Red Sox Rally Orioles, 6 to 5

BOSTON: 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 - 6 10 0

BALTIMORE: 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 6 1

Today's game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles is a good example of my belief that, when you have a pitcher who is effectively shutting down the opponent, you keep him in the game. Of course I'm pleased that Boston won the game, but I do believe that if Bergesen had pitched in the ninth, the Red Sox would not be leaving Oriole Park with a series win. It was simply that, from the ninth inning on, Boston faced a string of Baltimore pitchers off whom they could hit and score runs. A similar result was seen on Sunday 13 May 2007 at Fenway Park, also against the Orioles. In that game, Boston came back in the ninth inning to score six runs and win the game by a score of six to five (same as today's).

It has been called the "Mother's Day Miracle", however I think that it should have been called the "Mother's Day Mistake". Starting Baltimore pitcher Jeremy Guthrie did begin the ninth inning, but manager Sam Perlozzo took him out of the game after a misplayed pop up (which would have been the second out) resulted in a Boston runner on first. That action I do not understand - it was the catcher's fielding error and having a batter pop up is desirable and indicates to me that the pitcher is still not throwing anything good to hit. So with one out and and a man on first, the Orioles bullpen proceeded to give up four runs before recording the second out and then a single scored the tying and winning runs. I will always remain baffled by why Perlozzo took the ball away from Guthrie, but will also remain grateful for that error in management.

A final note on today's game. With his twentieth save today, Jonathan Papelbon has become Boston's all-time saves leader, passing Bob Stanley. Congratulations Jonathan!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Ramon Ramirez (5)

BALTIMORE: Starting Pitcher: Brad Bergesen, Losing Pitcher: Danys Baez

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (20)

BOSTON: Homerun: Kevin Youkilis (14)

BALTIMORE: Homeruns: Luke Scott, Ty Wigginton

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RED SOX: Wins: 48, Losses: 30, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Friday 3 July 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Seattle Mariners, Fenway Park, Tim Wakefield