The Red Sox managed to keep the hopes of a series victory alive, when they defeated the Orioles 6-5 in 11 innings last night at Camden Yards. Josh Beckett definitely did not have his best stuff last night, as h
e went 7 innings, while giving up 5 runs to the Birds.
Obviously Beckett was not happy with the performance, as he said afterwards, “That was a good character win for us, I wish I could say I had a lot to do with it.”
Unfortunately for O’s starter Brad Bergesen, the Baltimore bullpen looked like the Sox ‘pen from the night before, and struggled mightily when Bergesen departed after eight. With Jim Johnson on the mound and no one out, Kevin Youkilis hit a two run homer, his 14th of the year, to put the the Sox back in the game at 5-3.
Johnson was quickly removed for closer George Sherrill, who managed to load the bases, and with two outs local boy Rocco Baldelli came to the plate, and drove the ball to center for a huge two-run single that tied up the game at five apiece. “There’s nothing better than getting inserted into the game with the bases loaded” said Baldelli, “You can’t ask for more than that.”
Then heading into the 11th, Julio Lugo, the shortstop everyone loves to hate delivered by singling to left, and Jacoby Ellsbury scored easily to put the Sox up for good 6-5.
Jonathan Papelbon came on to close out the 11th, and was able to shut the door on the Birds. For Pap, it was his 20th save of the season, and also the 133rd save of his Sox career, making him the all-time leader in saves for the Sox.
