Mark Loretta’s pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the 8th inning helped give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in front of 42,066 at Minute Maid Park. The loss coupled with a Tampa Bay Rays win knocks the Red Sox out of 1st place in the AL East.

The loss today gives the Red Sox an 11-7 record in interleague play this season.

Josh Beckett did his job for the Red Sox again as he went 7 innings, scattering 8 hits while allowing 2 runs and a walk and striking out 4. This was the second straight outing for Beckett that’s he pitched well enough to win. He took a loss in his last start and a no-decision this afternoon.

David Aardsma worked a 1/3 of an inning giving up a hit and a run to take the loss. Hideki Okajima continues to struggle with runners on base as he gave up a hit in 2/3 of an inning. He has now allowed 12-of-15 inherited runners to score this season.

Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez provided the runs for the Red Sox with solo home runs. Both Pedroia and Manny had 2 hits as well as Julio Lugo who went 2-for-4. Red Sox pitchers finished up interleague play 0-for-25 with 19 strikeouts as Beckett went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. They also left 13 runners on base during the game as they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.

Astros starter Brian Moehler started the 1st getting Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out. Pedroia followed that with a single and stole second before a J.D. Drew walk. After a Manny strikeout, Moehler walked Mike Lowell but escaped the bases loaded jam by getting Kevin Youkilis to ground out.

Beckett set down the first five batters he faced before Geoff Blum hit a solo home run to put the Astros on top 1-0.

Pedroia got the run back quickly for the visiting nine as he led off the 3rd with a solo home run to tie it up at 1. After a Drew ground out, Manny singled and Lowell flew out. Youk then singled to give the Sox runners on first and second but Jason Varitek flew out to end the threat.

Beckett committed the ultimate sin of interleague play in the 5th inning when he walked the pitcher with 1-out. He did get Moehler out on a fielder’s choice by Michael Bourn. Hunter Pence then used his speed to reach on an infield single. Lance Berkman gave the Astros a 2-1 lead when his single easily scored Bourn from second. Beckett finished the inning off when Carlos Lee grounded back to him. After the inning, Beckett was yelling at himself off coming off the mound and then took it out on a bat in the dugout.

The 6th and 7th innings brought squandered opportunities for the Red Sox.

Moehler walked Varitek with 1-out in the 6th and Lugo moved him over to third with a single. Beckett would end up striking out and then Astros manager Cecil Cooper went to his bullpen for Wesley Wright. He ended up walking Ellsbury to load up the bases but ended up striking out Pedroia on 3 pitches.

Wright started the 7th with a strikeout of Drew and then was replaced by Oscar Villarreal. Manny greeted Villarreal with a solo home run to tie the game at 2. Villarreal then gave up a single to Lowell and a walk to Youk as Cooper went to his bullpen again. Doug Brocail came in and got Varitek to fly out and made Lugo look like the Statue of Liberty as he watched strike three to end the inning.

Aardsma started the 8th for the Red Sox and got Lee to fly out. He then gave up a single to Tejada and Terry Francona went to the bullpen for the beleaguered Hideki Okajima. Oki came in and bounced one in the dirt for a wild pitch that allowed Tejada to move down to second. He got the second out when Blum grounded back to him but Loretta’s pinch-hit single on a hanging splitter brought in Tejada for the game-winning run.

Jose Valverde worked the 9th allowing a 1-out walk to Manny but got Lowell to ground into a fielder’s choice and Youk to fly out for his 21st save on the season.

The loss drops the Red Sox to 3-12 on the season indoors and with 3 games looming at Tropicana Field with the Rays, the Red Sox will need to find something to get them going inside as this is a big week for them. After the 3-game set in Tampa, where they are 0-3 this season, they head to New York for a 4-game set with the hated New York Yankees.

Justin Masterson will take the ball tomorrow night and be opposed by James Shields.

Notes and musings:

Red Sox @ Astros 6.29.08 boxscore

The Red Sox had allowed just 10 runs in the previous 5 games before permitting 11 on Saturday.

Boston is 21-12 lifetime vs. teams from N.L. Central Division, 9-9 on the road.

Prior to Saturday, Boston had won 80 of its last 81 road games in which it had scored at least 10 runs.

Mike Lowell and Dustin Pedroia extended their hitting streaks to 7-games while Pedroia has also had a hit in his last 11 road games.