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”

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Drew, Nava Carry Red Sox Past Orioles 3-2

With the AL East lead nearly a three-way tie among the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays, the Sox need to pick up every win they can, especially against teams like the struggling Orioles.

Despite 10 players on the DL, the Red Sox keep finding ways to win. Good luck charm Daniel Nava was at it again against the Orioles, driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth.

J.D. Drew chipped in with two home runs, both off Brad Bergesen, in the second and fifth innings and the Red Sox carried Tim Wakefield to victory, his 178^th with the Red Sox.

The real stars of this game were the pitchers, Wakefield and Bergesen. Both men took the ball and retired batters, leading to a rare Red Sox game well under three hours. Bergesen allowed just five hits, struck out seven and walked none in 7.2 innings. Wakefield allowed seven hits, including a Nick Markakis home run, struck out four and walked just one over 8.0 innings.

Jonathan Papelbon came in to close the game and struck out two of the three batters he faced to preserve the Sox one run lead.

Sox Studs of the Game: J.D. Drew & Daniel Nava

J.D. Drew, after resting some soreness against the Rays, was anything but resting against the Orioles. Drew smacked two home runs which accounted for all the Red Sox scoring until the bottom of the 8^th when, you’ve heard it before, Daniel Nava came through in a big situation.

Sox Dud of the Game:  Bill Hall

Brad Bergesen was dominant for most of the game and kept Red Sox hitters guessing, but Bill Hall was the only Sox to strike out two times in the game.

Game Notes:

W: Wakefield (3-6)
L: Bergesen (3-5)
SV: Papelbon (19)

• Red Sox hitters didn’t take a single walk but struck out seven times.
• With Robinson Cano going hitless, Adrian Beltre could have taken over the AL lead in batting average had he recorded a hit.
• Tim Wakfield has 178 wins with the Red Sox, 14 back of the club record (192) shared by Roger Clemens and Cy Young.

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Brad Bergesen, Daniel Nava, J.D. Drew, Jonathan Papelbon, Nick Markakis, Red Sox, Tim Wakefield

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