Long Rain Delay Causes 7-Hour Game, Angels Win in Extras

 

                                                                                             Sports Illustrated

Angels 5 Red Sox 3 F/13

Winning Pitcher: Trevor Bell (1-0)

Losing Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-3)

Recap

It is the last time the Angels will be at Fenway Park this year, so getting Wednesday night's game in, despite the rain, was crucial. Because of this, both teams were forced to endure a two hour and forty minute rain delay in the middle of the top of the 5th. Mother Nature really made this into a tale of two games, because both starting pitchers were pitching well but forced to leave after sitting for almost three hours. Ervin Santana, the Angels starter, had no-hit the Red Sox in his first four innings of work. Josh Beckett also pitched very well, going 4.1 IP shutout innings, allowing one hit, three walks and striking out three. However, after the rain, Matt Albers came on in relief, and left the game with it still knotted at zero after six. In the 7th, the struggling Dan Wheeler was called upon in the pen and continued his woes. He gave up a double and a 2-run home run by Vernon Wells, then allowed a walk before being pulled in favor of Hideki Okajima. In the bottom of the 7th, the Red Sox were still waiting for their first hit of the night. The Legend of Jed Lowrie continued as he knocked a base hit to right to put the Sox on the board. The score remained 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 8th, and the Sox were able to cut the deficit in half when Adrian Gonzalez hit a little knubber down the third base line that Jason Varitek was able to score on. In the 9th, Tim Wakefield came in for Hideki Okajima and allowed an inherited runner to score to make the lead 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, with Lowrie and Cameron in scoring position, Angels catcher Hank Conger made an errant throw, allowing Lowrie to score. After a Carl Crawford double, Jacoby Ellsbury knocked him in with a base hit, and we were heading into extras at about 1 AM. The game lasted until the 13th, when Daisuke Matsuzaka came out of the bullpen for Boston. He gave up a couple singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs, and Bobby Abreu knocked in two with a base hit. The Red Sox went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 13th, and Los Angeles won 5-3.

News and Notes

•  Dustin Pedroia continues to struggle. In Wednesday night's affair, the Red Sox second basemen went 0-6 with four strikeouts. I find it amazing how little I hear about Pedroia's struggles. I understand he's been here longer to prove himself, but had Carl Crawford had that performance last night, the city of Boston would have torn him apart. The fact is that people go through slumps, but if you're going to criticize one guy, you have to be tough on everyone.

•  Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez continue to hit at a high rate. Ellsbury now has a hitting streak of 12 games and Gonzalez has one of 11. Ellsbury continuing to get on base will be key for this team. It has been made clear by many people that Crawford is uncomfortable in the leadoff spot, so Ellsbury hitting well will deter Tito from having to make that call. Also, if Ellsbury continues to get on base, Gonzalez, hitting out of the three-hole, is the guy expected to knock him in. Good things should happen if these guys continue to hit consistently. 

The Red Sox will be back at it against the Angels on Thursday at 1:35. Boston sends John Lackey (2-3 5.56 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles' Joel Pineiro (0-0 1.29)