Papi's Walk Off Leads Sox To Win Over Ranger 6-3

Ortiz celebrates with his teammates as he hit the walk off home run Thursday night

The Red Sox won and walked off Thursday night in a 6-3 victory over the Rangers. This was a very frustrating game for both teams as both struggled scoring with runners in scoring postion (Rangers 2-12, Red Sox 4-15). The Rangers led 3-2 up until the 7th inning when the Sox scored a run on a lucky play in which, you could say Napoli beat out the throw to first to get the RBI, and drive in the run. Then in the top of the 9th, Gomes swung on the first pitch and drove it to center field for a lead off double. Then with 0 outs, and Pedroia up, for some stupid, most dumb reason, the Rangers decided to intentionally walk Pedroia, to give the chance for Ortiz to win it. Apparently, they thought a lefty VS lefty match up would work better, but they were wrong. As Papi came up to bat, he hammered a pitch straight to the bullpen as it would be gone for a WALK OFF HOME RUN AND THE SOX WOULD WIN 6-3 FINAL! The Sox would wait at home plate as Ortiz came around the bases to celebrate his walk off home run like children with the team, as he hit his 11th of the year. Two specific people did great at the plate last night, and those people were... Ellsbury and Gomes who each went 4-5 last night. Pedroia went 1-4 with an RBI, and Ortiz went 1-4 with 3 RBI's. Also Iglesias went 1-1 with 3 walks. Lester's line of the night was 6 innings pitched, giving up 7 hits, 3 runs, walking 3, and striking out 4, earning the no decision. Also, Bailey came in the 9th, and pitched a scoreless 9th as he earned his second win of the season (2-0).

Ortiz's walk off was his 11th walk off hit of his career, proving he is a clutch hitter. Also Ellsbury finally came back last night after missing a few games, with a tight groin. Now, let's talk about Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks came off the 15 day DL, and is in Pawtucket for his rehab assignment. But their is a little confusion here, apparently, Farrell wants to keep him down in Triple A, longer than his 4 game rehab assignment so that he can regain his stride at the plate, and get more comfortable, because he has struggled a lot this season. So far he has 2 home runs in Pawtucket in his rehab assignment, and once he comes back the question will be, where does Iglesias go? Will they keep him in the majors as a significant important bench role player, or will they send him to the minors so that he can get every day playing time and keep experience at the plate. We will find out eventually. Anyways, tonight's game against the Angels at Fenway, will be postponed and there will be a scheduled double header for tomorrow. Pitching will remain the same, as Doubrant starts game 1 of the double header tomorrow, and Buchholz will start game 2 of the double header tomorrow also.

- DJ