Red Sox Live Blog: Ty Wigginton, Orioles Walk Off With 10-Inning Win, Series Sweep
Papelbon fails to retire a single Oriole in the bottom of the 10th — Nick Markakis falls behind 1-2 but eventually works an eight-pitch walk, and after an errant pickoff attempt puts him on second, a Ty Wigginton gapper to left-center plates him for the 3-2 Baltimore win.
It's the second loss of the season for Papelbon, and a frustrating ending to a frustrating series for the Red Sox, who just couldn't get the job done in Baltimore.
Middle 10th, 2-2: This time it's the Red Sox' turn to give Matt Albers a scare, but it's the Orioles' turn to get out of trouble.
A Darnell McDonald single and Bill Hall walk gives the Sox two runners on with only one out, but Marco Scutaro kills a potential rally for what feels like the 47th time today, grounding into a 6-3 double play and stifling the Red Sox.
Papelbon will stay on the hill for the Red Sox in the 10th.
End 9th, 2-2: Matt Wieters gives Papelbon a scare with one out in the ninth, driving one deep to center field for a ground-rule double to put the winning run in scoring position, but the Sox' closer gets out of it.
We're going to the 10th inning in Baltimore. The Red Sox are 1-4 in extra-inning games this season; the Orioles are 2-1. The Sox could really use this one to dodge a sweep at Camden Yards this weekend.
Middle 9th, 2-2: Solid ninth inning for Will Ohman in relief of Millwood. We're going to the bottom of the ninth.
Ohman gives up a leadoff single to Drew, giving the Sox a snowball's chance at breaking through in the ninth, but the Baltimore reliever comes back and strikes out Lowell, Ortiz and Beltre one by one.
The O's will get a chance to walk off with a win in the bottom of the ninth. It'll be the 7-8-9 portion of the Baltimore order against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon.
End 8th, 2-2: Daniel Bard works his way out of a huge jam in the eighth inning.
A pair of singles and a walk leads to a bases-loaded, one-out situation for the Orioles with Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold coming up, but Bard manages to strike them both out and put away the Orioles with no score in the eighth.
Huge. Absolutely huge.
It'll be 3-4-5 — Drew, Lowell and Ortiz — at the plate for the Red Sox in the ninth, with a chance to break this thing open before extra innings.
Middle 8th, 2-2: A golden opportunity squandered by the Red Sox in the eighth, and we remain tied.
The Sox get two on with two out for Dustin Pedroia, and Pedroia comes through with a huge single to left field to keep the rally going against Millwood in the eighth.
But the Red Sox take a chance by sending Jason Varitek home, attempting to score from second on the Pedroia single, and Varitek is gunned down. Threat silenced, inning over.
This raises two questions: One, was it right to send Varitek home, and two, should Tek have even been out there in the first place? Would have been the perfect spot for a pinch runner.
Oh, well. Still tied, heading to the bottom of the eighth. Daniel Bard will take the mound for Boston.
End 7th, 2-2: On to the eighth. Another strong inning for Beckett, who's settled down nicely since the shaky fourth inning.
We remain tied heading into inning number eight — looks like Kevin Millwood is staying on the hill for the Orioles, since he's only 84 pitches in. Beckett, however, is over the century mark and appears to be done.
Middle 7th, 2-2: Very first pitch of the seventh, and J.D. Drew punishes Millwood with a fly ball to deep center, just out of reach for Adam Jones and just over the wall.
It's the fifth home run of the year for Drew, and a tie ballgame for the Red Sox.
Millwood needs just seven pitches to take care of business from there, ending the seventh without any further trouble. But the damage is done, and we're all tied up at Camden Yards.
End 6th, O's 2-1: Another strong inning for Beckett, who gives up a one-out single to Miguel Tejada but battles back to retire the next two batters and end the inning.
Looks like Millwood's staying in for the seventh. The Red Sox have another shot at getting back in this game, and this time it's their 3-4-5 slate of Drew, Lowell and Big Papi stepping to the plate. Now's as good a time as ever.
Middle 6th, O's 2-1: Millwood makes quick work of the Red Sox in the sixth. Van Every, Scutaro and Pedroia never had a chance.
Seventy-six pitches through six innings for Millwood. He's good for at least one more inning, you'd think.
End 5th, O's 2-1: Beckett regains his composure and makes it a quick fifth inning for the Orioles 9-1-2 hitters.
The Red Sox will counter with their own 9-1-2 guys in the top of the sixth — Jonathan Van Every, Marco Scutaro and Dustin Pedroia will have a chance to put the Red Sox back in the game.
Middle 5th, O's 2-1: With one swing of the bat, Jason Varitek cuts the Baltimore lead in half.
Millwood had been going strong for four innings, but he made a mistake in the fifth by leaving a high fastball out over the plate for Varitek to drive. The Red Sox have awoken from their offensive slumber.
