With the Sox trailing 4-3 in the final frame and closer Frank Francisco on the mound, Chris Woodward (who will most likely be off the team once Alex Gonzalez arrives) failed to even successfully attempt a bunt, striking out with two on and nobody out.
What happened next was nothing short of crazy.
Manager Terry Francona elected to send Clay Buchholz in to pinch run for Jason Varitek. Dustin Pedroia promptly lined a double off the left-field fence that should have easily scored Buchholz. The only problem was that the pitcher-turned-runner was hung up between second and third base. Buchholz turned on the jets but stumbled over third base, eventually being gunned down at the plate.
Standing at the plate as the potential final out, Victor Martinez fouled off three would-be final strikes in an eight-pitch at-bat before lining a double down the line in right field, scoring Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, who had singled earlier in the inning to cut the lead to just one run.
Jason Bay then singled home Martinez before J.D. Drew homered to give the Sox an 8-4 lead.
The win gives the Red Sox a 1 1/2-game lead over Texas for the AL wild card.
Red Sox 8, Rangers 4
Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, Texas
August 14, 2009
Headliner: Victor Martinez has been good thus far for the Red Sox. Now he has a signature moment.
Things weren't looking good for the Sox after Buchholz was embarrassed on the basepaths. Martinez battled back from a 1-2 count before finally squaring up a Frank Francisco pitch, giving the Red Sox a lead for the first time all night.
Dirt Dog: Jason Varitek was having an awful night at the plate when he stepped up in the ninth inning. He sent a groundball up the middle and looked to be on his way to an 0-for-4 evening. That's when the captain reminded everyone why he wears the "C" on his chest.
Varitek hustled down the line, just beating the throw of a leaping Omar Vizquel. That show of hustle put runners on at the corners with nobody out. Jacoby Ellsbury singled and kicked off the scoring in a wild ninth inning.
David Ortiz (2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 R's, HR) and Jon Lester (6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 11 K's) also warrant mention. In a losing effort, Michael Young drove in three of the four Ranger runs.
Better Luck Next Time: Frank Francisco had converted 16 of 18 save opportunities this season. He was just a strike away from earning No. 17.
He could not, however, retire Martinez and coughed up the lead. Had he been able to get out of the inning after that, the Rangers would have still had a chance. He didn't, so the Rangers didn't.
Francisco left the game after giving up six earned runs on seven hits in just 2/3 innings.
Key Moment: It wasn't a home game, but with all the Red Sox fans in attendance, it wasn't all that different from Fenway Park.
Martinez showed he could handle a big moment in the spotlight for the Red Sox — something that should make Red Sox fans awfully excited as the Red Sox enter the most important stretch of the season.
On Deck: The Red Sox scored six times in the ninth inning. Don't expect the scoring to stop on Saturday. Brad Penny (7-6, 5.16 ERA) will be on the mound, opposed by Derek Holland
(5-7, 5.04 ERA). Holland, a 22-year-old rookie, is 0-1 against the Red Sox, while Penny is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in three career starts against
the Rangers. First pitch is at 8:05 p.m.
