I have to apologize for not posting this last night but my the ac adapter on my laptop decided to die on me and I just got a new one. That means I will be playing catch up today.
Seven strong innings by Curt Schilling and a breakdown by Baltimore’s $42 million bullpen that allowed the Red Sox to score five unanswered runs was the difference as the Sox went on to defeat the O’s by a final score of 6-1.
The Sox got on the board first with a home run by Alex Cora. Miguel Tejada hit a home run to tie the game at 1 in the 6th inning. It was the 7th inning when things started to fall apart for the Orioles. Daniel Cabrera, who had pitched well to this point, walked Wily Mo Peña. Cora then sacrificed Peña to second base and then Cabrera got Julio Lugo on a fly out to right. He then proceeded to walk Kevin Youkilis. This ended the night for Cabrera.
Jaime Walker came into face Big Papi and allowed a single that scored Peña. Chad Bradford then relieved Walker and allowed a run scoring single to Manny Ramirez. He then walked J.D. Drew to load the bases. Mike Lowell came to the plate and was walked allowing the third running of the inning to score.
Jim Johnson came in for the 8th inning and retired the Sox in order. He got into trouble in the 9th inning though. Youk and Big Papi both singled, then Manny crushed one to deep center field that was caught by Corey Patterson but it allowed Youk to score from third base. Drew walked and then Mike Lowell hit a single to score the final run of the night.
Schilling was stellar during the game. He went 7 innings, allowed 5 hits, 1 run. He struck out 3 and walked 2. Only one O’s batter besides Tejada got past 2nd base. Hideki “Darkman” Okajima continued his strong pitching by striking out 2 O’s batters in the 8th. Brendan Donnelly then finished off the O’s in the 9th.
Josh Beckett takes the hill for the Sox tonight as they try to complete the two game sweep of the O’s.
