Red Sox rally but fall short

After rallying to tie the game in the top of the 9th, the Red Sox closer issue reared it's ugly head as both Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves combined to hand the game to the Tigers in the bottom of the inning.

Lester and Verlander were battling all day. While Verlander seemed absolutely unhittable at times. Lester had to work out of a jam on more than one occasion. Finally in the 7th - after having Alex Avila down 0-2 - the Tigers finally broke through with Avila doubling over the head over Cody Ross in left, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The next inning, Prince Fielder hit a sac fly to push the lead to 2 with the heart of the Red Sox order coming up.

In the top of the 9th Dustin Pedroia came to the plate and hit a leadoff double to right center. After a single by Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz hit a sac fly to center to bring the Red Sox within one. Then Kevin Youkilis looked absolutely awful on a strike out and the Red Sox were left with two outs, pinch runner Darnell Mcdonald on 1st and new friend Ryan Sweeney at the plate. After McDonald swiped second base Sweeney laced a near homerun down the right field line for a triple. Cody Ross lined out to end the inning but it was clear that the Red Sox had the momentum going into the bottom of the 9th.

Then in walked Mark Melancon - and his stupid new Vulcan changeup - and everything went to shit. After 2 straight singles by Johnny Peralta and Alex Avila, Alfredo Aceves came in to try and stop the bleeding. Aceves proceeded to hit the first batter and then give up a walkoff hit to Austin Jackson. Effectively doing nothing but add fuel to the fire regarding the closers position.

Other than the last half inning you couldn't have asked for much more out of the Red Sox today. They were on the road against a potent offensive lineup, facing the reigning MVP and Cy Young award winner. This closer role will hopefully work itself out, but for now let's focus on the positive stuff. We have all season to act like Dan Shaugnessy.



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