Jonathan Paplebon blew his third save of the season by surrendering a game-tying home run to Edwin Encarnacion with two outs in the ninth inning but Kevin Youkilis and Coco Crisp alleviated some of the closer’s anguish with back-to-back homers in the 10th, sending the Sox to a 6-4 win. Cincinnati native Youkilis, who didn’t play in Friday night’s series opener with former Reds first baseman Sean Casey instead making the start, sent 145 friends and family members into a tizzy by blasting a Mike Lincoln fastball into the right field seats for a tiebreaking homer. Crisp sent the next pitch into the same section for the fourth set of back-to-back, extra-inning homers in club history and the first since David Ortiz and Jason Varitek hit consecutive shots on April 27, 2003, in the 14th inning of a game in Anaheim, Calif., against the Angels. Jacoby Ellsbury stole two bases to tie the club rookie record of 31 established by Amby McConnell in 1908.
Tim Wakefield outpitched Reds phenom Edinson Volquez for seven innings, only to see the bullpen squander his 4-2 lead. Wakefield allowed two runs on only four hits, while striking out seven. Volquez, who came in leading the majors in ERA and strikeouts, allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out nine. Craig Hansen recorded his first major league save by stranding two men on base in the 10th. The Sox won for the second time in as many tries this season with both Manny Ramirez (sore right hamstring) and David Ortiz (disabled list: wrist) out of the lineup at the same time.
Nation Notes: Captain Jason Varitek, who wasn’t even on the premises for Friday night’s loss after getting stranded in Cleveland because of flight delays, expects to play today after missing the last three games with strep throat.
