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Three things we learned at Fenway Friday night – Metro US

Three things we learned at Fenway Friday night

Three things we learned in the Red Sox’ 6-5 extra innings loss to the Twins Friday night at Fenway:

Doubront struggles, bullpen pitches well

The Red Sox bullpen pitched fairly well in relief of starter Felix Doubront. The only run allowed was the game-winning run in the 10th.

Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow, Mark Melancon, and Andrew Miller combined to pitch four scoreless innings of relief.

Vicente Padilla suffered the loss as he allowed a run in the tenth following a lead off double off the bat of Darin Mastroianni. No. 9 batter Jamey Carroll drove him home for the game-winning run two batters later.

Doubront did not have his best stuff as he went five innings allowing five runs on eight hits. Four of the runs came in the fifth inning, where he walked two batters, both of whom scored.

“He just missed getting that pitch to get out of the inning, which he has been making all year,” Valentine said.

Walks are becoming to become an issue for the left-hander as he walked four in total. He has allowed three or more walks in five of his last six outings.

Coming into the game Doubront was 5-1 with a 3.55 ERA following a loss.

Offense comes alive

Following being shutout and only mustering two hits Thursday, the Red Sox’ bats came alive Friday night as they pounded out 14 hits despite the loss.

The silver lining was the team only had four hits after the third inning and left 10 runners on base. Adding insult to injury they were 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

“We had good at bats, had chances, then didn’t have good at bats,” manager Bobby Valentine said, as the team didn’t score after the third inning.

Every member of the Red Sox lineup had a hit except for Will Middlebrooks.

Carl Crawford led the attack with three hits, while Dustin Pedroia, Cody Ross, Kelly Shoppach, and Mike Aviles each had two hits apiece.

Crawford heating up

After an 0-for-16 slump last week Crawford is starting to play like one would have expected him to as he now has recorded hits in six of his last seven games. He also has hit home runs in three of them, including a three-run blast Friday night.

“Carl had a great game,” Valentine said.

Crawford finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.

The left fielder hit in the No. 7 spot for the third time this season, where he entered the game 0-for-6 with three strikeouts.