A timely home run by Manny Ramirez and some effective pitching by Julian Tavarez led the Red Sox to a 5-3 victory in the rubber game of a 3 day road trip. Alex Cora delivered the big blow in the top of the 9th inning when his triple drove in pinch-runner Julio Lugo. Cora was then driven in by Coco Crisp on a sacrifice fly.
Manny got the Sox back in the game in the top of the 8th inning when his two run shot off of Shawn Marcum tied the game at 3. This was Manny’s first blast of the season.
Tavarez was effective for five innings only allowing a Frank Thomas home run. He ran into some trouble in the 6th when former New Haven Raven Alex Rios took him deep. Then Adam Lind singled and Vernon Wells drove him home with a double. The Sox bullpen (Piñero, Romero Timlin) got the job done and Jonathan Papelbon closed out the game for his fourth save in as many chances.
The Sox now head back home to the friendly confines of Fenway Park as the hated Yankees come to town.
