4 real? Four at bats that changed the game. Red Sox vs Astros 4-27-13

Game 24: Red Sox come back
to win 8-4

While this one started rough for Felix Doubront, he settled down nicely to win his third game of the season. The Red Sox had more than ten hits for the second straight game, and Daniel Nava, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks all had two hits in their third straight win over Houston. Although Boston was down early, they rallied back in the second inning to take the lead and never looked back. Here are the four at bats that changed the game:

1)Top of the first inning, and leadoff hitter Jose Altuve singles. The wheels feel off for Doubront, as he hit a batter, threw a wild pitch,then walked two more men. With the bases loaded and one out, Doubront was in a nightmare. He woke quickly to get Matt Dominguez on a shallow pop to short and then struck out Marwin Gonzalez to keep the damage at only 2-0 Astros.

2) Bottom of the second inning, and the Red Sox respond to being down. The Red Sox batted around and had 10 total men come to the plate, with the biggest hit being David Ortiz's double to left field to score Stephen Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox ended the inning with a 4-2 lead. See Ortiz's double here.

3) Things stayed quiet until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Red Sox moved the runners with singles and doubles to plate three men. Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled to left and Middlebrooks walked. Stephen Drew singled to score Salty and Daniel Nava singles in Middlebrooks, and Pedroia singles in Drew. Another great inning by patient hitters results in a 8-3 lead.

4) Top of the eighth inning, and Daniel Bard is back in uniform! Unfortunately, it's the old Bard, and he falls apart as soon as he toes the rubber, walking the first two batters he sees on only 9 pitches. John Farrell pulls him. By the time Alex Wilson came on to pitch, one runner scores, and another Jonny Gomes highlight catch (see it here) keeps the damage to only 1 run. 8-4 Red Sox.

The 8-4 score was how it ended, as Andrew Miller pitched a perfect ninth inning, and the Red Sox win again! Sunday, the Red Sox look to sweep Houston at 1:35pm when Jon Lackey returns from the disabled list to matchup against the Astros' Bud Norris.

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