4 real? Four at bats that changed the game 4-10-13 Red Sox vs Os

Game 8: Sox win 5-3! Sox lose 8-5!

In a baseball game that saw the Red Sox's first defensive errors, a rain delay, great middle relief, timely hitting and a scary ending, this game looked at times like a wonderful symphony, and at the end, it resembled a nightmare. The Red Sox have been billed a "small ball" team by many, but today they showed a bit more pop in the friendly confines of Fenway Park. Unfortunately, their efforts went down the drain when Joel Hanrahan came in to close out the game. In the end, the Red Sox lose 8-5. Here are the 4 at bats that changed the game:

1) With th Red Sox down 1-0 early in the bottom of the 2nd inning, Jake Arrieta shut down the first two hitters with fly outs to the outfield. Arrieta then gave up a harmless two-out walk to Daniel Nava. Well, it seemed harmless, until Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a lazy fly that kept carrying until it hit the right side of the Green Monster about 10 feet up. Because Nava was going on contact with two outs, he scored easily to tie the game at 1-1. Moral of the story: Don't walk guys!

2) In the top of the forth inning, and the Red Sox up 3-1, Nick Markakis leads off with a shot to deep right center field. Adam Jones follows up with a single and then gets to second on a wild pitch. Matt Wieters follows up with a solid single to Jackie Bradley, but he misplays the ball and Adam Jones scores. While it has been a rare occurance from the Red Sox this season, misplays hurt them and the game is now tied at 3.

3) With the game still tied at 3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Red Sox bring hot hitting Daniel Nava to the plate and he delivers with a deep popup into the first row of the Green Monster to make it 4-3.Not to be outdone, least year's leading homerun hitter, Saltalamacchia, hits a rocket no-doubter into the right field bleachers and the Red Sox go back to back to take the lead. The middle relievers don't give up a hit in three innings, and this one is in the bag... enter Joel Hanrahan.......

4) Whoops. Top of the ninth inning, and control problems end this game way too quickly. E tu Brute? Homerun, single, stolen base,walk,walk, wild pitch to tie the game, three run homerun by Manny Machado (who obviously is on my bench in fantasy baseball), GAME. As the sell out streak that lasted over ten years at Fenway ends, fittingly so does the lead the Red Sox had, and the final score ends up 8-5 Orioles. You had to see it to believe it. Who said closers aren't worth the pay?

Tomorrow, the Red Sox take on Chris Tillman and the Orioles in the rubber match at 7:10pm. That's all for now, as I have to walk away slowly from the tv and let this one sink in.

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