Red Sox Edge Rays To Close Gap
Boston top Rays to go 3.5 behind Yankees
Boston picked a hard fought win last night at the Fenway Park where they defeated Tampa Bay Rays 4-3. Despite the win, the second placed remain 3.5 behind leaders New York Yankees.
Longoria and Jennings brought the visitors a two point quick lead yesterday Rays were unable to keep but several minutes. Ellsbury broke back right afterwards, making it 1-2 after Pedroia singled to left. Furthermore, Red Sox were given the leveler minutes later through Pedroia who evened the situation after Ortiz singled to center.
The second inning went blank for both sides, while the third one saw the same Rays threaten with a comeback. Longoria singled to right allowing Jennings to bring back the lead. Unfortunately, they lost the second advantage in the same term as Ortiz doubled to center for Pedroia’s third point. Finally, Aviles gave the hosts an early win after hitting a 389 foot homerun in the next round.
Said a pleased manager Terry Francona after his side’s win: “We need him to be Beckett. We don’t need him to be Beckett in name only. Despite what’s been happening, we want him to have a chance to pitch effectively. So we weren’t going to pitch him unless he was ready.”
Boston are second in the East with a .580 record which includes 87 wins and 63 defeats, the victory over Rays being their third in the past ten games and 44th at home. On the other side, Tampa Bay are third with a .553 record featuring 83 wins and 67 defeats, the loss to the second placed being their fourth in the past ten games and 34th on the road.
Baltimore Orioles 8 – 3 Los Angeles Angels
Baltimore eased past Angeles last night at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards where the hosts scored all their points in a row and within the first half. As for LA, they were only allowed to score three consolation points in the last term.
The sheets were kept clean for the first two terms by both sides, but the third one brought the hosts a two point lead. At first, Andino singled to left as Reimold made it 1-0 and then Hardy grounded out to second allowing Andoni to double the gap and draw the victory. The fourth innings also went blank for the two teams but Orioles were still looking as main favorites for the win.
Reynolds hit the first homer in the fifth term, putting his side 3-0 ahead of the still sleeping Angeles who failed to shine early in the game. Hardy doubled to left permitting Adino and Angle to bring a precious double for the Orioles in the same fifth term.
Davis made it even 6-0 following a wild pitch by Chatwood, while Reimold, who hit a homer, and Reynolds closed the run in the sixth term. The next two terms went scoreless and he ninth one belonged to the visitors who cut the deficit to five points in what was their best showing of the night.
Conger hit a homerun and Navarro made it 2-8, while Amarista doubled to center for Romine’s third point. “A lot of things they did on the field better than we did. We have to play at a higher level,” said Angles’ manager Mike Scioscia after the meeting.
Despite the win, Baltimore remain foot of the table in the East with a .409 record including 61 wins and 88 defeats. The victory over Angeles was their third in a row, sixth in the past ten games and 36th at home where they still remain negative.
On the other side, Los Angeles are second in the West, sitting 3.5 behind leaders Texas, with a .547 percentage including 82 wins and 68 defeats, the loss to Orioles being their fourth in the past ten games and 37th on the road where they are still positive with a 37-36 record.
Toronto Blue Jays 5 – 4 New York Yankees
Yankees conceded a late loss last night at the Rogers Centre where they were overcome a 3-1 lead by a great shaped Toronto who stunned the leaders thanks to a late winner. Blue Jays got the first lead in the opening term when Encarnacion grounded into fielder’s choice to third and McCoy scored with Bautista out at second.
The next two terms went scoreless for both sides, while the fourth one saw Yankees take a two point lead. Swisher doubled to center and Cano evened the situation as Yankees were hoping for more to come. They were given a 3-1 lead through Chavez, who hit a 413 foot homerun, and Swisher, but their joy would not last too long.
Toronto broke back in the fifth inning when Johnson, Bautista and Encarnacion scored a triple point after Lind doubled to left. Yankees struggled to stay in touch with the win and Cano leveled back in the sixth inning.
The next two terms went clean for the two sides as the game seemed to be going towards an extra-term. But suddenly Jays were given the big win by Lawrie who made it 5-4 after Molina singled to center, having Rasmus to second.
Toronto remain 14.5 behind the East leaders with a .507 record which incorporates 76 wins and 74 defeats. The victory over Yankees was their second in a row, seventh in the past ten games and 39th at home. On the other side, New York are top spot with a .6-4 record featuring 90 wins and 59 defeats, the loss to Jays being their second in a row, sixth in the past ten games and 32nd on the road.
Kansas City Royals 7 – 6 Chicago White Sox
Royals captured a hard fought late win yesterday at the Kauffman Stadium where the hosts were given the winner by Gordon when things seemed to be leading towards extra rounds. White Sox found it difficult to stay in touch with the victory as they could only cut deficits and even situations at times.
