By the time Javier Lopez dropped the relay from Kevin Youkilis in the ninth inning, many Sox fans were probably counting how many times this game could have been won. A substantial early inning lead went out the window as Brad Penny and shoddy defense allowed the Indians to take a game that should have been in the books.
Staked to a 5-1 second inning lead, it looked as though the Red Sox were easily on their way to extending their winning streak to 12. However, errors by Mike Lowell in the second, Julio Lugo in the third, and the aforementioned Lopez all led to Cleveland runs, spelling the demise of the Sox. Lowell threw the ball into right field, Lugo and Lopez couldn't handle easy throws, and the Boston lead was gone.
Penny didn't help, giving up seven runs (four earned), in just 2.2 innings. His ERA is now 8.66 for the year, a season in which Theo and the Sox hoped to bring a former All Star back to prominence. It's looking much clearer who the odd man out will be when it comes time for John Smoltz to join the rotation.
The offense continued to roll. Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in two runs apiece, as Dustin Pedroia, Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo had multiple hits. The rubber game starts tonight at 7:05, as Jon Lester (1-2, 4.88 ERA) faces Fausto Carmona (1-3, 7.36 ERA).
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