GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (60-83) at BOSTON (87-57)

Kazmir, Devil Rays blank Red Sox

<h3>TAMPA BAY 1, BOSTON 0</h3>By Mike Petraglia
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox could have used MannyRamirez and David Ortiz on Monday night.


Tampa Bay lefthander Scott Kazmir outdueled Curt Schilling,throwing seven shutout innings, while the Devil Rays managed toscratch one run against Schilling in a 1-0 win over the Red Soxat Fenway Park.


It was Boston's first 1-0 loss at Fenway since Yankeesrighthander Mike Mussina came within an out of a perfect game onSept. 2, 2001.


Ramirez (left oblique strain) and Ortiz (right knee) did notstart with nagging injuries, marking the first time sinceSeptember 16, 2006, that both sluggers were not in the Red Soxlineup.


Ortiz came in the ninth as a pinch hitter, but he grounded outto third.


With a strikeout of Coco Crisp in the first, Kazmir became theeighth active pitcher under the age of 24 to reach 200strikeouts in a season. The lefthander ended up fanning 10 onthe night, marking the fourth time this season and the 12th timein his career he has registered double-figures in strikeouts.

"They threw a different lineup up there," Kazmir said. "Theytook away a lot of their lefties. It was nice to see "Big Papi"(Ortiz) out of the lineup. It felt like I had everythingworking today. My changeup was working and also my slider.Usually, it's one or the other, so it was nice to have those twopitches to go to, even behind in the count."


Kazmir (12-8) did his best work in the seventh when he hadrunners on first and second with one out, clinging to a one-runlead. After walking Jason Varitek to put runners on first andsecond, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon made a visit to the mound,but not to take out his starter.


"I said that this is not a normal game, this is a playoff game,"Maddon said. "That's what I was waiting to see for those lasttwo outs. I wanted him to get used to this stuff."

Kazmir, who reached 98 miles per hour in his last inning,responded by striking out Jacoby Ellsbury and before gettingAlex Cora to ground into a fielder's choice to escape the jam.

"It jacked me up," Kazmir said of the visit from his manager."It pumped me up and I was going on adrenaline to begin with,but that intensified it, you could say."


"I just thought he had great stuff and I thought that based onthe whole vibe of the night," Maddon added. "I just wanted himto get used to pitching in these kind of situations. And that'swhy I went out to the mound."


Kazmir threw a season-high 118 pitches over seven innings.

"I knew quickly he (Kazmir) was on," Schilling said. "It seemsto me the biggest difference between younger pitchers and olderpitchers is that if you don't get to guys that are establishedearly (in the game), they settle in and they beat you.

"With young pitchers, it seems it's kind of easy to tell one wayor the other quickly. Tonight he was on. I thought this wasthe best game I have ever seen him pitch against us."

Kazmir, who lost his previous two decisions this season againstBoston, has made more starts against the Red Sox than any otherteam, improving to 6-4 lifetime and 4-3 career at Fenway.

"He was very, very good," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said ofKazmir. "We've seen him a lot and we'll probably continue tosee him a lot. You're seeing a maturing pitcher. He's alwayshad the tremendous arm, the real good stuff. He's starting toadd in that changeup and (is) holding runners better."

Dan Wheeler struck out two in the eighth and Al Reyes worked theninth for his 24th save.


In an effort to show that he's gearing up for a possible playoffrun, Schilling was very effective, giving up just one run onfive hits over six innings. He walked just one while strikingout five.


"It's September. It's about winning and losing games andtonight I got outpitched," said a frustrated Schilling.

Schilling's only rough inning came in the fifth when the DevilRays used small ball to break through. Greg Norton doubled offthe left field wall as Jacoby Ellsbury crashed into thescoreboard and just missed snagging the fly.


Dioner Navarro bunted Norton to third and Josh Wilson lifted afly to Bobby Kielty in right, scoring Norton.


"I think that's something we've stressed throughout the year andit hasn't always been there," Norton said. "But I think wehave a very good team but in games like this, against teams likethis, we have to play fundamental baseball and we were able todo that tonight and we were able to come out with a 1-0 victorywhich doesn't happen too often in Boston."


Schilling (8-7) finished strong, retiring the side in order inthe sixth and coming out after 99 pitches.

