With Manny Ramirez 90 feet away Kevin Youkilis flew out to right field to end a ninth inning rally losing to the Cardinals 5-4.
Mike Lowell drove home Dustin Pedroia on an RBI single to bring it to 5-4.
Tim Wakefield (4-5) suffered the loss pitching for 7 innings, on seven hits, four runs, three earned, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Goat of the Game: Okie not O.K.
Hideki Okajima gave up a home run to Yadier Molina in the top of of the eighth inning that ended up being the difference as Boston scored with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
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Oki gave up the run that ended up being the winner for the Cards, but I really think the goat of this game was Manny. Plating one run and making three outs in two at-bats with the bases loaded is unacceptable for a cleanup hitter. There’s a pretty darn good chance we could’ve squeezed at least that one run out of either of those innings had Manny been more productive. Okajima certainly didn’t do his job, but I can’t help but feel that Manny was more responsible for the loss.
Dan – I can agree with you on that one. It makes sense to me. Okie is the obvious choice, but I was hoping as you did that you posted about Manny.
The thing is, that usually when the Sox win, it’s a team effort. This time, losing was a team effort, and no one person was responsible. Despite hitting, we didn’t get the runs across. Our D was a just a little off. Our pitching was just a little off . . . well, more than a little off. The whole game seemed off kilter, and no one really delivered big time.
Very much enjoyed watching PawSox whip the Clippers this evening. They really are not another team anymore, but a seamless extension of Fenway replete with MLB ready players . . . even to singing Sweet Caroline in the 8th.
Bailey, Carter, VanEvery hit home runs; Thurston showed his speed; Pauley continued his hot streak (he is developing fast and could genuinely add to our pitching depth soon); Kielty is on the mend and Hansack is back in the rotation; Jed Lowrie played perfect SS as usual, starting 3 DP’s (I still don’t understand why some critics think he is not a SS. He was All-American SS in college, has played superior SS in MilB, and showed his stuff in ST and at Fenway. He may or may not be a Theriot or Hanley, but unless we can get Theriot or Hanley, he is a serious upgrade with bat and glove, and is our answer.)
While the Sox are in 1st place using a dozen AAA talent as subs so far (Smith, Moss, Hansen today), the PawSox have the best record in the International League despite losing their best talent to Fenway. Team approach, good pitching, good hitting, good D, and great depth (must be nice to have 4 OFers in AAA who will hit 20-30HR with high average and OBP; two of the winningest pitchers in the IL (no, not Buchholz, Hansen, Masterson or Smith) Pauley and Zinc; a hot middle infield of Lowrie & Thurston.