GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (76-50) at TAMPA BAY (47-78)

AL: BOSTON (76-50) at TAMPA BAY (47-78)

<h3>Red Sox go for sweep of Devil Rays</h3>

<div class="pre">Boston (76-50) at Tampa Bay (47-78) 7:10 pm EDT</div>

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox havedropped two of their 11 contests against the Tampa Bay DevilRays this season, with Daisuke Matsuzaka presiding over bothdefeats. He will look for some revenge on Wednesday when theRed Sox go for a sweep of the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

Matsuzaka (13-9, 3.79 ERA) tossed eight scoreless innings tobeat Tampa Bay in Boston on July 3, allowing just four hitswhile striking out nine. However, the Japanese righthander hasgotten progressively worse in his two subsequent starts againstthe Devil Rays.


He yielded two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 frames on July 29 tosuffer a loss, and got knocked around by Tampa Bay lastWednesday, surrendering six runs and eight hits in six innings.

The Devil Rays will counter with the suddenly strong EdwinJackson (3-12, 5.69). The 23-year-old righthander started theseason 0-8 with an 8.20 ERA, but over his last four starts he isholding opponents to a .228 batting average and carrying a 1.33ERA, though his record over that span is just 1-2.

Jackson got roughed up by the Red Sox on July 4, allowingseven runs and nine hits in five frames.


Boston moved a season-high 26 games over .500 with Tuesday's8-6 triumph.


The Red Sox now hold a six game lead over the New York Yankees(70-56) in the American League East.

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

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

BOSTON TAMPA BAY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Dustin Pedroia 2B .324 6 38 Akinori Iwamura 3B .282 4 19
Kevin Youkilis 1B .289 12 63 Carl Crawford LF .312 10 64
David Ortiz DH .318 21 80 Carlos Pena DH .266 28 81
Mike Lowell 3B .315 17 85 B.J. Upton CF .308 17 55
J.D. Drew RF .262 6 45 Brendan Harris 2B .290 8 46
Jason Varitek C .265 10 52 Jonny Gomes RF .257 13 34
Coco Crisp CF .273 5 46 Joel Guzman 1B 1.000 0 1
Eric Hinske LF .198 5 15 Josh Wilson SS .260 0 16
Julio Lugo SS .242 6 61 Josh Paul C .190 1 6

Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (13-9, 3.79) Edwin Jackson RHP (3-12, 5.69)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (13-9, 3.79)
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON (3-12, 5.69)

UMPIRES: HP - BILL WELKE
1B - JOHN HIRSCHBECK
2B - WALLY BELL
3B - LAZ DIAZ

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING BATS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON AND JOSH PAUL

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.324, 6 HR, 38 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.289, 12 HR, 63 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.318, 21 HR, 80 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 - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.282, 4 HR, 19 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.312, 10 HR, 64 RBI)
C PENA (.266, 28 HR, 81 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
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
E Hinske lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
C Pena dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Guzman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

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
D Matsuzaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.79

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.64

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 11-5. Ground balls-fly balls: E Jackson 1-2.
Batters faced: E Jackson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Laz Diaz.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON</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 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.262, 6 HR, 45 RBI)
J VARITEK (.265, 10 HR, 52 RBI)
C CRISP (.273, 5 HR, 46 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
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
E Hinske lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Guzman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.76

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.64

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 11-8; E Jackson 11-5. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Matsuzaka 1-1; E Jackson 1-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 3; E Jackson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Laz Diaz.

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 1 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.308, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
B HARRIS (.290, 8 HR, 46 RBI)
J GOMES (.257, 13 HR, 34 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
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
C Crisp cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
E Hinske lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Guzman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.76

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 5.60

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 11-8; E Jackson 32-17. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Matsuzaka 1-1; E Jackson 2-3. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 3; E Jackson 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Laz Diaz.

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 1 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.323, 0-FOR-1)
K YOUKILIS (.288, 0-FOR-1)
D ORTIZ (.318, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
C Crisp cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
E Hinske lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 7 0 1 0 2 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Guzman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.74

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 5.60

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 24-16; E Jackson 32-17. Ground balls-fly balls:
D Matsuzaka 4-1; E Jackson 2-3. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 6; E Jackson 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Laz Diaz.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MIKE LOWELL SCORED DUSTIN PEDROIA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D ORTIZ ON FIRST, K YOUKILIS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.261, 0-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 1 1 2 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GUZMAN (1.000, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
J WILSON (.260, 0 HR, 16 RBI)
J PAUL (.190, 1 HR, 6 RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .323
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .318
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 .314
J Drew rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .260
J Varitek c 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
C Crisp cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
E Hinske lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 10 1 2 1 3 1 9

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (31, E Jackson). SF - M Lowell. RBI - M Lowell (86).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 5.



TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Guzman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 001 -- 1
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.74

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 3 2 1 1 3 1 0 5.62

HBP - D Pedroia (by E Jackson). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 24-16; E Jackson
54-28. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 4-1; E Jackson 3-5. Batters faced: D
Matsuzaka 6; E Jackson 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Laz Diaz.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: A Cora at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 1
TAMPA BAY 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J Guzman (1.000, 0 HR, 1 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 1 1 2 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.274, 1-FOR-1)
E HINSKE (.198, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J LUGO (.241, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TAMPA BAY

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

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Pedroia 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .323
A Cora 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .318
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 .314
J Drew rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .260
J Varitek c 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
C Crisp cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
E Hinske lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198
J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 10 1 2 1 3 1 9

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (31, E Jackson). SF - M Lowell. RBI - M Lowell (86).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Varitek 1, J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 5.



TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .280
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Guzman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .500
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
J Paul c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .188

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Iwamura 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - J Wilson (5, 2nd base off D Matsuzaka/J Varitek).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 001 -- 1
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.72

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 3 2 1 1 3 1 0 5.62

HBP - D Pedroia (by E Jackson). Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 41-27; E Jackson
54-28. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 4-1; E Jackson 3-5. Batters faced: D
Matsuzaka 10; E Jackson 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Bill Welke. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Laz Diaz.

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 1 0 1 2 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 1 1 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.311, 0-FOR-1)
C PENA (.266, 0-FOR-1)
B UPTON (.307, 0-FOR-1)</div>