GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (32-15) at TEXAS (18-30)

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: BOS - BRENDAN DONNELLY
TEX - AKINORI OTSUKA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: S SOSA (.269, 1-FOR-2, BB)
F CATALANOTTO (.164, 0-FOR-2, HBP)
M BYRD (.333, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">BOSTON (7) VS TEXAS (4) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 .231
K Youkilis 1b 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 .352
D Ortiz dh 4 1 0 0 1 0 4 .316
M Ramirez lf 4 1 4 1 1 0 0 .272
J Drew rf 2 1 0 1 3 0 2 .227
M Lowell 3b 5 1 1 0 0 1 6 .325
C Crisp cf 5 1 1 1 0 1 6 .241
D Mirabelli c 3 0 0 0 1 3 2 .190
A Cora 2b 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 .319

Totals 33 7 8 5 9 7 22

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (15, V Padilla); M Ramirez (8, J Benoit). 3B - M
Ramirez (1, V Padilla). SF - A Cora. RBI - J Drew (14), M Ramirez (30), C Crisp
(15), A Cora (13), K Youkilis (27). 2-out RBI - K Youkilis. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 2, D Mirabelli 1, D Ortiz 2. GIDP - K
Youkilis. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Youkilis-J Lugo).


TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton cf 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 .258
a-V Diaz ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .260
M Young ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .240
M Teixeira 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .301
S Sosa rf 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .269
F Catalanotto dh 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 .164
M Byrd lf-cf 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .333
I Kinsler 2b 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 .244
G Laird c 3 1 1 2 0 0 0 .235
R Vazquez 3b 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .524

Totals 26 4 5 4 2 5 9

a-struck out swinging for K Lofton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - S Sosa (12, T Wakefield); G Laird (6, T Wakefield). SF - K
Lofton. RBI - M Byrd (1), G Laird 2 (16), K Lofton (13). GIDP - F Catalanotto.
Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Byrd (1, 2nd base by T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).

FIELDING: E - M Young (7, throw). DP: 1 (M Young-I Kinsler-M Teixeira).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 205 000 -- 7
TEXAS - 010 030 00 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 7 5 4 4 1 4 0 3.36
J Lopez 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.72
B Donnelly 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.94

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 5 1/3 5 6 5 3 4 0 5.77
J Benoit 2/3 2 1 1 3 0 0 3.86
C Wilson 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.16
A Otsuka 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1.02

J Benoit pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
J Lopez pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

WP - V Padilla. HBP - F Catalanotto (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T
Wakefield 91-57; J Lopez 6-2; B Donnelly 15-10; V Padilla 100-65; J Benoit
31-16; C Wilson 25-12; A Otsuka 19-11. Ground balls-fly balls: T Wakefield
5-11; J Lopez 0-0; B Donnelly 2-0; V Padilla 6-6; J Benoit 1-1; C Wilson 3-1; A
Otsuka 1-1. Batters faced: T Wakefield 26; J Lopez 1; B Donnelly 3; V Padilla
24; J Benoit 7; C Wilson 7; A Otsuka 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Mark Carlson. 3B--Larry
Young.

Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - PITCHING CHANGE
BOS: JONATHAN PAPELBON (0-0, 1.56) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: S SOSA (.269, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Papelbon relieved B Donnelly.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BOSTON 7
TEXAS 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: S Sosa (.269, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

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

BATTERIES: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, JAVIER LOPEZ (8TH), BRENDAN DONNELLY (8TH),
JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH) AND DOUG MIRABELLI

TEX - VICENTE PADILLA, JOAQUIN BENOIT (6TH), C.J.
WILSON (7TH), AKINORI OTSUKA (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD

HOME RUNS: BOS - NONE

TEX - NONE</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

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

BATTERIES: BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, JAVIER LOPEZ (8TH), BRENDAN DONNELLY (8TH),
JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH) AND DOUG MIRABELLI

TEX - VICENTE PADILLA, JOAQUIN BENOIT (6TH), C.J.
WILSON (7TH), AKINORI OTSUKA (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD


WP - TIM WAKEFIELD (5-5)
LP - VICENTE PADILLA (2-7)
SAVE - JONATHAN PAPELBON (12)

HOME RUNS: BOS - NONE

TEX - NONE


TIME: 3:07 ATT: 37,974

PROBABLES: BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ (3-4, 5.27)
TEX - KAMERON LOE (1-4, 6.38)</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">BOSTON (7) VS TEXAS (4) - FINAL

BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Lugo ss 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 .231
K Youkilis 1b 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 .352
D Ortiz dh 4 1 0 0 1 0 4 .316
M Ramirez lf 4 1 4 1 1 0 0 .272
J Drew rf 2 1 0 1 3 0 2 .227
M Lowell 3b 5 1 1 0 0 1 6 .325
C Crisp cf 5 1 1 1 0 1 6 .241
D Mirabelli c 3 0 0 0 1 3 2 .190
A Cora 2b 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 .319

Totals 33 7 8 5 9 7 22

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (15, V Padilla); M Ramirez (8, J Benoit). 3B - M
Ramirez (1, V Padilla). SF - A Cora. RBI - J Drew (14), M Ramirez (30), C Crisp
(15), A Cora (13), K Youkilis (27). 2-out RBI - K Youkilis. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 2, D Mirabelli 1, D Ortiz 2. GIDP - K
Youkilis. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: E - J Lugo (6, throw). DP: 1 (K Youkilis-J Lugo).


TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton cf 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 .258
a-V Diaz ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .260
M Young ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .240
M Teixeira 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .301
S Sosa rf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .267
F Catalanotto dh 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 .162
M Byrd lf-cf 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .250
I Kinsler 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .248
G Laird c 4 1 1 2 0 0 2 .234
R Vazquez 3b 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .524

Totals 31 4 6 4 2 5 13

a-struck out swinging for K Lofton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - S Sosa (12, T Wakefield); G Laird (6, T Wakefield). SF - K
Lofton. RBI - M Byrd (1), G Laird 2 (16), K Lofton (13). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - G Laird 1. GIDP - F Catalanotto. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Byrd (1, 2nd base by T Wakefield/D Mirabelli).

FIELDING: E - M Young (7, throw). DP: 1 (M Young-I Kinsler-M Teixeira).


----------------------------------------------------
BOSTON - 000 205 000 -- 7
TEXAS - 010 030 000 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield (W, 5-5) 7 5 4 4 1 4 0 3.36
J Lopez (H, 6) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.72
B Donnelly (H, 6) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.94
J Papelbon (S, 12) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.47

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla (L, 2-7) 5 1/3 5 6 5 3 4 0 5.77
J Benoit 2/3 2 1 1 3 0 0 3.86
C Wilson 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.16
A Otsuka 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1.02

J Benoit pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
J Lopez pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

WP - V Padilla. HBP - F Catalanotto (by T Wakefield). Pitches-strikes: T
Wakefield 91-57; J Lopez 6-2; B Donnelly 15-10; J Papelbon 15-13; V Padilla
100-65; J Benoit 31-16; C Wilson 25-12; A Otsuka 19-11. Ground balls-fly balls:
T Wakefield 5-11; J Lopez 0-0; B Donnelly 2-0; J Papelbon 0-3; V Padilla 6-6; J
Benoit 1-1; C Wilson 3-1; A Otsuka 1-1. Batters faced: T Wakefield 26; J Lopez
1; B Donnelly 3; J Papelbon 5; V Padilla 24; J Benoit 7; C Wilson 7; A Otsuka
5.

UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Mark Carlson. 3B--Larry
Young.

T--3:07. Att--37,974.
Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, in from
center.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
BOSTON 7
TEXAS 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (7) AT TEXAS (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TEXAS 2ND: S Sosa doubled to left. F Catalanotto struck out swinging.
M Byrd singled to left, S Sosa scored. I Kinsler struck out swinging. M Byrd
caught stealing second, catcher to second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
TEXAS 1.

BOSTON 4TH: K Youkilis doubled to deep left. D Ortiz walked. M Ramirez
walked, K Youkilis to third, D Ortiz to second. J Drew grounded into fielder's
choice to first, K Youkilis scored, M Ramirez out at second, D Ortiz to third,
D Ortiz scored, J Drew to second on throwing error by shortstop M Young.
M Lowell flied out to center. C Crisp grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 1 Hit,
1 Error) BOSTON 2, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 5TH: F Catalanotto hit by pitch. M Byrd fouled out to first.
I Kinsler singled to left, F Catalanotto to second. G Laird doubled to left,
F Catalanotto and I Kinsler scored. R Vazquez singled to right, G Laird to
third. K Lofton hit sacrifice fly to left, G Laird scored. M Young grounded
into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Vazquez out at second. (3 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 2, TEXAS 4.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis singled to center. D Ortiz flied out to center.
M Ramirez tripled to deep right, K Youkilis scored. M Ramirez scored on
V Padilla's wild pitch. J Drew walked. M Lowell singled to left, J Drew to
second. J Benoit relieved V Padilla. C Crisp singled to center, J Drew scored,
M Lowell to third, C Crisp to second advancing on throw. D Mirabelli walked.
A Cora hit sacrifice fly to center, M Lowell scored, C Crisp to third. J Lugo
walked, D Mirabelli to second. K Youkilis walked, C Crisp scored, D Mirabelli
to third, J Lugo to second. D Ortiz grounded out to first. (5 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.</div>

 

AL: BOSTON at TEXAS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (7) AT TEXAS (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boston Starting Lineups -- J Lugo SS, K Youkilis 1B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
J Drew RF, M Lowell 3B, C Crisp CF, D Mirabelli C, A Cora 2B, T Wakefield RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- K Lofton CF, M Young SS, M Teixeira 1B, S Sosa RF,
F Catalanotto DH, M Byrd LF, I Kinsler 2B, G Laird C, R Vazquez 3B, V Padilla RHP.

Umpires -- Angel Hernandez (HP), Ted Barrett (1B), Mark Carlson (2B),
Larry Young (3B).

Gametime Weather: 75 degrees, Cloudy, wind in from center at 17 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: J Lugo grounded out to first. K Youkilis struck out swinging.
D Ortiz flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: K Lofton grounded out to shortstop. M Young grounded out to
shortstop. M Teixeira struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
TEXAS 0.

