Heading into the bottom of the 8th Sunday afternoon, it looked like it was going to be a lost weekend for the Sox against the Cards. Then a misplayed triple off the bat of Coco Crisp started a 2-run rally and it looked like the Sox would steal a win.
But Jonathan Papelbon couldn't hold the lead and the game went to extra innings where in the top of the 13th it looked like the Sox would fall behind when Adam Kennedy ripped a single to right with Chris Duncan on second. But J.D. Drew threw a strike to Jason Varitek who hung on when Duncan slammed into him to cut the runner down at the plate and set up Kevin Youkilis' heroics.
Youk smashed a 2-run bomb over the Monster - his second of the game - to give the Red Sox the 5-3 win on an crazy day at the Fens. It was a huge win for the Sox as they averted the sweep and gained a game on the second place Rays.
Dustin Pedroia had four hits and Mike Lowell added three, including a single off the Wall to open the 13th.
BOX SCORE: Red Sox 5, Cardinals 3 (13 innings)
BOX SCORE: Cardinals 9, Red Sox 3
Jon Lester had another excellent start allowing just 2 runs in 7 1/3 innings. Lester has emerged as the team's most consistent starter thus far.
The inconsistent bullpen was true to form as Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen pitched well, but Papelbon blew his 4th save of the season and Hideki Okajima was hit hard again.
Saturday's game was very disappointing as Dice-K was wild and was hammered in his first game since coming of the DL.
Matsuzaka couldn't make it out of the second inning, getting pounded for 7 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in 1-plus innings. He left trailing 4-0 with the bases loaded and no outs in the 2nd.
Chris Smith came on making his MLB debut and struck out Rick Ankiel to give the Sox a ray of hope. But the next batter was Troy Glaus and he deposited a hanging breaking ball over the Monster for a grand slam and the game was all but over.
Smith actually didn't pitch badly giving up just two more hits and no more runs in four innings.
The Sox got a couple of runs back in the bottom of the 2nd on Alex Cora's 2-run double and Drew belted a meaningless solo homer in the 6th, but that was all the offense could muster.
There was no report of injury to Dice-K after the game, so let's just hope we can chalk this up to rust and he can bounce back in his next start.
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