Bedard v. Masterson (Game 66)

Yet another good start by Masterson; the kid continues to impress. He threw eighty-eight pitches over six innings. He gave up only three hits and allowed only one run. He did walk three but he struck out four. He was aided greatly by the impressive right-fielder they've uncovered. (Seriously, I'm starting to feel bad about the way I've made fun of him.) Masterson did seem to be having trouble throwing strikes but the only time it proved to be a problem for him was in the second inning. He walked the first two batters of that inning on nine pitches. Then the third batter got a hit to deep right that was miraculously snagged by Drew. With runners then on first and third, the fourth batter grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in the only run the Mariners would score. He gave up another hit before he got out of the inning with a ground out to third.

Craig Hansen pitched the seventh inning and did a nice job as well. He walked the first batter of the inning but the runner never advanced as he got the second batter to foul out to Varitek, the third batter to strike out, and the fourth batter to strike out.

Okajima came out for the eighth inning. Almost as quickly as he was out there, he was done-he needed only nine pitches to get his three outs. The first batter grounded out to short. The second batter flied out to center. And the third batter struck out swinging.

Papelbon finished off the game and picked up his eighteenth save of the season. The first batter flied out to center. The second batter grounded out to Papelbon-which was a nice little bit of fielding by Paps. And the last batter flied out to right.

The Sox were only able to get two hits off Eric Bedard but they did draw three walks (which turned out to be quite important.) With one out in the third inning, Coco got the first hit off Bedard-a single to right. After trying repeatedly to pick-off Coco, Bedard ended up issuing a walk to Moss. Lugo flied out to center for the second out and Coco moved over to third. Then after a nine-pitch at bat, Pedroia also drew a walk to load the bases. Then the man of the hour was up, on a one-two count Bedard came too far inside on Drew and hit him on the wrist to knock in a run and tie the game. Manny struck out swinging to end the inning.

They managed to wear Bedard out after five innings and the Mariners brought in their first reliever, Sean Green, for the sixth. Drew was the first batter to face Green. The first pitch he threw was a little bit outside for Drew's liking so, even though it was a strike, he watched it go by. The second pitch was closer to the center of the plate but a little bit too high, so he fouled it off. The third pitch was too far inside and was, in fact, a ball. The fourth pitch Green threw was, again, too high and Drew, again, fouled it off. The fifth pitch of the inning, though, that one was perfect. It was right down the middle off the plate and Drew cranked it to almost dead center field for the second Sox run of the night-and the win.