GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (62-40) at TAMPA BAY (38-63)

AL: BOSTON (62-40) at TAMPA BAY (38-63)

<h3>Wakefield takes the hill for Red Sox in opener</h3>

Boston (62-40) at Tampa Bay (38-63), 7:10 pm EDT


ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The surging Boston Red Sox goin search of their seventh win in eight games when they visitthe Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the opener of a three-game series onFriday.


With the New York Yankees picking up steam, Boston would like toadd a little more distance to its lead in the American LeagueEast standings. The Red Sox hold a 7 1/2-game edge over theYankees.


Boston will send Tim Wakefield (11-9, 4.74 ERA), who makes hisfirst road outing since June 23, to the hill. Wakefield gave upfour runs in 6 1/3 innings of an 8-5 win against the ChicagoWhite Sox in his last start.


The righthanded knuckleballer has been outstanding against theDevil Rays, who are just 2-16 all-time against Wakefield.

Tampa Bay's Jason Hammel (1-0, 5.82) goes after his secondcareer win in this one. On Saturday, the righthander allowedtwo runs in four frames, but did not figure into the decision ofa 7-3 loss to the Yankees.


In his lone career start against the Red Sox, Hammel was poundedfor five runs and nine hits through four innings at Fenway Parkon September 26, 2006.

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON AT TAMPA BAY -- LINEUPS

BOSTON TAMPA BAY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Julio Lugo SS .225 6 47 Akinori Iwamura 3B .281 3 14
Kevin Youkilis 1B .308 9 48 Carl Crawford LF .290 6 54
David Ortiz DH .320 16 60 B.J. Upton CF .340 12 42
Manny Ramirez LF .303 17 64 Carlos Pena 1B .283 24 65
J.D. Drew RF .247 6 38 Delmon Young RF .293 9 53
Mike Lowell 3B .308 15 73 Brendan Harris SS .302 8 41
Coco Crisp CF .282 5 39 Ty Wigginton 2B .274 16 49
Doug Mirabelli C .182 3 10 Jonny Gomes DH .263 8 24
Alex Cora 2B .268 2 15 Dioner Navarro C .178 2 19

Tim Wakefield RHP (11-9, 4.74) Jason Hammel RHP (1-0, 5.82)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD (11-9, 4.74)
TAM - JASON HAMMEL (1-0, 5.82)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN RUNGE
1B - MARK WEGNER
2B - ADRIAN JOHNSON
3B - BRUCE FROEMMING

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING BATS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD AND DOUG MIRABELLI
TAM - JASON HAMMEL AND DIONER NAVARRO

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.225, 6 HR, 47 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.308, 9 HR, 48 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.320, 16 HR, 60 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.281, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.290, 6 HR, 54 RBI)
B UPTON (.340, 12 HR, 42 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
A Cora 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .178

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.74

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.56

Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 19-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hammel 0-2.
Batters faced: J Hammel 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Adrian Johnson. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.303, 17 HR, 64 RBI)
J DREW (.247, 6 HR, 38 RBI)
M LOWELL (.308, 15 HR, 73 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
A Cora 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .339
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .282
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .178

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (13, T Wakefield). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - C Pena 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.70

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.56

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 19-11; J Hammel 19-13. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 0-1; J Hammel 0-2. Batters faced: T Wakefield 4; J Hammel 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Adrian Johnson. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D YOUNG (.293, 9 HR, 53 RBI)
B HARRIS (.302, 8 HR, 41 RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.274, 16 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .246
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .307
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
A Cora 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .339
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .282
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .178

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (13, T Wakefield). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - C Pena 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.70

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.32

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 19-11; J Hammel 38-28. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 0-1; J Hammel 0-3. Batters faced: T Wakefield 4; J Hammel 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Adrian Johnson. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DIONER NAVARRO SCORED TY WIGGINTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D NAVARRO ON FIRST, J GOMES ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 0
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.284, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 1 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.282, 5 HR, 39 RBI)
D MIRABELLI (.182, 3 HR, 10 RBI)
A CORA (.268, 2 HR, 15 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .246
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .307
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mirabelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
A Cora 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .284
C Crawford lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .288
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .339
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .282
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
T Wigginton 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
D Navarro c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .182

Totals 9 1 3 1 2 2 6

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (13, T Wakefield). RBI - D Navarro (20). 2-out RBI - D
Navarro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 1, C Crawford 2. Team
LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.74

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.32

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 45-24; J Hammel 38-28. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 1-3; J Hammel 0-3. Batters faced: T Wakefield 11; J Hammel 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Adrian Johnson. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 1 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.339, 0-FOR-1)
C PENA (.282, 0-FOR-1)
D YOUNG (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .246
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .307
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .180
A Cora 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .284
C Crawford lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .288
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .339
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .282
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
T Wigginton 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
D Navarro c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .182

Totals 9 1 3 1 2 2 6

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (13, T Wakefield). RBI - D Navarro (20). 2-out RBI - D
Navarro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 1, C Crawford 2. Team
LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.74

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.11

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 45-24; J Hammel 53-38. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 1-3; J Hammel 1-5. Batters faced: T Wakefield 11; J Hammel 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Adrian Johnson. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 1 0 1 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.224, 0-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.307, 0-FOR-1)
D ORTIZ (.320, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">BOSTON (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .246
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .307
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D Mirabelli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .180
A Cora 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 3 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .284
C Crawford lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .288
B Upton cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .341
C Pena 1b 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .281
D Young rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
B Harris ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .301
T Wigginton 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .263
D Navarro c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .182

Totals 13 1 4 1 2 4 9

BATTING: 2B - A Iwamura (13, T Wakefield). RBI - D Navarro (20). 2-out RBI - D
Navarro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 1, C Crawford 2, B
Harris 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - D Young (7, 2nd base off T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 3 4 1 1 2 4 0 4.70

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.11

Pitches-strikes: T Wakefield 61-36; J Hammel 53-38. Ground balls-fly balls: T
Wakefield 2-3; J Hammel 1-5. Batters faced: T Wakefield 15; J Hammel 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Adrian Johnson. 3B--Bruce
Froemming.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL BOSTON AT TAMPA BAY
NOTE: BOSTON DESIGNATED HITTER DAVID ORTIZ SINGLED IN THE
FOURTH INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BOSTON 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TAMPA BAY 0 1 0 1 4 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD
TAM - JASON HAMMEL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: T WIGGINTON (.276, 1-FOR-1)
J GOMES (.263, 0-FOR-0, BB)
D NAVARRO (.182, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>