Francona Wins Big in Return to Fenway

Connelly’s Top Ten: Rask Falls on Face

Bruins Lose 4-3 in OT as Rangers Fight to Stay Alive

For the Bulletin Board: Lundqvist’s “Lucky Bounces,” Savard’s “#ByeByeTorts”

A “Royal” Disappointment: Red Sox Lose Again at Fenway

The Red Sox dropped the ball again last night with their first game against the Kansas City Royals, blowing a four-run lead that led to the 8-6 loss at Fenway.

It started out with a bang. David Ortiz blasted his 300^th career homer for two runs, and the Sox were up 3-0 at the end of the first. In the top of the fourth, things started to unravel just a little bit, and the Royals came too close for comfort by scoring three runs of their own.

Dustin Pedroia hit his own home run in the fifth inning, making it 5-3 Red Sox. However, if the game looked like it was going to unravel earlier, it was completely undone by the end of the sixth. The bullpen started to struggle. First Manny Delcarmen and then Justin Masterson, giving up four more runs (including a two-run homer by David DeJesus) to make it 7-5 Kansas City.

The Red Sox looked like they were ready to rally in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Mark Kotsay hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jason Bay, but the Red Sox were unable to do anything more. Daniel Bard pitched brilliantly striking out three of the four batters he faced, but to no avail. The game ended with a disappointing 8-6 loss for the Sox.

Sox Stud of the Game: David Ortiz, yet again!

I can’t help it, and it’s still well-deserved. In a game where no one was particularly “studly,” Ortiz did hit his 300th home run. Which makes him studly enough for this recap.

Sox Dud of the Game: The Team

It wasn’t only the bullpen that failed tonight, it was also the error by Jason Varitek and the lack of offense when there was prime opportunity. The Sox were only 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

That’s What He Said:

“There are times when things don’t always work out. Lately, it has been a different guy missing on a different pitch at a different time.” – Justin Masterson, on the bullpen giving up a Red Sox lead again last night

Game Notes

W: Luke Hochevar (5-3)
L: Justin Masterson (3-3)
S: Joakim Soria (14)

• The Red Sox are only 3-4 on their current homestand and are 5-5 in their last 10 games
• The Red Sox and the Yankees are now tied for first place in the AL East standings
• Ortiz is the first Red Sox player to reach the 300-homer club since Manny Ramirez in 2002

Tags: David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Justin Masterson, Kansas City Royals, Manny Delcarmen, Red Sox