Saturday, April 18, 2009

Remember the Last Time the Sox Were Down 7-0?

It was one wacky night at Fenway last night.

Brad Penny was awful in his first Fenway start this season, as he walked in two runs, allowed a grand slam to Nick Markakis, and gave the Orioles a 7-0 lead in the top of the second.

He allowed a total of eight runs in just 3+ innings. And incredibly, he wound up with a no-decision.

The Red Sox came storming back with four runs in the second, which included a Jason Bay two-run shot that nearly made it into the right field bleachers. A Baltimore error plus a ball hit up the middle by Jason Varitek that looked like it might be a double play but hit the base instead and kept the inning going the Sox scored two more runs.

J.D. Drew added a home run in the third, and the Red Sox bullpen took over in the fourth and did not allow the Orioles a run the rest of the way. Ramon Ramirez continued his sparkling relief, and got the win. The offense came alive, with Drew getting on base five times (three walks and two hits) and scored three times. Dustin Pedroia also had three hits, and Jacoby Ellsbury and Nick Green had two. But David Ortiz continued his early season funk, striking out three times (but did have a sac fly in the second).

Kevin Youkilis was struck in the side of the helmet by a Danys Baez fastball in the sixth, but shook it off and stayed in. There was no intent to it, as Baez was clearly rattled in the moments after the pitch struck Youk.

Last night's comeback brought back memories of two recent games. "The Mother's Day Miracle" of May 2007, when the Red Sox came from 5-0 down in the ninth to win, 6-5. And incredibly, that game was started by Jeremy Guthrie, last night's starter. And who came in to relieve him first that day in 2007? Danys Baez, the same guy who was brought in to take up for Guthrie in the fifth last night.

And of course, the last time the Sox were down 7-0 at Fenway was Game 5 of the 2008 ALCS, when they staged the thrilling 8-7 win to keep the series going against Tampa Bay.

The Red Sox could have some potentially bad news, as Jed Lowrie could be out for the season, if they opt for surgery on his wrist.

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