BOSTON — The Red Sox overcame a five-run deficit Sunday to earn a walk-off win. They nearly upped the ante Monday.
The Red Sox’s ferocious late-game rally fell just short, as the Baltimore Orioles squeaked out a 7-6 victory in the teams’ series finale at Fenway Park. Mike Carp grounded out with two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game.
The Red Sox now welcome Jacoby Ellsbury and the New York Yankees to town for three games beginning Tuesday. Before getting our hands dirty with that series, let’s check out some notes from Marathon Monday at the yard.
— Sunday featured a big pregame tribute to the victims and first responders of last April’s Boston Marathon bombing. But the Red Sox also held a short ceremony Monday, and it was very moving.
— Brock Holt was plugged into the Red Sox’s leadoff spot. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
— Clay Buchholz got knocked around, lasting just 2 1/3 innings while surrendering six runs on seven hits.
It all unraveled in the third inning. The Orioles struck for five straight singles in the frame before Buchholz even recorded an out.
“He was a little bit flat,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He couldn’t seem to stop the momentum in that third inning.”
— Burke Badenhop relieved Buchholz in the third inning, and he was tremendous.
Badenhop, who entered with an 0-2 record and a 6.75 ERA over his first seven appearances spanning 9 1/3 innings, allowed just one hit and two walks over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He induced three double plays.
“He saved us, actually,” Farrell said. “The number of ground ball double plays that he got (and) the 3 2/3 (innings) that he picked us up with. … When you’re asking the bullpen to go 6 2/3 (innings) and they give up one run, they’ve had a very good day.”
Badenhop’s three double plays were the most in a game by a Red Sox reliever since Joe Hesketh also induced three on May 22, 1993.
— David Ross and Mike Napoli homered in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively
— The Red Sox’s eighth-inning threat fell apart when Xander Bogaerts was tagged out between second base and third base following some miscommunication.
Jonathan Herrera, who pinch-hit for Ross, struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Daniel Nava, who was stationed at first base, ran with the count full, but Bogaerts was hesitant after almost getting picked off second base earlier in Herrera’s at-bat.
“We were putting runners in motion because of the trust in Herrera just to put the ball on the ground,” Farrell said. “We felt like the part of the order, we were trying to create something (and) force their defense to make a play by putting guys in motion (and) trying to open up a hole as well. The foul tip into the glove, and (Bogaerts was) kind of caught out in no man’s land.”
— Dustin Pedroia came within a few feet of tying the game in the ninth inning. His deep fly ball clanked off the wall for a double.
The Red Sox, trailing by two runs, loaded the bases with one out. Napoli rolled a 3-1 cutter to second base for an RBI groundout, and Carp, who pinch-hit for Jonny Gomes in the eighth, couldn’t come through.
