Red Sox blow 10-0 lead, but still prevail 19-17
In one of the wildest games of the season, Kevin Youkilis' go-ahead homer sent the Boston Red Sox to a 19-17 win after the Texas Rangers fought back from a 10-run first inning Tuesday night in Boston that included a pair of 3-run homers by David Ortiz.
Youkilis drove a 3-run shot over Fenway Park's Green Monster in the eighth inning for his second homer of a dizzying night, bringing fans to their feet as he circled the bases with uncharacteristic speed.
It came after Dustin Pedroia doubled in a run and Ortiz was intentionally walked to get to Youkilis, who was batting in the cleanup spot held by Manny Ramirez until he was traded July 31 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 19 runs were the most scored by the Red Sox this season and they ruined a Rangers comeback that matched the greatest ever against Boston. The Red Sox also squandered a 10-run lead on June 4, 1989, against Toronto when they lost 13-11 in 12 innings after they led 10-0 through six.
Texas' Marlon Byrd and Pedroia had 5 hits each. Ortiz had 6 RBI, Youkilis had 5 and Ian Kinsler and Chris Davis had 4 apiece for Texas. And Rangers starter Scott Feldman became the first major-league pitcher in 90 years to allow 12 runs and not take the loss since Gene Packard of the St. Louis Cardinals got the win in a 16-12 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 3, 1918.
But Texas wasn't done after Youkilis' second homer, off Frank Francisco (2-4). Brandon Boggs doubled in a run in the ninth, but Jonathan Papelbon settled down to record his 32nd save in 36 opportunities.
Hideki Okajima (3-2) got the win in a game that lasted 3 hours, 58 minutes.
National League
Mets 4, Nationals 3: The beleaguered New York Mets bullpen finally saved one for Johan Santana, preserving a victory that extended host Washington's losing streak to six games. The Mets snapped an eighth-inning tie when Damion Easley was hit by Saul Rivera's two-strike pitch with the bases loaded, and they handed a slim lead to a shaky bullpen that has struggled badly without injured closer Billy Wagner.
But this time, Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano each worked a scoreless inning to lock down Santana's elusive 10th win.