|
J. Meric/Getty Images |
It didn't look good going into the top of the ninth. The Red Sox were down 3-1 despite a marginally good effort by
Felix Doubront. They were facing one of the most annoying closers in baseball in
Fernando Rodney (he of the cocked hat and stupid arrow shtick). Nevertheless, the Sox were patient and loaded the bases against Rodney. With two outs and two strikes,
Will Middlebrooks waited just enough on a hanging change-up and smoked it into left-center—clearing the bases and giving the Carmine Hose a 4-3 lead.
Junichi Tazawa delivered a cardiac ninth
for the win. So, despite facing three of the best pitchers in the AL, Boston managed to scoop two of three in the
MostPulpDome and move to within a single game of first place.