Celtics, Delonte West Agree on Deal

Red Sox Six-Run Inning Helps Lester Beat Orioles

Video: Patriots LB Brandon Spikes Sex Tape?

Scutaro Error Proves Costly as Red Sox Fall to Orioles

Patriots Place Leigh Bodden on IR

Ellsbury Leads Beckett-less Sox to Win

Red Sox ace was scratched from his start against the Angels with a bit of neck pain. If it could actually keep Josh Beckett out of a scheduled start, then it must have been a lot of neck pain. Without Beckett, righty David Pauley started in a pinch and lasted 4 1/3 innings after allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks. He did not factor into the decision, however.

Jacoby Ellsbury was the big story in this one, going 3-5 with two home runs (his first-career multi-HR game) to help lead the Sox back from a 5-1 defecit. He also scored the game-winning run in the eighth on Dustin Pedroia’s third double of the game. Pedroia finished 4-5 overall.

Pauley’s counterpart, Jered Weaver, allowed five runs on ten hits in five innings. He allowed three of them in the fifth inning, two coming on a HR from Kevin Youkilis. Instead of capitalizing on the young Pauley’s rough start, Weaver continued to get bashed all over the place. Ten hits allowed in five innings is a lot!

Overall, the Sox continue to be the hottest team in baseball. They’ve now won six in a row, and ten of their last eleven games overall. At 15-7, the Red Sox are on top of the AL East. Last season, the Sox led the East for most of the season despite a few surges from the Yankees. We will see if the Sox can hold onto it this year as well. Their offense seems stronger with an older Ellsbury and a hot Manny Ramirez.

Game Notes:

• Jason Varitek missed another game as he battles the flu.
• Manny Delcarmen was sent home as he battles the flu as well. Uh oh…
• Seven of the nine Sox in the starting lineup entered the game batting over .300. David Ortiz (.181) and Kevin Cash (.227) were the only ones under that average.
• The usually patient Sox walked only once, but churned out 16 hits.

Tags: David Pauley, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jered Weaver, Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim