mora 3B, R Hernandez C, F Bynum LF, L Hernandez SS,
J Guthrie RHP.

Umpires -- Laz Diaz (HP), Wally Bell (1B), Mike Dimuro (2B), Bill Welke (3B).


Gametime Weather: 90 degrees, Sunny, wind out to right at 7 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: J Ellsbury lined out to left. D Pedroia doubled to deep right
center. D Ortiz flied out to right. M Lowell struck out looking. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 1ST: B Roberts lined out to center. T Redman popped out to
second. N Markakis singled to center. M Tejada grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BOSTON 2ND: J Drew popped out to shortstop. K Youkilis singled to center.
J Varitek struck out swinging. C Crisp flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 2ND: A Huff singled to center. M Mora struck out swinging.
R Hernandez singled to right, A Huff to second. F Bynum popped out to third.
L Hernandez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BOSTON 3RD: A Cora grounded out to pitcher. J Ellsbury lined out to
shortstop. D Pedroia singled to center. D Ortiz doubled to deep right,
D Pedroia to third. M Lowell singled to center, D Pedroia and D Ortiz scored,
M Lowell to second on throwing error by center fielder T Redman. J Drew walked.
K Youkilis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 3RD: B Roberts struck out looking. T Redman singled to center.
N Markakis struck out looking. M Tejada struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 0.

BOSTON 4TH: J Varitek singled to right. C Crisp struck out swinging.
A Cora popped out to third. J Ellsbury singled to right, J Varitek to second.
D Pedroia flied out to right. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 4TH: A Huff struck out looking. M Mora homered to left.
R Hernandez grounded out to shortstop. F Bynum grounded out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BOSTON 5TH: D Ortiz struck out looking. M Lowell grounded out to third.
J Drew flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 5TH: L Hernandez singled to left center. B Roberts struck out
swinging. L Hernandez to second. T Redman grounded out to first. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis walked. K Youkilis stole second. J Walker relieved
J Guthrie. J Varitek walked. C Crisp bunted into fielder's choice to catcher,
K Youkilis out at third, J Varitek to second. A Cora flied out to center.
J Ellsbury grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2,
BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 6TH: N Markakis homered to left. M Tejada grounded out to
shortstop. A Huff flied out to center. M Mora struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 2.

BOSTON 7TH: D Pedroia singled to center. D Ortiz fouled out to catcher.
C Bradford relieved J Walker. M Lowell grounded into double play, shortstop to
second to first, D Pedroia out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2,
BALTIMORE 2.

BALTIMORE 7TH: R Hernandez hit by pitch. B Fahey ran for R Hernandez.
F Bynum sacrificed to third, B Fahey to second. K Millar hit for L Hernandez.
K Millar grounded out to shortstop, B Fahey to third. B Roberts struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, BALTIMORE 2.

BOSTON 8TH: B Fahey at shortstop. G Molina catching. J Drew singled to left
center. K Youkilis lined out to second. J Drew stole second. J Varitek flied
out to center, J Drew to third. C Crisp singled to center, J Drew scored.
K Birkins relieved C Bradford. A Cora grounded into fielder's choice to second,
C Crisp out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, BALTIMORE 2.

BALTIMORE 8TH: H Okajima relieved J Beckett. T Redman struck out swinging.
N Markakis grounded out to second. M Tejada grounded out to third. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3, BALTIMORE 2.

BOSTON 9TH: J Ellsbury bunt grounded out to pitcher. D Pedroia struck out
swinging. D Ortiz flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 3,
BALTIMORE 2.

BALTIMORE 9TH: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima. A Huff popped out to
shortstop. M Mora singled to center. S Moore hit for B Fahey. S Moore
struck out swinging. F Bynum struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
BOSTON 3, BALTIMORE 2.</div>

 

Beckett wins 18th as Red Sox edge Orioles

<h3>BOSTON 3, BALTIMORE 2</h3>BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Coco Crisp helped Josh Beckett get hismajor league-tying 18th win.


Crisp delivered the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning andBeckett pitched seven solid frames to lift the Boston Red Sox toa 3-2 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in thefinale of a three-game series.


