Sox Win 1-0 In 16 Innings

Monday, July 18, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

If you didn't stay up to watch last night's Red Sox-Rays game to its conclusion, you weren't alone.

The two teams played a marathon affair in St. Petersburgh that lasted 16 innings. Dustin Pedria's RBI single in the top of the 16th plated Josh Reddick with the game's only run in Boston's 1-0 win which took 5:44 to play.

If you like great pitching, then you had to love Sunday night’s duel between Josh Beckett and Jeff Niemann at The Trop.

Beckett continued his mastery of the Tampa Bay Rays by tossing 8 innings of 1-hit shutout baseball. Beckett didn’t walk a batter while striking out 6. On June 15th, Beckett pitched a complete game 1-hit shutout in Tampa where he also didn’t walk a batter and struck out 6.

Beckett’s lesser known counterpart – Jeff Niemann was equally as impressive throwing a season-high 118 pitches. He went 8 innings while allowing just 2 hits. He didn’t surrender a single run and struck out 10 Red Sox hitters.

Squandered opportunities were the order of the night for Boston in a game that featured a little bit of everything.

In addition to the great pitching, there was solid defense played on both sides with Dustin Pedroia throwing some serious leather around for Boston.

The diminutive second baseman made two great diving stops and throws against the Rays. The first was off the bat of Casey Kotchman in the bottom of the 4th. The second, and more impressive play, came in the bottom of the 6th when he knocked down a grounder headed to center field off the bat of Reid Brignac. With no time to spare, Pedroia threw from his knees to get Brignac by a half step.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Tampa’s Sean Rodriguez hit a high pop up that hit the catwalk at Tropicana Field and shattered a light bulb. Play was delayed for a few minutes while the grounds crew came out to pick up the shattered glass on the field.

In the top of the 9th, Joe Maddon went to his bullpen and brought in closer Kyle Farsworth who gave up a leadoff double to Pedroia. Unfortunately, the usually reliable Adrian Gonzalez failed to advance Perdoia to third when he flied out to left on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Kevin Youkilis drew a walk before David Ortiz struck out. JD Drew walked to load the bases with 2 outs bringing Josh Reddick to the plate. Reddick flied out to right center to end the Boston threat sending the game to the bottom of the 9th scoreless.

Daniel Bard relieved Beckett and registered 2 quick outs before former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon singled to center. Damon stole second before Ben Zobrist walked which brought the dangerous Evan Longoria to the plate. Bard got Longoria to fly out harmlessly to right sending the game to extra innings.

Boston had another serious threat in the top of the 10th but, again, Adrian Gonzalez couldn't deliver. The All-Star firstbaseman gounded out to second with 2-on and 2-out to end the threat.

Terry Francona decided to give the ball to Matt Albers in the bottom of the 10th and he delivered with a quick 1-2-3 inning. The 3rd out of the inning was a dramatic one as leftfielder Josh Reddick made a leaping grab up against the wall off the bat of Justin Ruggiano.

In the top of the 11th, Kevin Youkilis drew a lead-off walk off of JP Howell. Howell then walked David Ortiz putting runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out. It was Howell's 4th walk in the 7 batters he faced.

Maddon then went to his bullpen for another lefty to face JD Drew. Jake McGee entered the game prompting Francona to go with right-handed pinch-hitter Darnell McDonald who also drew a walk to load the bases. And that brought Reddick to the plate.

Reddick normally doesn't face lefties (only 13 at bats vs. lefties this season coming in). After running the count to 2-0, Reddick struck out.

Maddon went to the pen again for righty Juan Cruz to face switch-hitter Jason Varitek who batted from the left side. While making the change, Maddon protested a check swing on Reddick that was not ruled a swing and was tossed by homeplate umpire Chad Fairchild.

Boston's captain failed to deliver striking out making Boston 0-7 with runners in scoring position.

Marco Scutaro made it 0-8 by popping out to catcher Kelly Shoppach and the Red Sox, who had the bases loaded with nobody out, left them stranded.

Rodriguez led off the bottom of the 11th with a single to center off of Albers bringing the former Red Sock Shoppach to the plate. Shoppach sacraficed Rodriguez to second.

The light-hitting Reid Brignac struck out setting the stage for another former Red Sock - Johnny Damon. It was Johnny Damon bobblehead doll night at The Trop but Damon couldn't deliver sending the game to the 12th.

Boston went down quickly in the top of the 12th and so too did the Rays in the bottom half of the inning although Longoria and Kochman each hit balls to the warning track off of Morales.

Both teams went down in order quietly in the 13th as well.

It wasn't until the top of the 16th that either team scored. Josh Reddick drew a lead and was sacraficed to second. He advanced to third on Marco Scutaro's infield hit before Perdroia knocked him in.

Pedroia went 3-7 at the plate while the rest of the team finished 2-45.

Alfredo Aceves pitched 3 scoreless innings to pick up the win for Boston. He was one of 6 Boston pitchers that combined on the 3-hit, 16-inning shutout.

Jonathan Papelbon registered his 21st save of the season by closing out the victory in the bottom of the 16th.

On little sleep, the Sox open up a series in Baltimore tonight against the Orioles.