Oscillate
| Game 83: June 28, 2008 | |||
| Red Sox | 10 | H: David Aardsma (4) H: Craig Hansen (6) BS, L: Manny Delcarmen (2, 0-2) |
50-33, 1 game losing streak |
 Astros |
11 | BS: Geoff Geary (1) W: Doug Brocail (3-3) S: Jose Valverde (20) |
38-43, 1 game winning streak |
| Highlights: Michael Bourn time and again got the better of the Red Sox infield when at the dish by successfully executing two bunts for base hits. But when the speedy outfielder tried to come home on Carlos Lee’s single in the first the Boston Juggling Troupe of Pedroia, Varitek, Lowell, and Lugo stopped him from scoring. The home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski could have and should have called Bourn out for running outside of the basepath. Muchlinski appears to have been brought up from the minors as the replacement for Brian O’Nora, who was slashed by a shattered maple bat. Muchlinski and O’Nora are now on the same squad. | |||
A brutal back-and-forth game, the antithesis of a pitchers’ duel. The Red Sox frittered away two massive leads to come up short in the middle game of the series.
Remarkable offensive performances by Dustin Pedroia (4-5, 1 RBI), Mike Lowell (4-4, 3 RBIs, solo HR), Kevin Youkilis (2-5, 3 RBIs), and Manny Ramirez (1-4, 2 RBIs) could not overcome the Astros’ power surge. Three Houston players homered (Mark Loretta, Carlos Lee, and Ty Wigginton) in the slugfest.
It was Lance Berkman’s breakthrough double in the bottom of the eighth to plate two runs that was the difference in the game, however. Berkman was stifled by Jon Lester in his three at bats; he struck out swinging twice and looking once.
One slip by Lester kept the Astros in the game. He hit pitcher Brandon Backe to lead off the third inning and Michael Bourn bunted to get on base. Both were driven in by Lee’s liner to center. Miguel Tejada (we know his name is really Tejeda, however) smashed the ball off Lester’s ankle to reach first and Loretta cleaned up the mess with a homer to the Crawford Boxes.
The Astros reciprocated in the sixth with Hunter Pence’s poor play on Jacoby Ellsbury’s fly ball. The lanky right fielder misread the ball’s flight and came in before retreating to the fence to attempt to correct his path. The ball clipped the tip of his glove, Julio Lugo scored, and Ellsbury stood safe at third. Cecil Cooper pulled Backe from the game and placed Geoff Geary on the mound. Four more runs would follow that inning.
They certainly do do things bigger in Texas.
