August 6, 2008
Reshuffled Lineup Wakes Up, Takes Series from Royals
Bosotn 10, Kansas City 2
After falling behind by one early, it appeared the Sox were going to fold up the tent and head home without much of a fight. But, it was Jon Lester's strong performance that kept the Red Sox in the game until the bats woke up and pulled away with a five run sixth inning.
Mark Grudzielanek put Kanas City ahead in the first with a double that escaped a diving Coco Crisp in centerfield, scoring Esteban German from first to put KC ahead 1-0.
With a 1-0 run lead, Royals starter Brian Bannister settled into a pitcher's duel with Lester through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, though, the Sox batters began to show life. Rafael Furcal led off the inning with a solo home run, the third hit of the game for the Sox. Jason Varitek followed with a single to center and scored the go-ahead run one batter later when Dustin Pedroia slapped a one-out double down the right field line. After a Coco Crisp ground out, Pedroia scored the third run of the game on a RBI-single by Kevin Youkilis. The inning ended, however, when Youkilis was caught trying to stretch the single into a double as Bannister cut off the throw home and easily caught Youkilis between the bases.
In the sixth though, Bannister continued to show struggle. After a lead off walk to Manny Ramirez, Banniester retired David Ortiz on a first pitch popout to the catcher, Kelly Shoppach. A wild pitch moved Ramirez to second and J.D. Drew was intentionally walk, setting up the potential inning-ending double play. Rafael Furcal, batting in the sixth spot in the lineup for the first time in his short tenure with the Red Sox, slapped a grounder to shortstop, but Mike Aviles was slow with the throw to second, and the Royals were unable to turn the double play.
With runners on first and third and two outs, Bannister threw a pickoff throw to first into the stands, advancing Furcal to second and allowing Manny Ramirez to walk home from third. Mike Lowell singled to load the bases after a Varitek walk, and Dustin Pedroia drove home two runs with a single back up the middle.
Brandon Duckworth replaced Bannister on the mound and subsequently walked Coco Crisp on four pitches to reload the bases. Kevin Youkilis hit a blooping single to left that allowed Lowell and Pedroia to score, putting the Sox ahead 8-1. Manny Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning.
In the seventh, the Royals added another run, on a pair of doubles by Alex Gordon and Kelly Shoppach before Justin Masterson replaced Lester. Masterson went the final three innings, keeping the Royals hitless while striking out two batters to pick up his second save of the season.
Boston added two more runs against Brandon Duckworth to finish out the scoring.
W: Lester (10-6) L: Bannister (8-4) SV: Masterson (2)
Player of the Game: Dustin Pedroia (3-4, 2B, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs)
Around the League:
...San Diego signed C Michael Barrett to a 4-year contract extension worth $16.4m... New York signed MR Dauner Sanchez to a 3-year contract extension worth $1.29m...
Revs Bounced from US Cup
FC Dallas 1, New England 0
Entering the match as the defending champions, New England was favored despite being on the road for the Quarterfinal matchup against FC Dallas.
Unfortunately, the Revs were unable to get their offense clicking once again and Dallas escaped a hard fought match with a 1-0 victory to advance.
Stuart Holden scored the loan goal of the match, beating Matt Reis on a deflection from inside the box.
The loss removes the Revolution from the US Cup competition, leaving the defending champions time to focus on the MLS season as they trail the Kansas City Wizards (12-5-1) by four points in the Eastern Conference.