 

Kazmir, Devil Rays blank Red Sox

<h3>TAMPA BAY 1, BOSTON 0</h3>By Mike Petraglia
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox could have used MannyRamirez and David Ortiz on Monday night.


Tampa Bay lefthander Scott Kazmir outdueled Curt Schilling,throwing seven shutout innings, while the Devil Rays managed toscratch one run against Schilling in a 1-0 win over the Red Soxat Fenway Park.


It was Boston's first 1-0 loss at Fenway since Yankeesrighthander Mike Mussina came within an out of a perfect game onSeptember 2, 2001.


Ramirez (left oblique strain) and Ortiz (right knee) did notstart with nagging injuries, marking the first time sinceSeptember 16, 2006, that both sluggers were not in the Red Soxlineup.


Ortiz came in the ninth as a pinch hitter, but he grounded outto third.


With a strikeout of Coco Crisp in the first, Kazmir became theeighth active pitcher under the age of 24 to reach 200strikeouts in a season. The lefthander ended up fanning 10 onthe night, marking the fourth time this season and the 12th timein his career he has registered double-figures in strikeouts.

"They threw a different lineup up there," Kazmir said. "Theytook away a lot of their lefties. It was nice to see "Big Papi"(Ortiz) out of the lineup. It felt like I had everythingworking today. My changeup was working and also my slider.Usually, it's one or the other, so it was nice to have those twopitches to go to, even behind in the count."


Kazmir (12-8) did his best work in the seventh when he hadrunners on first and second with one out, clinging to a one-runlead. After walking Jason Varitek to put runners on first andsecond, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon made a visit to the mound,but not to take out his starter.


"I said that this is not a normal game, this is a playoff game,"Maddon said. "That's what I was waiting to see for those lasttwo outs. I wanted him to get used to this stuff."

Kazmir, who reached 98 miles per hour in his last inning,responded by striking out Jacoby Ellsbury and before gettingAlex Cora to ground into a fielder's choice to escape the jam.

"It jacked me up," Kazmir said of the visit from his manager."It pumped me up and I was going on adrenaline to begin with,but that intensified it, you could say."


"I just thought he had great stuff and I thought that based onthe whole vibe of the night," Maddon added. "I just wanted himto get used to pitching in these kind of situations. And that'swhy I went out to the mound."


Kazmir threw a season-high 118 pitches over seven innings.

"I knew quickly he (Kazmir) was on," Schilling said. "It seemsto me the biggest difference between younger pitchers and olderpitchers is that if you don't get to guys that are establishedearly (in the game), they settle in and they beat you.

"With young pitchers, it seems it's kind of easy to tell one wayor the other quickly. Tonight he was on. I thought this wasthe best game I have ever seen him pitch against us."

Kazmir, who lost his previous two decisions this season againstBoston, has made more starts against the Red Sox than any otherteam, improving to 6-4 lifetime and 4-3 career at Fenway.

"He was very, very good," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said ofKazmir. "We've seen him a lot and we'll probably continue tosee him a lot. You're seeing a maturing pitcher. He's alwayshad the tremendous arm, the real good stuff. He's starting toadd in that changeup and (is) holding runners better."

Dan Wheeler struck out two in the eighth and Al Reyes worked theninth for his 24th save.


In an effort to show that he's gearing up for a possible playoffrun, Schilling was very effective, giving up just one run onfive hits over six innings. He walked just one while strikingout five.


"It's September. It's about winning and losing games andtonight I got outpitched," said a frustrated Schilling.

Schilling's only rough inning came in the fifth when the DevilRays used small ball to break through. Greg Norton doubled offthe left field wall as Jacoby Ellsbury crashed into thescoreboard and just missed snagging the fly.


Dioner Navarro bunted Norton to third and Josh Wilson lifted afly to Bobby Kielty in right, scoring Norton.


"I think that's something we've stressed throughout the year andit hasn't always been there," Norton said. "But I think wehave a very good team but in games like this, against teams likethis, we have to play fundamental baseball and we were able todo that tonight and we were able to come out with a 1-0 victorywhich doesn't happen too often in Boston."


Schilling (8-7) finished strong, retiring the side in order inthe sixth and coming out after 99 pitches.