Games 140-142 Sox Sweep Rays

Saturday - September 12

One of the definite highlights of the year was the Boston Red Sox sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays while allowing them only two runs in the three game series effectively dashing any of their playoff hopes. This was a rain shortened game with the Sox exploding for 8 runs in the 3rd inning. Beckett pitched to one batter in the 6th when the game was called.

Final Score: Sox 9 Rays 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3, 1 RBI and a SB

Sunday – September 13 Noon

With the game tied 1-1 in the 8th Dustin Pedroia delivered the game winning hit with a two-run homer off Matt Garza. Clay Buchholz was very solid with 7IP, 1R, 5H and 5SO. Oki had a hold and Paps his 36th save.

Final Score: Sox 3 Rays 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 and is now batting .300

Sunday – September 13 – Evening

An unusual day/night affair this is the make-up game for the rain-out Friday. Jon Lester pitched an absolute gem with 8 shutout innings and only giving up 2 hits while striking out 7. Bay had a solo homer and Tek had 2 RBIs. Billy Wagner contributed a scoreless 9th stranding 2 with 2SO. This was a most satisfying series for the Red Sox defeating the team they lost the ALCS to last year.

Final Score: Sox 4 Rays 0
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3

Games 131-133 Red Sox Finally Take a Series vs Tampa Bay

Tuesday September 1

This is an important divisional series which has Boston with a 5 game lead over Tampa Bay in the wild card. The Red Sox jumped all over Andy Sonnanstine for 5R in 4IP. Both Drew and Youk had two-run homers and Bay contributed a solo shot. The Rays used seven pitchers out of the pen good for three more Sox runs. Jon Lester went 6 innings and gave up 2R on 7H. Billy Wagner had another scoreless frame but Okajima could not retire anyone and gave up 4H and 2R in the 8th before Papelbon was called on for a six out save – his first in the regular season. Jacoby Ellsbury made an outstanding diving do or die catch in CF in that 8th inning to help preserve the lead (see photo).

Final Score: Red Sox 8 Rays 4
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 6 with 1R and 2RBIs


Wednesday September 2

Josh Beckett’s recent struggles continued as he gave up solo homers in the 1st to Carl Crawford and in the 2nd to Pat Burrell. Beckett’s line read 6IP 5R (4ER) 7H and 9 K’s. The Sox managed to get back in the game by tying the score 5-5 in the 8th. But after a scoreless 7th Ramon Ramirez was ineffective in the 8th and Sox killer, Evan Longoria, hit a two-run homer off Manny Delcarmen. The Red Sox had lots of chances in this game but were 3 for 16 with RISP and Dustin Pedroia is 0 for 9 so far in the series. Tomorrow is the all important rubber game.

Final Score: Rays 8 Red Sox 5
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 with 2 K’s and a SB


Thursday September 3

The Red Sox got a much needed quality start from Clay Buchholz who gave them 6 innings of 3R 6H ball. The bullpen delivered as Wagner, Bard and Papelbon each contributed a scoreless inning. For Paps it was his 34th save of the year. For the Rays David Price went 5.1 innings giving up 4R on 6H. Jason Bay delivered a big two-out two-run double in the 1st and Rocco Baldelli had a solo home run in the 2nd The Sox remember well how Price had a win and a save helping to defeat them in last year’s ALCS. So that made this game all the more satisfying as Boston picked up a game and is now 6 games up in the wild card race. It was the first series win for the Red Sox over Tampa Bay since September 2007.

Final Score: Red Sox 6 Rays 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with 1R, 1BB and 2SB. He now has 58 thiefs

Red Sox Game 2 of 2009 Season

Some disheartening statistics with regard to Red Sox lefty Jon Lester and the Tampa Bay Rays. After the 2008 regular season of 3 wins and no losses with an ERA of 0.90. The 2008 ALCS stats were:

12.2 IP 14 H 8 R 7 ER and ERA of 5.47 Which brings us to tonight's game in which Lester went 5 IP giving up 5 R on 8 hits for an ERA of 9.00 - ugly stuff!

Final Score

Rays 7 Sox 2

Rubber game coming up tomorrow afternoon: Dice-K vs Garza

Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5 with an infield hit.