The Boston Red Sox took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds, with their ace closer Jonathan Papelbon on the mound.
The last time Papelbon blew a save, it was thanks in large part to an error by Julio Lugo. This time, Papelbon got 2 quick outs, then just served up a pitch that Edwin Encarnacion hit over the wall.
Fortunately for Red Sox fans, in the tenth inning Kevin Youkilis and CoCo Crisp hit back-to-back homeruns, giving them a 2-run lead, and Craig Hansen shut down the Reds in the tenth.
Middle reliever Hideki Okajima had another subpar outing for the Red Sox. With three batters faced, he allowed a single, got a strikeout, and then walked one (Jay Bruce), before being lifted.
Meanwhile, Red Sox rookie sensation Jacoby Ellsbury continues to impress with his speed on the basepaths. He had two stolen bases today, tying a Red Sox rookie record set by Amby McConnell in 1908. Considering how early it is in the season, Ellsbury is going to break that record and make it a bit harder for any future Red Sox rookie to even come close to it!