4 Real? Four at bats that changed the game. Red Sox vs Twins 5-6-13

Game 32: Sox rally twice to take it in extras, 6-5

After losing three straight to the Texas Rangers, Boston put the ball into Clay Buchholz's hands. The Red Sox really needed a good showing from Clay to get the ball rolling again, but instead of bringing his "A" game, Buchholz was knocked around a bit for four runs in only six innings. While it looked as if Buchholz was about to earn his first loss of the 2013 season, the Boston bats turned it into high gear and the Red Sox rallied back until the lead the game going into the ninth. Closer Joel Hanrahan coughed up the lead and then left with an injury before he could end the inning. Here are the four at bats that changed the game:

1) Top of the first inning, and the Twins get to Clay Buchholz early. Josh Willingham doubles to left field to score Joe Mauer and then Justin Mourneau singles on a line drive to center field. Although Buchholz got a piece of it, the ball finds a way into center to drive in a run. 2-0 Twins. See Willingham's double here.

2) Bottom of the 8th inning, and Dustin Pedroia is batting against Casey Fien. Pedey works ten pitches out of Fien, fouls off five pitches, and then takes a changeup over the Green Monster for his first homerun of 2013. Huge hit for Pedey and the Red Sox, as they now lead 5-4. See Dustin's HR here.

3) Top of the ninth inning and Joel Hanrahan comes out to close out the game. Hanrahan throws six straight fastballs to Brian Dozier, and the sixth pitch is right down the middle. Dozier makes the Hammer pay, and he hits a homerun to left center to tie the game. See Dozier's HR here.

4) Bottom of the 11th inning, and Jared Burton is pitching. After giving up a couple of two out singles to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Will Middlebrooks, Stephen Drew takes a fastball down and away and hits it off the base of the Monster to score Salty. Sox win, sox win! 6-5 Sox. See the walkoff here.

It is great to see the Red Sox rally twice to take this game from Minnesota. And while they haven't done much offensively this season, Stephen Drew and Will Middlebrooks came up in key situations and got the job done. And that is ALL that matters.
Tomorrow, Ryan Dempster faces Scott Diamond at Fenway Park, 7:10pm.

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