Final, Angels 14-13: Well, that was… fun? Twenty-seven runs and 38 hits later, it's the Angels coming away from this slugfest on top.
Except for a select few, it wasn't an enjoyable night to be on the mound here at the Fens, as six total pitchers gave up multiple earned runs. Fifteen pitchers were used and abused in this one.
Mid 10th, Angels 14-12: Another inning another tater. This time, it came off the bat of Kendrys Morales, who laced a liner over Cody Ross' head in right field to give the Halos the 13-12 lead.
After Aybar singled, Vernon Wells — who smashed a homer in the 9th — smoked a double to left to plate Aybar to make it 14-12.
End 9th, tied 12-12: Cody Ross wasn't about to let the Nation go home with a frown. The outfielder smacked a tying tater high into the Monster seats to send this one into extra frames. It was Ross' 19th homer of the season and his first at Fenway since Aug. 8.
Mid 9th, Angels 12-11: The way the game went for the first 8 innings, every single person in the Park should have expected an inning like that.
Vernon wells got the comeback party started with a long tater to left center. Down a run, Mike Trout blooped one into right and took second on an error. That error would prove to be costly, as Hunter would lace the game-tying RBI-single to left with two down.
Just when you thought the hit parade was over, Trumbo steps in and ropes one to center to plate the go-ahead run.
End 8th, Red Sox 11-9: Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia came through. Again.
Ellsbury smacked an RBI-single on a 3-2 pitch with two down to give the Sox the lead before Pedroia put some English on a weak chopper to the left side to plate an insurance run.
10:36 p.m.: Scott Downs enters the game for Richards, after Podsednik and Ciriaco get back-to-back two-out singles.
Mid 8th, Tied 9-9: Padilla continues to roll as he retires the Angels with ease. Gomez, Aviles and Podsednik are due up for the Sox in the eighth. The three are combined 3-for-8 with three runs and two RBIs.
End 7th, Tied 9-9: The Sox were unable to keep the offense going in the 7th as Gonzo, Ross and Saltalamacchia (pinch hitting) went down in order.
Mid 7th, Tied 9-9: Padilla gets out of the jam by striking out Kendrick but the damage was one as we're tied up once again.
Bailey's line: In 2/3 innings pitched, he allowed three hits and one earned run.
10:06 p.m.: Andrew Bailey's introduction to the Fenway Faithful was a rough one, as the reliever gave up two quick singles in his home debut with the Sox. Bailey would settle down, briefly, and get a couple of outs, but with two down, wonderboy Mike Trout snuck one up the middle to knot things up at 9 apiece.
Bailey would exit after that run with two on and two outs as Vicente Padilla would come in to replace him.
End 6th, Red Sox 9-8: The Sox have clawed their way back after blowing a 6-0 lead and have taken a one-run lead as we head into the 7th inning.
Ciriaco chipped in with a two-out double, giving him three hits in three days and scored the go-ahead run on Jacoby Ellsbury's double.
9:43 p.m.: And we're tied.
Aviles roped a no-doubter over the Monster in left-center to make it 8-8. The shortstop laced the Isringhausen offering and all Wells could do was turn and watch it disappear into the top row of the best seats in baseball.
That's the Concordia College alum's 12th dinger of the season (sixth at home).
Mid 6th, Angels 8-7: Melancon continues to roll as he was a walk away from a 1-2-3 frame.
Jason Isringhausen comes on to replace Wilson, who went 5 innings, allowed 7 runs (6 earned) on eight hits. He struck out six and didn't walk a soul.
End 5th, Angels 8-7: Dustin Pedroia got things going by reaching base via error with one down. I'm pretty surprised they gave Callaspo an error there, here at Fenway, cause the ball was hit relatively hard and to Callaspo's left. Usually you'll see that "call" be in favor of the home team. Oh well. Pedie will have a couple more chances to get that three-hit game — if and when he does, it will be his third three-hit game of the month and seventh of the season.
After Pedroia moved to second on a passed ball and a Gonzalez strikeout, Cody Ross slapped a two-out, RBI-single to right to score the Sox second baseman.
Mid 5th, Angels 8-6: Mark Melancon replaced Tazawa and after getting two quick outs, he allows a broken bat single up the middle to Iannetta, who has recorded his second three-hit game of the season.
With Iannetta on first, Mike Trout gave a Melancon offering a good ride to left-center but Ellsbury was able to track it down for the third out.
End 4th, Angels 8-6: Aviles got robbed of a base hit to lead off the 4th after Hunter made a nice running play to his left to snare the sinking liner.
Ciriaco made the third out of the frame but made the Halos southpaw work for it as he battled a 1-2 count that featured nearly a half-dozen foul balls.
Wilson's settled in here over the last two frames. After allowing six runs on seven hits (and notching one strikeout) in the first two innings, he's allowed no runs and no hits while striking out two in the 3rd and 4th innings.
Mid 4th, Angels 8-6: Junichi Tazawa picks up right where he left off last inning and gets a 1-2-3 inning to keep the Sox within striking distance. After seeing 14 runs scored in the first 2 1/2 innings, the fans have been able to take a little breather here as we head into the bottom of the 4th.
Hey, cool The Outfield's "Your Love" is now blasting throughout the Park. Somewhere atop the Monster Seats my wife is doing the "running man" ("running woman"?) while spilling delicious Coors Light all over her neighbor. Sorry neighbor.
End 3rd, Angels 8-6: The Sox were unable to answer in the bottom half as Wilson finally gets out of an inning unscathed.
