"As if grinding through an eight-pitch at-bat and legging out a two-out infield single against Twins closer Joe Nathan in the ninth inning last night wasn't difficult enough, Dustin Pedroia had to deal with a good-natured joke from first-base umpire Tim McClelland.

"I hit it soft and ran hard, and I just kept my head down," Pedroia said. "Tim McClelland kind of messed with me, told me it was a foul ball. I almost had a heart attack. He just smiled and told me to stay there."

Pedroia's single paved the way for David Ortiz to line the go-ahead single into center field, scoring pinch-runner Darnell McDonald from second base. One batter later, Pedroia scored an insurance run on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's double.

"(Nathan) threw me some filthy pitches," Pedroia said. "I was trying my hardest to get David up there. It's tough. It was a lucky hit, but we'll take it. I was just trying to fight him and hopefully walk or do something to get on base."

Pedroia is batting .400 (42-for-105) with 16 runs, four homers and 16 RBI since the All-Star break.

Pap hits 25, again

For the sixth consecutive season, closer Jonathan Papelbon has notched at least 25 saves. He struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning to preserve an 8-6 win and pin down his 25th save in 26 chances."