BOSTON -- Speed is a nice weapon to have. And the Red Sox have it in the person (and legs) of Jacoby Ellsbury.

After a leadoff single in the first, Ellsbury saw Baltimore left-hander Garrett Olson deliver five pitches to the plate from the stretch position and throw over to first base twice. Ellsbury, the league leader with 28 stolen bases, was leaning back to first on most of the pitches.

Left-handers are difficult to read for a base stealer because the pitcher is facing the runner, making him harder to read.

But with the count 2-and-1 on J.D. Drew and one out, Ellsbury decided to go to on Olson’s first move, whether it be a throw to first or a pitch.

Olson made a move to first and Ellsbury took off.

Seemingly, Ellsbury was picked off. Ellsbury, though, kept running hard, forcing two good throws by the defense to nail him — pitcher to first baseman, first baseman to shortstop at the second-base bag.

First baseman Kevin Millar came off the base aggressively to grab the throw, knowing that he’d have to make a quick catch and throw to second in order to get Ellsbury. But Millar never got a glove on the ball, and it bounced toward the stands. Ellsbury zipped all the way to third, credited with his 29th stolen base and making it to third on the error by Olson.

Before Olson could get out of the inning, the Red Sox had a 5-0 lead.

skrasner@projo.com