It's Varitek's fifth home run of the season. The old man can still mash.
End 4th, O's 2-0: The Orioles draw first blood. Beckett fights like a warrior, but he can't hold off the Baltimore rally in inning number four.
After loading the bases with nobody out, Beckett responds with a strikeout of Luke Scott, and he gets Nolan Reimold to put one on the ground. But the Red Sox get just the one out, at third, with Nick Markakis scoring on a fielder's choice. Rhyne Hughes then follows with an RBI double, and it's 2-0 Baltimore.
Frustrating for Beckett, who started off with three strong innings but never got a lead.
Still a lot of game to go.
Middle 4th, 0-0: Kevin Millwood keeps cruising.
So much for the middle of the Red Sox' order striking fear in the Orioles' hearts — Millwood strikes out Drew and Lowell in short succession, giving him four K's in four innings. The Baltimore veteran is just dominating these Red Sox.
End 3rd, 0-0: Looks like Josh Beckett's going to have to keep matching Millwood goose egg for goose egg. So far, he's been up to the challenge.
Lugo gives the Orioles a fighting chance at getting on the board, managing a one-out single, but the Sox get out of the jam when Jason Varitek (gasp!) catches Lugo stealing second. A rare CS on the scorecard for the Sox' defense, and we're still scoreless at Camden Yards.
Middle 3rd, 0-0: Another wasted opportunity for the Red Sox against Millwood. Still scoreless.
Jonathan Van Every lines one to center field for a first-pitch single with one out in the third, but Marco Scutaro then kills his second rally in three innings when he lines one to Julio Lugo at short, and Lugo doubles off Van Every.
Let's not even think about the irony of Julio Lugo keeping the Red Sox off the scoreboard. Some jokes are better left un-cracked.
End 2nd, 0-0: Another solid inning for Beckett, and we're scoreless through two.
The Sox' righty finishes off a 1-2-3 inning in style, battling back from behind 3-0 and eventually striking out Rhyne Hughes swinging to end the inning. First K of the day for Beckett.
Middle 2nd, 0-0: Nothing doing with the middle of the Red Sox' order. Once upon a time, the Sox used to get some punch from their 5-6-7 guys. No longer.
Ortiz, Beltre and Varitek go down in order, although Varitek does give Millwood a nice scare by hitting one to the warning track in dead center. Adam Jones tracks it down, though, and the Red Sox remain scoreless.
End 1st, 0-0: The Orioles mount an early threat against Beckett as well. They too come up empty.
Adam Jones lines a hard single to right to lead things off, a scary omen for Beckett that another nightmare start could be coming. But he turns things around with a double-play ball off the bat of Nick Markakis, and the O's are harmless from there. Crisis averted, game remains scoreless.
Middle 1st, 0-0: Perhaps the Red Sox should leave the aggressive baserunning to their opponents.
The Sox get two runners aboard early when Marco Scutaro walks and Dustin Pedroia singles, but Scutaro kills a potential rally by trying to steal third. The Sox come up empty against the veteran hurler Millwood in the first. Golden opportunity down the drain.
12:50 p.m.: Some notes on the Red Sox' ailing outfielders, just prior to game time …
Terry Francona has said that Jeremy Hermida feels a little bit better but is still battling a tight left quad.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron are both working to come back soon as well. Cameron was able to catch fly balls and take batting practice Saturday, whereas Ellsbury hasn't been able to take BP with the team just quite yet.
In the meantime, enjoy getting to see the youngsters Van Every and McDonald start in the Red Sox' outfield.
11:53 a.m.: Kevin Youkilis has been scratched with a sore groin, meaning Lowell will get the start at first base.
10 a.m.: Sunday's lineup features both Mike Lowell and David Ortiz as well as Jason Varitek.
Victor Martinez is getting the day off, with J.D. Drew taking his No. 3 slot.
Boston's starting nine:
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. J.D. Drew, RF
4. Mike Lowell, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Adrian Beltre, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Darnell McDonald, LF
9. Jonathan Van Every, CF
… with Josh Beckett on the mound making his sixth start of the season.
8 a.m.: The Red Sox landed in Baltimore this weekend looking for a breakthrough series, a surge onward and upward from .500. Now, they'll be happy just to dodge a sweep.
The Sox lost a tough one Friday night, falling in extra innings as Miguel Tejada provided the late-inning heroics. The losing continued Saturday as the Orioles spoiled Daisuke Matsuzaka's 2010 debut and slugged their way to victory.
To avoid being swept out of Baltimore, the Sox will need a big start from Josh Beckett, who struggled throughout April. The Red Sox' $68 million man will have to start earning his paycheck in May.
Kevin Millwood will get the start for the Orioles.
