Red Sox Again Beat A's on Walk-Off Homer

[BuckFoston]

Jason Varitek's ninth-inning homer allowed the Boston Red Sox to walk off as last-swing winners for the second straight day. His two-run shot down the right field line with one out against Octavio Dotel on Wednesday gave Boston a 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics, who had taken the lead on Eric Byrnes' two-run homer in the top of the inning.

Dotel (1-3) gave up Kevin Millar's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that gave the Red Sox a 3-2 win on Tuesday night. Both came with one out after Dotel had issued a walk.

Keith Foulke (2-3) got the win despite blowing the save by allowing four runs in the ninth.

Dotel got into trouble when he walked leadoff hitter David Ortiz in the ninth. Millar hit a long drive that Byrnes caught in left field. That brought up switch-hitter Varitek, batting lefty against the right-handed Dotel.
Dotel threw a fastball on a 1-1 count, the same pitch he threw to Millar the previous day, and Varitek drove it down the right field line. His seventh homer of the year landed just fair a few rows into the seats as right fielder Bobby Kielty jumped but failed to catch it.

In the last eight games, Boston is 7-1 and Oakland is 1-7.

Matt Clement's strong seven innings and Manny Ramirez's first homer in 12 games, a two-run shot into the first row in left field, had given Boston a 4-1 lead.

Foulke, successful in his previous five save opportunities, started the ninth by striking out Erubiel Durazo. Kielty walked and Scott Hatteberg, who already had grounded into two double plays, hit a grounder to second baseman Mark Bellhorn.He threw to shortstop Edgar Renteria for the force at second, but Hatteberg kept Oakland's hopes alive by beating the throw to first. Mario Scutaro's double sent Hatteberg to third and Keith Ginter doubled in two runs.

Byrnes then hit a 2-2 pitch for his fourth homer of the season.

The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the second. Ortiz led off with a double, Varitek doubled in one run and Bill Mueller singled in the other.

Johnny Damon doubled in the third to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest current one in the majors. Ramirez then hit Zito's first pitch to him into the first row of seats above the left field wall for his ninth homer.

The only run Clement allowed came on a double by Durazo and Kielty's single.

Notes:@ Damon's hitting streak is one less than his career high. ... The Red Sox have allowed three homers in their last eight games. ... Zito increased his major league high to six hit batsmen. ... Oakland C Jason Kendall is 2-for-30 in his last eight games after going 0-for-5 on Wednesday.

http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynam...MPLATE=DEFAULT

[Fishercat]

Ugly as hell at the end, but I'll surely take it.

[love_that_reefer]

Two straight days with walkoff homers. Congrats and well deserved since the O's continue to win games.

[redsrbetter]

Red Sox really bringing the bats in the ninth! Nice job and Congrats.