Red Sox Needs to Remember How to Bunt

I am not a proponent of the sacrifice bunt in most cases.  For example, with one out, I don't believe in the sacrifice—ever.  So the fact that the Red Sox don't bunt runners over doesn't bother me at all.

However, there are times in which a bunt is needed.  The Red Sox missed two such opportunities today in Anaheim, and it may have cost them a win.  

It was the top of the ninth, zero outs, and a 4-4 game. Julio Lugo led with a double.  A Jacoby Ellsbury bunt moved him to third with one out. Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice flew deep to Torii Hunter in center field.

In the top of the 11th, with zero outs, and a 4-4 game, Jason Bay was gifted first on a strike out and past ball.  Nick Green bunted him over to second where a single brought in the go ahead run.

What's the problem with these two scenarios?  They never happened because the batters where swinging away.  Of course, the outcomes couldn't have been worse.

In the top of the ninth, Ellsbury grounded into a fielder's choice, ending up at second base with one out after a run down.  Instead of coming home after Pedroia's fly to center, he got stuck at second.  Red Sox didn't score.

In the top of the 11th, Green promptly grounded into a double play—inning over.

For justification of selective sacrifice bunting, contrast the Red Sox decision to swing away in bunt situations with the Los Angeles Angels' walk off winning inning.

In the bottom of the 12th with no outs in a 4-4 game, Juan Rivera got a single.  Rivera got a pinch run by Reggie Willits, who was bunted over to second by Eric Aybar.  Jeff Mathis got singles in the winning run—and that's the ballgame.