BOSTON -- In a seesaw battle between the Giants and Red Sox during Wednesday night's series finale at Fenway Park, the game reached a boiling point in the sixth inning when San Francisco loaded the bases with none out down by one run.
After the Red Sox jumped out to an early eight-run lead, the Giants countered with seven runs, only to come up empty-handed in the sixth after back-to-back singles by Brandon Belt and Buster Posey and a walk to Brandon Crawford. Following the missed opportunity, the Red Sox went on to win, 11-7.
Right-hander Matt Barnes inherited the jam from left-hander Tommy Layne in his throwback uniform and successfully salvaged the mess with the help of Hanley Ramirez.
"In a situation like that, you just have to take it one pitch at a time," Barnes said. "You can't do too much. You kind of have to stay relaxed from pitch to pitch."
Grégor Blanco pinch-hit for Mac Williamson and slapped a grounder to first. Ramirez quickly tagged the bag and fired the ball home to Sandy Leon, who spun around and tagged a sliding Belt for the inning's second out. Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged the call, but after a short review, the call stood.
"Of course, the sixth inning was the difference in the game," said Bochy.
Moments later, Barnes got Conor Gillaspie to pop up to Ramirez in foul territory and end the inning.
"It's not easy, but it is kind of fun because of the excitement of it and knowing that you are coming through for your team and are able to pick up another guy in your bullpen," said Barnes.

"Kind of a Houdini act by Barnes to get out of the sixth inning," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "A good heads-up play by Hanley to record the force at first, and then Sandy reacted accordingly. Just a big play to squelch an otherwise dire situation at that point."
Following his stellar play at first base, Ramirez gave the Red Sox some much needed breathing room when he clobbered a two-run home run -- his third of the game -- later in the inning off Albert Suárez that gave the Red Sox a 10-7 lead.
After getting hit by Suarez in the fourth inning, Ramirez said that it motivated him to hit a home run in his next plate appearance.
"Yeah, I was trying to go to the moon there," Ramirez said. "Every time I get hit, that fires me up. It makes me a better player."