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| Steven Senne / AP |
For a while it looked like
Josh Beckett was sending a message to all the doubters in Red Sox Nation. The big Texan set down the first eight Tigers he faced, then the doors fell off. He loaded the bases, walked in a run, and tweaked his lower back. He was gone to a chorus of boos from the Fenway Faithful. In between the constant raindrops, 2011 MVP/Cy Younger Verlander lost his control and the Sox took advantage by running up his pitch count. Finally, they broke through on a bases-loaded walk and then a clutch single by (who else?)
Pedro Ciriaco (see photo).
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| FenwayNation Photo |
Carl Crawford added two runs with a Baltmore chop over the head of Verlander that Omar Infante booted into an extra run.
Result: 4-1 Boston. In the meantime,
Clayton Mortensen was a revelation, holding the Bengals at bay. In the sixth, the Tigers loaded the bases against Franklin Morales, but the rains proved too steady and the umpires brought on the tarp. An hour and 45 minutes later, they called the game. Fourth straight win for Boston.
