BOSTONWhat appeared early in the game might be a comfortable lead ended in yet another level of futility and frustration for the Red Sox Friday night at Fenway Park as they lost 6-5 to the Twins.
It was their third straight loss, second to the Twins.
A second chance in the third inning for Carl Crawford appeared to be what the Red Sox needed to boost them over the Twins. With two outs and two on in the third, Crawford lofted a pop-up into foul territory near the first base coachs box, a seemingly certain third out for Justin Morneau, who entered the game with a .996 fielding percentage, making just two errors in 82 games.
But, the ball glanced off the tip of Morneaus glove, giving Crawford new life. He drilled the next pitch from Twins lefty Brian Duensing into the Red Sox bullpen, giving the Sox a 5-1 lead, with his third home run of the season.
But, that seemingly comfortable lead for Felix Doubront was all given back by the Sox left-hander in the fifth inning.
The Twins got on the scoreboard first when Morneau led off the second with a double to left, taking third on Danny Valencias fly out to Cody Ross in right, and scoring on Darin Mastroiannis single up the middle.
The Sox quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning with Crawford hit a two-out double to right, scoring on Kelly Shoppachs single to center.
Boston Red Sox
The Sox opened the third with consecutive singles by Dustin Pedroia, Ross, and Adrian Gonzalez for one-run before Crawfords blast.
With a 5-1 lead in the fifth, Doubront gave up a lead-off single to No. 9 hitter, Jamey Carroll, who was erased on Denard Spans fielders choice. A single by Ben Revere and a walk to Joe Mauer loaded the bases. A five-pitch walk to Josh Willingham pushed in Span for one run. And a two-run single by Morneau, atoning for his earlier miscue, scored Revere and Mauer. Danny Valencias sacrifice fly to right scored Willingham, tying the score, 5-5.
Doubront lasted just five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks with two strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches, 60 strikes, as his ERA went from 4.37 to 4.56.
Duensing was not involved in the decision, either, going six innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on 10 hits with no walks, three strikeouts, and a home run.
Vicente Padilla entered for the 10th, giving up a lead-off double to Darin Mastroianni on a 3-and-2 pitch. With one out, No. hitter Jamey Carroll singled to center, scoring Mastroianni with the go-ahead run.
Padilla took the loss, falling to 4-1 with a 3.92 ERA.
Carroll reached base in all five plate appearances, a walk, two singles, and two doubles. Morneau also reached base five times, with two doubles, two singles, and getting hit by an Andrew Miller pitch I n the ninth. He had two RBI and a run scored.
STAR OF THE GAME: Jamey Carroll
The Twins No. 9 hitter drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning with a one-out single to center, scoring Darin Mastroianni.
Carroll reached base in all five plate appearances, going 4-for-4 with a walk, two singles, and two doubles. His four hits tied a career high for the 11th time. It was the eighth time in his career that he has reached base safely five times in a game. He is the first Twins No. 9 batter to reach base safely in all five plate appearances since Denard Span on July 10, 2008, at Detroit.
HONORABLE MENTION: Justin Morneau
While Morneau was very nearly the goat, with a third-inning error that lead to three unearned runs, he redeemed himself by going 4-for-4, reaching base in all five plate appearances, with two doubles, two singles, and getting hit by a pitch in the ninth. He had two RBI and a run scored.
It was the ninth time in his career he has reached base safely five times in a game.
Morneau went 4-for-4 off Red Sox left-handed pitchers and is 13-for-24 (.542) against lefties since July 19. Before that he was just .133 (13-for-98) this season. It was the second time in his career he had four hits off left-handers, the first since May 18, 2009, against the Yankees.
His two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning was just his second hit in 14 at-bats with the bases loaded this season.
THE GOAT: Felix Doubront
Doubront was unable to hold a four-run lead in the fifth, allowing the Twins to tie the game. That would be his last inning.
THE TURNING POINT
The Sox had a four-run lead going into the fifth but the Twins scored four runs.
Doubront gave up a lead-off single to No. 9 hitter, Jamey Carroll, who was erased on Denard Spans fielders choice. A single by Ben Revere and a walk to Joe Mauer loaded the bases. A five-pitch walk to Josh Willingham pushed in Span for one run. And a two-run single by Mauer, atoning for his earlier miscue, scored Revere and Mauer. Danny Valencias sacrifice fly to right scored Willingham, tying the score, 5-5.
STAT OF THE DAY: 3-for-14
The Sox were just 3-for-14 (.214) with runners in scoring position, leaving 10 runners on base.
QUOTE OF NOTE
We had good at-bats, and we had chances, and we didnt have such good at-bats. Well get em tomorrow.Bobby Valentine