Darnell McDonald and Orioles first baseman Chris Davis had to channel their inner high school side and resurrect their pitching careers.
Despite striking out five times at the plate, Davis managed to be the game’s hero by recording the win. Baseball is crazy.
On a serious note, the bullpen has obviously been taxed in this series against the Orioles.
Mid 17th, Orioles 9-6: Darnell McDonald, the ace of the staff –– OK, totally kidding –– allowed a three-run shot to Adam Jones.
This should finally be over, right? Let’s see if Chris Davis is as sharp as he was last inning, or we could be in for bonus baseball once again.
End 16th, 6-6: Wow. Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out on a changeup from first baseman Chris Davis. Embarassing and funny.
And just when it looked like it was going to be over — when Mike Aviles hit a double — Marlon Byrd was thrown out at the plate. Crazy, crazy, crazy.
Mid 16th, 6-6: Are we really close to playing two full games here? This is the point where position players start throwing.
Darnell McDonald is on the way to the Red Sox bullpen. This will be hilarious if it happens.
End 15th, 6-6: Cody Ross struck out for the fifth time in this game. After the strikeout, he tossed his helmet out of frustration.
I wonder how Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s knees feel. After logging all those innings, he has to be feeling tired back there.
Mid 15th, 6-6: I don’t know how the Red Sox bullpen is going to make it into this week after two extra-inning games.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mark Melancon or Junichi Tazawa get a callup in the coming days, if not Monday.
End 14th, 6-6: After striking out looking, Dustin Pedroia just stood there. Looking. Looking.
I’m not sure if it was because he didn’t like the call or was just tired of this long game.
And by the way, Rich Hill is pitching for a long time. For a guy who recently recovered from Tommy John surgery, it’s risky.
Mid 14th, 6-6: Rich Hill just toyed with Robert Andino during that at-bat, striking him out.
This was a good test for Hill, who likely hasn’t experienced this many ups and downs during his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
End 13th, 6-6: Yawn. This one’s getting really long, people.
After Darnell McDonald belted a single, Cody Ross and Will Middlebrooks struck out. Saltalamacchia flew out to Nick Markakis.
This game has outlasted two NBA games already.
Mid 13th, 6-6: Chris Davis did strike out for the sixth straight time. In this one, he simply grounded into a double play.
He received a nice sarcastic round of applause from the fans at Fenway, at least the ones that are still left over here.
A lot of people have emptied out in this one.
End 12th, 6-6: When will the madness end? Not yet.
Dustin Pedroia drew a walk with two outs, but Adrian Gonzalez couldn’t handle the job with a fly out to bring us into the 13th.
The bullpen is getting taxed right now. I wonder what type of impact this could have on the Red Sox heading into the series against the Royals.
Mid 12th, 6-6: J.J. Hardy collected his fourth hit of the game against the Red Sox. The game has gone on so long, you forget that he hit two homers early on.
But Franklin Morales induced a double play on the next at-bat to eliminate any and all signs of threats.
And the wait continues…
End 11th, 6-6: Will Middlebrooks laced a sure double to left field, but the rookie third baseman — thinking it was foul — didn’t run too hard to first.
As a result, his hit turned into a single. Just when he realized it was fair, the ball was en route to the infield.
It didn’t make too much of a difference since Marlon Byrd struck out.
Mid 11th, 6-6: Franklin Morales didn’t snag Endy Chavez’ popout in the most athletic of fashion, but he got the job done.
It looked like it could have been a close to an injury, but fortunately for the Red Sox, he was fine and pitched a clean inning.
End 10th, 6-6: Very rare to see Darnell McDonald angry. But he was livid with umpire James Hoye on that strikeout.
McDonald was very close to bumping into Hoye. He didn’t but was right in the umpire’s face.
It took Jerry Royster, Alex Ochoa and Bobby Valentine to come out and escort him back the clubhouse to get him from being tossed.
Mid 10th, 6-6: Chris Davis is having a game that he’d certainly like to forget.
He just struck out for the fifth time. Since four strikeouts is a golden sombrero, then is five like the diamond?
Davis has struck out against four different pitchers, too.
End 9th, 6-6: For the second time in three games, the Red Sox are locked in extra innings with the Orioles.
Mike Aviles managed to get on base in the ninth, but he was caught stealing second, which brought the game to extra innings. The Sox have lost both games in extras this season.
Mid 9th, 6-6: With Saltalamacchia’s RBI, Baltimore bullpen’s scoreless streak has been snapped. It was at 23 2/3 innings when the eighth began.
The Red Sox will attempt to capitalize on the theatrics with a walkoff.
End 8th, 6-6: Jarrod Saltalamacchia atoned for his bad defensive performance with a sacrifice fly that drove in Darnell McDonald.
But it was actually David Ortiz’ leadoff double off the center field wall that ignited the run.
The errors were still pretty bad for Saltalamacchia, but he took some of the heat off with that RBI. Imagine if he didn’t.
Mid 8th, Orioles 6-5: The run in this inning is really attributed to some defensive miscues by Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
He dropped a routine foul ball, which extended Adam Jones’ at-bat, where he eventually reached base.
