Four Real? Red Sox Sweep Reds with Late Win 5-7-14

Will Middlebrooks singles in the 8th to put the Sox up 4-3.

Boston, Ma- Even though they finally got to a .500 record Wednesday, you can start to feel the momentum building. Boston staged a late 8th inning comeback to take the game and the two game series over Cincinnati and give the Sox something to smile about on their trip to Texas. Starter Jake Peavy went six strong innings only giving up three runs on four hits and the bullpen worked three hit-less innings to keep the game within striking distance. Here are the four at bats that changed the game:

1) Top of the third inning, and with a man on, Skip Schumaker takes a low inside fastball to the right field bullpen for his first homerun of the season to give the Reds an early 2-0 lead.


2)Bottom of the sixth inning, and there are runners at the corners for David Ortiz. He takes a middle-in fastball from starter Mike Leake and pulls it into right field for a hard hit single. The hit scores Jon Herrera to cut the lead in half. 2-1 Reds. Mike Napoli steps up to the plate to face Leake. Just like Papi, there are ducks on the pond. Nap takes three pitches and finds himself in a 2 and 1 count. Leake throws a breaking ball that cuts to the outside part of the plate, but Napoli stays with it and dumps it down the right field line for a double. Another run scores and the game is tied.

3) In the top of the seventh, Peavy tires and leaves the bases loaded with no outs. Lefty Chris Capuano enters the game and gets Roger Bernadina to ground a slow roller to Dustin Pedroia, but his only option is to go to first and give up a run. Todd Frazier scores and the Reds retake the lead, 3-2.


4) Bottom of the eighth inning, and here come the Red Sox. With AJ Pierzynski up to bat and a 1-1 count, he pulls a high and tight fastball down the line for a ground rule double to score Napoli. Later, Will Middlebrooks steps up with the bases loaded and delivers a single up the middle to score Johnny Gomes and give the Red Sox the lead.

Boston would not give the Reds another chance, as Koji enters the game and strikes out the side to preserve the win. Boston now sits at a .500 record and is 1.5 games behind league leading Baltimore. The Red Sox have the day off tomorrow and resume Friday night in Texas.

Like my stuff? Tweet me! @Red33Sox