Dempster Struggles, Ortiz Smacks Two Home Runs in 12-5 Red Sox Win Over Minnesota Twins

Heeeere’s Jonny! Gomes Lifts Red Sox to Extra Inning Win over Twins

Connelly’s Top Ten: Bruins Keep Rolling

Middlebrooks Delivers in 9th as Sox Rally in Dramatic Fashion

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Ellsbury Knocks Home Winning Run in Extras

Entering Friday’s game, Jon Lester was on quite a roll. He was coming off two straight wins, with 22 strikeouts over 16 innings. It seems that Jon Lester has finally found his form of 2008, except the 2009 version may be even better. Lester was magnificent Friday night against the Phillies, becoming the first Red Sox starter with 10+ strikeouts in three straight starts since Pedro Martinez in 2004. He tossed seven strong innings and allowed just one run on two hits and two walks with 11 K’s and left with the 2-1 lead.

Jonathan Papelbon saved the final two games of the Yankees series and was unavailable to pitch Friday. In his place was Ramon Ramirez, who was coming off a rough appearance against the Yankees in his previous outing (allowed HRs to Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira). Facing Ryan Howard in the ninth, Ramirez allowed a mammoth blast to tie the game 2-2 and send it to extras.

The Red Sox broke the scoreless tie with three runs on a Jacoby Ellsbury RBI single, a Nick Green sacrifice fly, and a Mike Lowell RBI single in the 13th inning to earn the 5-2 win.

Sox Stud of the Game

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF: Ellsbury finished 2-6, including the go-ahead RBI single with the bases loaded in the 13th inning. He had a 2-0 count and color commentator Dave Roberts begged him to continue taking pitches, but Ellsbury saw something he liked and ripped it to right field for the clutch base hit.

Sox Dud of the Game

Dustin Pedroia, 2B: This is more a personal thing between me and Pedroia. He’s on my primary fantasy team, and he rewarded me by going 0-7 in the game. Who does he think he is, Big Papi (from May)?

That’s What He Said

“Lester was so good,” Terry Francona said. Well said, Terry…well said.

Game Notes

W: Takashi Saito (2-0)
L: Kyle Kendrick (0-1)
S: Daniel Bard (1)

• Phillies pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs slammed a deep fly ball to right field in extra innings that was ruled foul, but it was difficult to tell for sure.
• Justin Masterson tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.
• Daniel Bard earned his first career save, and also plunked Raul Ibanez on the right elbow. I heard a crack, but Ibanez just ran to first base like nothing happened. Baseball players are so tough these days…

Tags: Daniel Bard, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Bay, Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, Ramon Ramirez, Red Sox, Takashi Saito

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