Just one night after Paul Byrd dropped five runs in the first frame against the Kansas City Royals, KC found out what it was like to watch an entire game slip away in one inning. Behind a six run fifth inning, the Boston Red Sox gave the Royals one such beat down, taking their first win of the series off of KC, 9-2, last night. The win was their 90th of the season, and brought the magic number in the Wild Card Race down to five.
Josh Beckett somehow managed to get twelve-hit over six innings and only give up two earned runs, both coming in the fourth off a Yuniesky Betancourt triple immediately followed by a David DeJesus single. They would prove to be the only two runs scored by the Royals.
Luke Hochevar did not fair nearly as well as Josh Beckett, a sign of inexperienced, ineffective pitching, and a poor supporting cast. The righty was hit four fewer times than Beckett throughout his five innings, but those eight hits resulted in six earned runs and three walks, with five strikeouts. Josh Beckett, on the other hand, walked only one and notched seven Ks on the night.
Jacoby Ellsbury got the party started in the fifth with a two run triple, but Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, and David Ortiz would all add subsequent singles to lift the Red Sox past the Royals. Ortiz would add another three runs of insurance in the ninth inning with his 25th homer of the year.
Tonight’s “I’ll May Give You a Cookie, and Then Promptly Pee In Your Glass of Milk” Award goes to Beckett. What a tease… seriously.
Next game: 9/24 – BOS @ KC – Buchholz / Lerew
