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| Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images |
It was shaping to be a
SquanderPalooza of epic proportions. Boston had left 10 men on base during multiple opportunities to plate a tying run. Then, in the seventh, the Carmine Hose pushed across a run with some hustle by
Mike Napoli and a great take-out slide by
David Ortiz. It was Ortiz who untied things for good in the ninth—clouting a three-run line shot into the bullpen
to send Boston to a 6-3 victory. Also,
Jacoby Ellsbury and
Jonny Gomes each had four hits,
Jose Iglesias reached base four times, and
Dustin Pedroia knocked in two.
Jon Lester was shaky early again, but persevered to go six innings, giving up three earned runs. The Sox bullpen was superb—with
Junichi Tazawa,
Koji Uehara and
Andrew Bailey going three scoreless innings. Boston improved to 37-24 and will at least maintain their 1.5 game lead on the Empire no matter what happens in Seattle.