Crisp sent a 2-1 offering from Orioles reliever Chad Bradford(3-7) into center field to plate J.D. Drew and give the Red Soxa 3-2 lead.


After leading off the eighth with a base hit, Drew stole secondand advanced to third on Jason Varitek's flyout to deep centerto set the stage for Crisp's crucial two-out, RBI single.

Beckett (18-6) continued his bid for the American League CyYoung Award, yielding two runs and seven hits with no walks andeight strikeouts. The 27-year-old righthander allowed a baserunner in each inning he pitched. New York Yankees starterChien-Ming Wang also picked up his 18th win Sunday.

Hideki Okajima hurled a perfect eighth inning before JonathanPapelbon slammed the door in the ninth to register his 34th saveof the season.


The Red Sox staked Beckett a 2-0 advantage in the second inningon Mike Lowell's two-run single.


The Orioles answered on a pair of solo homers by Melvin Mora andNick Markakis in the fourth and sixth, respectively, to tie thescore at 2-2. Markakis has blasted four home runs off the RedSox this season, including two this series.


Mora and Markakis each had two hits for the Orioles, who havelost four of their last five and 16 of 19 contests.

Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie surrendered two runs on sevenhits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.Guthrie left the game with no outs in the sixth with a strainedleft oblique.


AL Rookie of the Year candidate Dustin Pedroia had three hitsfor Boston, which has won seven of its last nine contests.

The Red Sox (87-57) maintained their 5 1/2 game lead in the ALEast over the Yankees (81-62), who defeated the Kansas CityRoyals, 6-3.

 

Beckett wins 18th as Red Sox edge Orioles

<h3>BOSTON 3, BALTIMORE 2</h3>BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Coco Crisp helped Josh Beckett get hismajor league-tying 18th win.


Crisp delivered the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning andBeckett pitched seven solid frames to lift the Boston Red Sox toa 3-2 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in thefinale of a three-game series.


Crisp sent a 2-1 offering from Orioles reliever Chad Bradford(3-7) into center field to plate J.D. Drew and give the Red Soxa 3-2 lead.


"It feels good," Crisp said. "Throughout the course of the dayI was missing pitches. I'm glad I came through."


After leading off the eighth with a base hit, Drew stole secondand advanced to third on Jason Varitek's flyout to deep centerto set the stage for Crisp's crucial two-out, RBI single.

"Our confidence is really good right now. ... strong," Crispsaid. "We expect to win everytime we take the field."

Beckett (18-6) continued his bid for the American League CyYoung Award, yielding two runs and seven hits with no walks andeight strikeouts. The 27-year-old righthander allowed abaserunner in each inning he pitched. New York Yankees starterChien-Ming Wang also picked up his 18th win Sunday.

"Even when he doesn't have his best stuff he pitches a goodgame," Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell said. "That's why he'san ace."


Hideki Okajima hurled a perfect eighth inning before JonathanPapelbon slammed the door in the ninth to register his 34th saveof the season.


"Okajima is our backbone out there," Beckett said. "The bullpenhas been tough all year."


The Red Sox staked Beckett a 2-0 advantage in the second inningon Lowell's two-run single.


The Orioles answered on a pair of solo homers by Melvin Mora andNick Markakis in the fourth and sixth, respectively, to tie thescore at 2-2. Markakis has blasted four home runs off the RedSox this season, including two this series.


"He (Beckett) made a couple of mistakes and they hit them bothout," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.


Mora and Markakis each had two hits for the Orioles, who havelost four of their last five and 16 of 19 contests.

Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie surrendered two runs on sevenhits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.Guthrie left the game with no outs in the sixth with a strainedleft oblique.


"He made some good pitches and kept us in the game," Oriolemanager Dave Trembley said. "He kept us in the game against avery hot hitting team."


"This is a first for me. I'm just going to sit back and seewhat happens and hope for the best," Guthrie said about hisinjury. "I really don't know what to expect."


AL Rookie of the Year candidate Dustin Pedroia had three hitsfor Boston, which has won seven of its last nine contests.

The Red Sox (87-57) maintained their 5 1/2 game lead in the ALEast over the Yankees (81-62), who defeated the Kansas CityRoyals, 6-3.


"We showed up today to win," Francona said. "It was a toughone, but we did it and won a tough game."