Sox salvage win in a LONG, wild game at the Big A

Sox 9, LA of A Angels 6
WP: Okajima (3-0)
LP: Speier (1-3)
SV: Papelbon (26)
HRs: BOS-Pedroia (5)

SUMMARY
In a marathon finale to this lopsided series Boston survived some horrible pitching and more sloppy defense to prevail over LA in what turned out to be the longest 9-inning home game in the history of the Angels franchise.

Okay, so it only tied the record, but it's friggin 2:10 in the morning, so forgive me.

#1 STUNNER Pedroia 3-5, 3R, BI, HR
After three Boston pitchers combined to blow two Sox leads Dustin led off the 7th inning with a drive that barely cleared the left field fence--and Garret Anderson's glove--for what proved to be the winning run.

That play occurred at 12:57 a.m., but I guess it was worth the wait.

PAN's FAUN Jon Lester 3.1IP, 8H, 5ER, 3BB, 3K, 93 pitches
For the third consecutive outing Lester was less than impressive, allowing 7 hits and 3 runs on 51 pitches in the first two innings, then after the Boston batters fought to take a 4-3 lead, he gave it right back in a 2-run 4th.

His ERA is now a Tavarez-esque 6.43.

RECAP
Ah, nothing like a little 4 hour marathon to end an already lengthy and disheartening series out West.

At least the Sox managed to win this one, but I would definitely classify it as a war of attrition.

Much like the last couple of nights I am in no position to recap this 15 run, 25 hit, 352 pitch extravaganza, a game that had more twists and turns than the Autobahn and ended mere hours before most of civilized society gets up for work.

Not to mention my notebook contains more scribbles than a 3-year-old's artwork.

I will briefly summarize by saying the Boston batters showed a lot of moxie to keep fighting back after it looked as if the Halos were headed to their first series sweep of the BoSox since 2001.

Down 3-0 after two innings the Sox hung a four-spot on LA of A in the 4th, highlighted by five consecutive hits including three straight doubles, but the Angles answered back with two in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead, 5-4.

Determined not to be swept the Sox responded with a two-run 5th, only to see the Angels tie it right back up with a run in the bottom of the frame, which marked about the sixth time I nearly turned the game off.

Although many will question the sanity of sticking with such a frustrating late night contest, those who stayed awake were rewarded when Pedroia led off the 7th with a solo shot that bounced out of Garret Anderson's glove, seemingly the only break Boston caught all series, and when the Sox tacked on a couple more runs in the 8th it was as if a giant weight had been lifted from everyone's shoulders.

So the Sox gained a game back on the Stanks, who were drubbed by the Jays, and will enjoy a MUCH needed day off tomorrow (today) as they wait to start the series in Baltimore on Friday.

And all of RSN can celebrate one thing--the last of the fucking West Coast games this season!

Good night now.

Morning.

Whatever.