August 5, 2008
Matsuzaka Stops Bleeding, Sox bats Come Alive
Boston 5, Kansas City 3
After struggling to score runs for much of the last month, the Red Sox rallied with two runs in the top of the ninth to beat the Royals at Kauffman Stadium behind eight solid innings of work by Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka held the Royals in check, allowing just three runs on three hits.
The Sox went ahead in the fifth against starter Brett Tomko on a three-run home run by Coco Crisp. After Jason Varitek lined a one-out single to right field, Mike Lowell popped out to third for the second out. Dustin Pedroia kept the inning alive when he beat out a ground ball to Esterban German, that was ruled an error. Crisp, bouncing back from a .194 batting average in July, lined a 2-2 fastball over the right field wall for his twelve home run of the season.
Freddie Bynum came back in the bottom of the fifth and hit a solo homerun off Matsuzaka to pull the Royals right back into the game.
In the eighth, with Matsuzaka starting to tire, Termel Sledge tied the ball game at three runs a piece with a two-run home run with two outs. After watching Matsuzaka walk Mitch Maier on four pitches, manager Terry Francona decided to stick with his starter, a clear referendum on the faith he has in his bullpen. Even after the home run, Francona stuck with Matsuzaka, letting the right-hander retire German to end the eighth.
In the ninth, with Matt Peterson on the mound, Mike Lowell led off the inning with a double to left-center. With Julio Lugo pinch running, Andruw Jones came off the bench to pinch hit for Dustin Pedroia, but flew out to right field. Coco Crisp followed with his fourth RBI of the game, a double down the left field line that scored Lugo easily from second. A wild pitch by Peterson moved Crisp up to third and a single by Manny Ramirez scored the speedy centerfield from third without a throw. David Ortiz singled, but Brandon Buckworth came out of the bullpen to retire J.D. Drew swinging to end the Sox.
In the ninth, newly acquired Brian Wilson shut the door in place of Jonathan Papelbon, earning his second save in three appearances with the Sox.
W: Matsuzaka (15-6) L: Pterson (4-1) SV: Wilson (23)
Player of the Game: Coco Crisp (2-5, 2B, HR, 2 Rs, 4 RBIs)
Around the League:
...MR Brian Fuentes (41g, 0-3, SV, 4.85 ERA) was put on the trade block by the Washington Nationals...New York Melky Cabrera went 0-4 to end his hitting streak at 21 games...