Forget October, let’s hope the Sox get out of September. Russ Adams’ grand slam off of closer Jonathan Papelbon gave the Blue Jays some insurance as they went on to defeat the Red Sox 6-1 and sweep the three-game set. The loss coupled with yet another Yankees win puts the lead at just 1.5 games in the AL East. If there was good news out of today, the Tigers lost so the Sox magic number to reach the playoffs is just 3 games.
Clay Buchholz got the start tonight for the Red Sox and pitched well. So did his counterpart Jesse Litsch. Both pitchers actually had no-hitters thru the first 3 innings.
Clay’s no hitter lasted until there was two outs in the 4th inning when Frank Thomas hit a single. It didn’t affect Buchholz as he struck out Aaron Hill to end the inning.
Litsch lost his no-hitter to the first batter he faced in the 5th inning. J.D. Drew led off with a solo home run, just his 9th of the year, to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. Litsch then got Jason Varitek and Eric Hinske to ground out. He then walked Bobby Kielty but got Julio Lugo to fly out for the final out of the inning.
Gregg Zaun led off the 5th inning with a double and went to third on an Adam Lind single. Zaun tied the game up when Adams reached on a bunt single. Ray Olmedo then hit a ball back to Buchholz who threw the ball past Lowell that went into the outfield allowing Lind to score. After Kielty threw the ball back in, Mike Lowell held onto it for a few and when Adams adjusted his feet, Lowell tagged for an out. Buchholz then walked Vernon Wells but and then ended his night striking out Matt Stairs. Having seen Buchholz throw 70 pitches on the night, Terry Francona went to the bullpen for Manny Delcarmen. Facing Alex Rios, Delcarmen got him to fly out as the Sox left the inning trailing 2-1.
The Sox had a great chance to tie the game up in the 7th inning. Litsch had gotten the first two outs of the inning before he ran into some trouble. He issued a free pass to Varitek and Hinske followed that with a single. Litsch then hit Kielty with a pitch to load up the bases for Lugo. Litsch wouldn’t face Lugo though as Jays manager John Gibbons went to his bullpen for Casey Janssen. He came in and jammed Lugo, who hit the ball to Olmedo at short. The ball took a funny hop on Olmedo who threw to first to get Lugo who didn’t run hard down the line. Had Lugo ran all the way, the game would be tied. But that wasn’t the case.
Mike Timlin started the 8th for the Sox and started it off by hitting Rios with a pitch. After Rios stole second, Timlin walked Frank Thomas. Curtis Thigpen came into run for the speedy Thomas. Hill then laid down a nice bunt to move the runners over to second and third. The Sox then decided to intentionally walk Zaun to face Adams. Francona went for his ace in the bullpen, Papelbon. He fell behind Adams 3-0 but battled back to make it a full count. On a fastball, Adams planted it in the seats for a grand slam and a 6-1 Jays lead. Papelbon ended the inning with a strikeout of Olmedo.
Jeremy Accardo, who came on to finish the 8th, struck out the first two batters of the 9th. He ended the game as he got Hinske to foul out to third to send the Sox reeling even deeper.
Is anyone else glad the Red Sox are off tomorrow? I sure am. I am so frustrated right now. Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe has asked us to stay away from the ledge.
Just stay away from ledges, people. For me?
Only because she asked so nicely. Lucky for me (I think), I live on the first floor.
