Well, the Sox took on the Rays yet again last night at Fenway Park for an epic East Division battle. Josh Beckett and David Price embarked on a long pitching duel that resulted with a Red Sox 3-2 win, the first walk-off Red Sox victory since last August. The Red Sox are now 23-23, still in last place behind the Blue Jays but nonetheless working their way up slowly but surely.
The game started with excellent pitching by David Price and Josh Beckett who both served seven innings each. The Red Sox drew first blood in the sixth inning when Will Middlebrooks singled up the middle (off the glove of that clumsy Sean Rodriguez), allowing David Ortiz to score with ease. Fenway Park was soon quiet when the Rays rallied in the top of the seventh, however, when they scored two runs off a sacrifice fly hit by Ben Zobrist and a single by Luke Scott. With many close plays throughout the game, the Sox and Rays couldn't seem to get the base runners home. After some excellent closing by Andrew Miller and Rich Hill, the Sox maintained the one run deficit entering the bottom of the ninth.
On the mound was the formidable Rays closer Fernando Rodney, who, entering play, had a 0.38 ERA - the best in baseball. Daniel Nava led the bottom of the ninth with a walk after a tense full count. Nick Punto then came in to sacrifice bunt Nava over to second successfully on the first pitch. Up next was Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who swung hard and missed at the first pitch. Fenway Park was cheering their hearts out when Salty found the change up and drove it to deep right center, a few rows behind the bullpen. The walk off win was not only the first of Salty's career but also the first of the Red Sox 2012 season. Surely this hit will be remembered throughout the rest of the season and hopefully will give the Sox enough drive to keep pushing through the rest of the tough upcoming schedule.
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