They took the first lead instead in the first inning through Pierre who scored after Pierzynski hit a sacrifice fly to left. But Kansas broke back immediately through Gordon who scored after Butler singled to left. Butler then got to second following a throwing error committed by fielder Pierre.
Royals went ahead of the visitors right afterwards thanks to Butler who made it 2-1 after Francoeur singled to center, giving his side lot of confidence for the next terms. The second term went scoreless for both teams, while the third one saw Chicago struggle to set a comeback through Beckham who leveled the score after Konerko grounded out to second.
Hosmer brought back the advantage in the fourth term after Francoeur singled to center, while Moustakas, who hit a 377 foot homerun, and the same Francoeur made it 5-2 as things were looking clearer. Beckham cut the deficit in the fifth term after Ramirez reached on infield single to third but the visitors were pretty far from taking a lead.
Kansas opened the gap to three points through Francouer who made it 6-3 after Giavotella grounded into fielder’s choice to first. Chicago came from behind again but they could only even the score at six. Pierzynski singled to center as Beckham made it 4-6 with Ramirez getting to third.
Morel then hit a 386 foot homerun and De Aza made it 6-6 in the eighth term. Finally, the lat word belonged to the same Kansas who managed to score yet again in the last term through Gordon who brought the win when nobody expected.
Royals are second from the bottom in the Central with a .434 record including 66 wins and 86 defeats, the victory over White Sox being their sixth in a row, seventh in the past ten games and 38th at home where they still remain negative, though.
As for Chicago, they are just above Royals with a .487 percentage which features 73 wins and 77 losses. The defeat to Kansas was their sixth in a row, eighth in the past ten games and 35th on the road.
Cincinnati Reds 3 – 6 Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee picked an easy win last night at the Great American Ball Park after overcoming a one point deficit against Reds. Cincinnati took the first lead in the opening term through Sappelt who scored after Votto singled to right, only to be leveled in the second term.
Fielder hit a 408 foot homerun to resuscitate his side in what represented the turning point of the game. From the on it was all about Milwaukee who would provide a six point run. Kotsay hit a 2423 foot homerun and Morgan made it 3-1 in the third inning, while Braun also fired a 406 footer within the same round.
The next three innings went scoreless for both sides, while the seventh one saw Kottaras hit a 368 foot homerun for Brewers, making it 5-1 with two terms remaining. Braun hit yet another footer in the eighth round as Milwaukee were heading towards a clear win. Janish and Frazier brought a meaningless double in the same inning for the Reds who conceded their 36th home loss.
Milwaukee stay top spot in the Central with a .583 record including 88 wins and 63 defeats, the victory over Reds being their fourth in the past ten games and 36th on the road. As for Cincinnati, they are third, 14 gamesback behind the leaders, with a .490 record featuring 74 wins and 77 losses. The defeat to Brewers was their fifth in the past ten games and 36th at home.
Washington Nationals 0 – 3 Florida Marlins
Florida blanked Washington last night at the Nationals Park where the away side managed to keep the sheet clean throughout the entire meeting. Sanchez gave them the first lead in the second term after Buck singled to center, while Infante doubled it in the next round after Stanton doubled to center.
Finally, Stanton gave his side the clear right afterwards, following Sanchez’s single. Despite the win, Florida are foot of the table in the East with a .450 record including 68 wins and 83 defeats, the victory over Nationals being their fifth in the past ten games and 40th on the road.
As for Washington, they are second from the bottom with a .477 record including 71 wins and 78 defeats. The loss to Marlins was their fourth in the past ten games and 34th at home.
MLB Friday results:
Philadelphia Phillies 2 – 4 St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds 3 – 6 Milwaukee Brewers
Washington Nationals 0 – 3 Florida Marlins
Chicago Cubs 4 – 3 Houston Astros
Baltimore Orioles 8 – 3 Los Angeles Angels
Toronto Blue Jays 5 – 4 New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox 4 – 3 Tampa Bay Rays
Kansas City Royals 7 – 6 Chicago White Sox
San Diego Padres 2 – 0 Arizona Diamondbacks
Seattle Mariners 4 – 0 Texas Rangers
Oakland Athletics 1 – 3 Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins 6 – 7 Cleveland Indians
Atlanta Braves 2 – 12 New York Mets
Colorado Rockies 1 – 9 San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers 7 – 2 Pittsburgh Pirates
Next fixtures:
Philadelphia Phillies – St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds – Milwaukee Brewers
Washington Nationals – Florida Marlins
Chicago Cubs – Houston Astros
Baltimore Orioles – Los Angeles Angels
Toronto Blue Jays – New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox – Tampa Bay Rays
Kansas City Royals – Chicago White Sox
San Diego Padres – Arizona Diamondbacks
Seattle Mariners – Texas Rangers
Oakland Athletics – Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins – Cleveland Indians
Atlanta Braves – New York Mets
Colorado Rockies – San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers – Pittsburgh Pirates11
