Sox Sweep Rays With Dramatic 3-2 Patriots’ Day Ninth Inning Win

While Boston’s closer conundrum continues to come to a full boil the rest of the team is as cool as the other side of the pillow.

Apr 11, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (12) gets a hit and drives in a run against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Today the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays were locked in another tight contest that wasn’t decided until Dustin Pedroia walked with one out in the ninth inning and eventually scored on a Mike Napoli wall ball double that gave the Red Sox a 3-2 walk-off win.

It pays to play as many years as Pedey has in Fenway Park. He was off at the crack of the bat, knowing that Napoli’s one out fly ball was going to hit the wall. Pedroia never broke stride and scored the winning run to hand the Rays their third loss in as many days.

Sox starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster, had a strong outing, going 7 complete innings while allowing just two hits and 1 run. Likewise, Boston’s Koji Uehara (0.0 ERA) again shut down the Rays in the eighth.  If only the same could be said for Boston’s closers.

Joel Hanrahan mercifully couldn’t make an appearance due to a strained hamstring. Andrew Bailey, Boston’s 2012 closer,  appeared in the ninth to nail down the win and get the save. Bailey appeared but he didn’t nail down the win or get the save.

Staked to a 2-1 lead, Bailey gave up a lead off single and a steal to Desmond Jennings. Ben Zobrist singled to score Jennings to tie the game at 2-2.

When Pedroia scored there was joy at Fenway, which was erased an hour later when the bombings at the Boston Marathon occurred.

The Red Sox head to Cleveland for a three-game set against the Indians before returning for and extended home stand against the Royals, As and Astros.