Then Saltalamacchia misfired on a throw to second on a steal attempt, allow Jones to move over to third base.
Mark Reynolds’ double helped bring him in for the go-ahead run.
End 7th, 5-5: Vicente Padilla is coming in right now to relieve in place of Matt Albers.
Last time he was out, he surrendered a run, and he’s looking to sharpen up at Fenway Park. Before the season, he told me that playing in Los Angeles prepared him for the pressure of Boston.
In fact, he said the pressure between the two cities may have been close. I’ll have to check with him on that later in the season.
Mid 7th, 5-5: Since leaving the Orioles after the 2010 season, Matt Albers has absolutely stifled them.
Baltimore hasn’t recorded a hit off Albers since he was non-tendered and allowed to walk away.
Bobby Valentine likes the way the reliever has been mixing his pitches in his appearances this season.
End 6th, 5-5: Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled to center on a hit that fell short of a home run.
With Saltalamacchia in scoring position, Middlebrooks couldn’t capitalize this time around against reliever Luis Ayala, grounding out to short.
Mid 6th, 5-5: And Middlebrooks keeps at it on defense, firing a bullet to second base to start a double play.
Word is that, shortly after he homered, Middlebrooks’ sister, Lacey, belted a shot for Tulsa’s softball team. That’s some really strong family DNA right there.
End 5th, 5-5: The Red Sox have to thank their rookie, Will Middlebrooks.
The third baseman unloaded a grand slam over the Monster in the fourth for his career home run in the major leagues.
He belted it so far that he likely won’t get it back.
Mid 5th, Orioles 5-1: Andrew Miller, who was recalled Sunday, entered in relief of Clay Buchholz.
His stuff was filthy in that inning, as he struck out Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Chris Davis in successive at-bats.
He said he’s felt very comfortable pitching in the bullpen in Pawtucket and feels comfortable doing it in Boston.
End 4th, Orioles 5-1: The Red Sox managed to get on the board with one run.
Mike Aviles finally made good contact, unloading a double off the Green Monster to lead things off. Ryan Sweeney drove him in during the ensuing at-bat.
It’s still a pretty big hole to dig out of, but it’s been done before.
Mid 4th, Orioles 5-0: And Robert Andino just happened. Again.
Despite some ugly base running by the Orioles, Andino redeemed his teammates by unloading a three-run shot to the Sports Authority sign over the Green Monster.
Fenway fans proceeded to boo, but I’m not sure if it was for Andino or Clay Buchholz. Either way, it wasn’t good, and Buchholz just got yanked.
End 3rd, Orioles 2-0: After 10 pitches, Tommy Hunter finally managed to get Marlon Byrd out.
Also, as you’ve noticed, Will Middlebrooks is back in the lineup Sunday. He missed Saturday’s game because he felt some uncomfortable cramps after Friday’s game.
He just popped out in this inning.
Mid 3rd, Orioles 2-0: It’s more deja vu for Clay Buchholz.
He left a curveball up for J.J. Hardy to smack over the signs on top of the Green Monster. That pitch was absolutely destroyed.
He still hasn’t thrown too many changeups, which has been one of his downfalls this season.
End 2nd, Orioles 1-0: Over the past few days, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine really couldn’t explain the team’s struggles at home.
He said the team just kept running into good pitchers. Well, Tommy Hunter looks like he may be making an appearance on that list, striking out Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross.
Mid 2nd, Orioles 1-0: That was much better for Clay Buchholz, who struck out three batters and walked one in Mark Reynolds.
So far this season, the curveball has been Buchholz’s most effective pitch. He hasn’t gotten much of a feel for his changeup.
He used both well to punch out Chris Davis.
End 1st, Orioles 1-0: In this recent homestand, Mike Aviles has cooled off considerably. He entered this one with a .257 average.
With a trip back to Kansas City on the horizon, I wonder if that will jump-start him since he’s always referenced the chip on his shoulder since the trade.
Mid 1st, Orioles 1-0: The struggles are continuing to drag on for Clay Buchholz.
Facing his second batter of the game, he misfired on a pitch and allowed J.J. Hardy to go yard over the Green Monster. Adam Jones followed up with a double.
11:25 p.m.: Here are the lineups.
Red Sox
Mike Aviles, SS
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Cody Ross, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Marlon Byrd, CF
Clay Buchholz, P
Orioles
Ryan Flaherty, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Markakis, RF
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Chris Davis, DH
Mark Reynolds, 3B
Nick Johnson, 1B
Robert Andino, 2B
Tommy Hunter, P
8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox (11-15) have dropped four consecutive games at home and are in danger of being swept by the Orioles (18-9). Now four games below .500, the Red Sox hope that pitcher Clay Buchholz can make headway after allowing at least five runs in each of his starts this season.
In his last appearance, Buchholz, who is 3-1 with a 8.69 ERA, allowed just one run until the seventh inning, when he then gave up five more. He’ll go up against Orioles pitcher Tommy Hunter, who is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA. Hunter last tossed seven innings of two-run ball against Oakland.
For details and analysis from Fenway, follow NESN.com’s live blog. Tune in to NESN’s pregame show at 12:30 p.m. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
