All year small-ball has been a huge factor in the success for the Red Sox. However, today the long ball was what did the trick.
Jonathan Papelbon allowed his first walk all year at Fenway which put the tying run on first in the top of the ninth. Adam Kennedy doubled to deep left center to score Chris Duncan. One batter later, Papelbon got out of the inning but not before blowing his fourth save of the year.
A Cardinals sweep would have been the first since Aug. 21, 2006 when the Yankees swept the Red Sox at Fenway Park. However, it was not meant to be. From the ninth inning to the 13th inning great pitching and clutch fielding was the story.
Perhaps the best play was J.D. Drew's throw to nail Chris Duncan at the plate. However, the highlight of the game came in the 13th when Mike Lowell led off the inning with a single. Kevin Youkilis proceeded to hit a walk off home run to lift the Red Sox, 5-3, over the St. Louis Cardinals and avoid a three game sweep. The home run was Kevin's second of the game and his 13th of the year.
"I knew I hit it really well and I thought it would get out, but you never know here sometimes," Youkilis said. "You can't beat it. I think it was even more exciting when you have a 13-inning game. You just want to get out of here. That always makes it a lot better of a home run."
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3 months ago
As a huge Cardinals fan, this was an especially devastating loss for us. I thought we were going to sweep the Bo Sox after getting swept by the crappy Royals squad.
3 months ago
Such an intense game, both teams had so many chances to close this one out, and the Sox finally got it done.
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