Mid 3rd, Angels 8-6: The Halos have turned the tables on the Red Sox thanks to some wild pitching, ugly defense and timely hitting.
The Angels scored seven runs with two outs and wound up on top, 8-6 in one of the season's craziest innings.
As for offensive highlights that inning, Iannetta roped a two-run single while Hunter and Trout each smacked RBI-singles. The Sox would help out the Halos with an error, a couple of bases-loaded walks and one of the ugliest pickles the MLB has displayed this summer.
Morales' line: 2 2/3 allowed six hits and six runs, (two earned) on 63 pitches (35 strikes).
Mortensen's line: 0 innings, three hits, two runs earned and one walk.
8:18 p.m.: And that will do it for Morales, who allowed three runs in the third. Clayton Mortensen enters the game with the bases juiced and two down.
End 2nd, Red Sox 6-0: After plating one run in the first, the Red Sox added five more in the second.
Mauro Gomez lined a double before Scott Podsednik drove him in. Ciriaco kept things going on a nubber down the third-base line that Callaspo couldn't get to quick enough. The Halos third baseman made a nice barehanded grab on the play, but the off-balance throw took Trumbo off the bag to make it first and second with two down for Ellsbury. The center fielder than slapped one to right-center to score the speedy Podsednik while Ciriaco wheeled his way around to third base.
After Ellsbury's seventh steal of the season (uncontested), Pedroia laced a three-run tater on a 2-0 count over the Monster to give the Sox the commanding lead. Gonzalez nearly kept the rally going but Tout made an ice play in deep right center on a well-struck ball.
The Sox have seven hits in two frames off Wilson, who continues to struggle for the Angels.
7:48 p.m.: The Red Sox have announced that Carl Crawford has undergone successful surgery, according to a release:
“Carl Crawford underwent a successful left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) performed by Dr. James Andrews today in Pensacola, FL. We expect Carl to make a full recovery.”
Mid 2nd, Red Sox 1-0: After a Callaspo leadoff single, Pedro Ciriaco showed off his range by scrambling to his left and feeding Pedroia with a perfect strike to start a 5-4-3 double-play off of Kendrys Morales' bat.
Ciriaco was tested immediately thereafter, as Aybar roped one down the left-field line, just out of the third baseman's reach. Aybar's double would go all for naught as Vernon Wells would strike out to end the threat.
End 1st, Red Sox 1-0: With two down, Dustin Pedroia woke up the crowd with a deep fly ball near the 379 marker in deep left-center. Before that, the only reaction fans were giving were from plays in the seats on foul balls.
Gonzalez followed Pedroia up with a long liner to right-center to score the first run of the game. Trout was shading Gonzo a little to left field and it may have cost the Halos a run.
Mid 1st, 0-0: Morales gets off to a nice start, striking Trout out on an outside heater. The lefty worked the leadoff batter inside before painting the outside corner.
Hunter then lined a screamer to Ciriaco at the hot corner for the second out before Kendrick dropped a soft liner into left field to cap off a nice at-bat. Kendrick battled back from a 1-2 count to make it full before bagging his fourth hit of the series. Trumbo's pop up to Pedroia ended the first half of the frame before Kenny Chesney took over between innings (not literally, but he is in town this weekend, folks).
Here's Kenny's rendition of "I Go Back" at last year's show at Gillette.
5:55 p.m.: Bobby V is none too pleased with critics who have been calling out the Sox for not attending Johnny Pesky's funeral. Didier Morais has the scoop here.
5:32 p.m.: So it sounds like Big Papi could be returning on Friday, if all goes well. He took some BP on Thursday, for what it's worth.
4:18 p.m.: Pedro Ciriaco will be batting leadoff for the third straight game as Jacoby Ellsbury continues to hit out of the No. 2 hole.
Check out the full lineups for both sides, below.
Red Sox (59-65)
Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Cody Ross, RF
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Mauro Gomez, 1B
Mike Aviles, SS
Scott Podsednik, LF
Franklin Morales, LHP (3-4, 3.67)
Angels:
Mike Trout, CF
Torii Hunter, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Mark Trumbo, 1B
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Kendrys Morales, DH
Erik Aybar, SS
Vernon Wells, LF
Chris Iannetta, C
CJ Wilson, LHP
Also, if you get to the Park early, you can have your photo taken with Will Middlebrooks at the team store from 5:40-6.
3:43 p.m.: According to reports, just about every single person on the Red Sox, wearing a Red Sox hat, or within shouting distance to Fenway Park is on waivers at this time.
Jon Heyman reported that Josh Beckett has been placed on waivers but there's a very slim chance the tall righty will be claimed. Don't forget: Beckett has 10-5 rights and can refure any deal.
Sean McAdam reported on Wednesday night that Adrian Gonzalez has been placed on waivers, saying that it's standard stuff, but added that it means the Sox "perhaps willing to listen on him this winter?"
8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox and Angels wrap things up at Fenway Park on Thursday night with a couple of struggling hurlers toeing the rubber.
Franklin Morales is 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in three August starts. He allowed six hits in his last time out, but four of those were longballs as the Yankees ran him out of the game after 5 1/3 frames. It was the second time this year that Morales allowed four homers in a start.
C.J. Wilson, meanwhile, has had a horrendous August thus far. In four starts, Wilson is 0-2 with an 8.31 ERA, allowing 24 runs (20 earned) in 21 2/3 innings.
Tune in to NESN at 6 p.m. to catch Red Sox pregame coverage.