BOSTON 2ND: M Ramirez singled to right. J Drew grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, M Ramirez out at second. M Lowell popped out to
shortstop. C Crisp grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: S Sosa doubled to left. F Catalanotto struck out swinging.
M Byrd singled to left, S Sosa scored. I Kinsler struck out swinging. M Byrd
caught stealing second, catcher to second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0,
TEXAS 1.

BOSTON 3RD: D Mirabelli struck out looking. A Cora grounded out to second.
J Lugo flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 3RD: G Laird lined out to left. R Vazquez flied out to right.
K Lofton fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 1.

BOSTON 4TH: K Youkilis doubled to deep left. D Ortiz walked. M Ramirez
walked, K Youkilis to third, D Ortiz to second. J Drew grounded into fielder's
choice to first, K Youkilis scored, M Ramirez out at second, D Ortiz to third,
D Ortiz scored, J Drew to second on throwing error by shortstop M Young.
M Lowell flied out to center. C Crisp grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 1 Hit,
1 Error) BOSTON 2, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 4TH: M Young flied out to right. M Teixeira flied out to right.
S Sosa lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, TEXAS 1.

BOSTON 5TH: D Mirabelli struck out swinging. A Cora struck out swinging.
J Lugo flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 5TH: F Catalanotto hit by pitch. M Byrd fouled out to first.
I Kinsler singled to left, F Catalanotto to second. G Laird doubled to left,
F Catalanotto and I Kinsler scored. R Vazquez singled to right, G Laird to
third. K Lofton hit sacrifice fly to left, G Laird scored. M Young grounded
into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Vazquez out at second. (3 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 2, TEXAS 4.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis singled to center. D Ortiz flied out to center.
M Ramirez tripled to deep right, K Youkilis scored. M Ramirez scored on
V Padilla's wild pitch. J Drew walked. M Lowell singled to left, J Drew to
second. J Benoit relieved V Padilla. C Crisp singled to center, J Drew scored,
M Lowell to third, C Crisp to second advancing on throw. D Mirabelli walked.
A Cora hit sacrifice fly to center, M Lowell scored, C Crisp to third. J Lugo
walked, D Mirabelli to second. K Youkilis walked, C Crisp scored, D Mirabelli
to third, J Lugo to second. D Ortiz grounded out to first. (5 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

TEXAS 6TH: M Teixeira struck out looking. S Sosa walked. F Catalanotto
grounded into double play, first to shortstop, S Sosa out at second.(0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

BOSTON 7TH: M Ramirez doubled to deep center. C Wilson relieved J Benoit.
J Drew walked. M Lowell struck out swinging. C Crisp flied out to center.
D Mirabelli struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

TEXAS 7TH: M Byrd flied out to center. I Kinsler flied out to center.
G Laird flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

BOSTON 8TH: A Cora grounded out to shortstop. J Lugo walked. K Youkilis
grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, J Lugo out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

TEXAS 8TH: J Lopez relieved T Wakefield. R Vazquez walked. V Diaz hit for
K Lofton. B Donnelly relieved J Lopez. V Diaz struck out swinging. M Young
grounded into fielder's choice to third, R Vazquez out at second. M Teixeira
grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

BOSTON 9TH: V Diaz in left field. M Byrd in center field. A Otsuka relieved
C Wilson. D Ortiz grounded out to shortstop. M Ramirez singled to center.
J Drew walked, M Ramirez to second. M Lowell popped out to second. C Crisp
struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.

TEXAS 9TH: J Papelbon relieved B Donnelly. S Sosa safe at first on throwing
error by shortstop J Lugo. F Catalanotto flied out to left. M Byrd flied out
to center. I Kinsler singled to right, S Sosa to second. G Laird flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4.</div>

 

Ramirez sparks Red Sox over Rangers

<h3>BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Texas Rangers helped theBoston Red Sox stay on a roll.

Manny Ramirez went 4-for-4 and Tim Wakefield snapped a personaltwo-game losing streak as the Red Sox posted a 7-4 victory overthe Rangers on Saturday.

Kevin Youkilis had a pair of hits, extending his hitting streakto 18 games for Boston, which widened its lead over the New YorkYankees to 11 1/2 games in the American League East Division.

The Red Sox capitalized on some sloppy play by Texas, takingadvantage of an error to score two runs in the fourth. Bostonalso parlaying four hits, four walks and a wild pitch into fiveruns in the sixth inning.

Wakefield (5-5), who had an AL-leading 1.79 ERA through hisfirst seven starts, had been roughed up in his previous twooutings, surrendering four home runs and 11 runs.

The 40-year-old knuckleballer was in trouble again, fallingbehind, 4-2, after a three-run fifth inning. Gerald Laird had atwo-run double in the frame and scored on a sacrifice fly byKenny Lofton.

Wakefield went seven innings, allowing four runs and five hitswhile walking one and striking out four.

Two relievers bridged the cap to closer Jonathan Papelbon, whoworked around an error and a single in the ninth for his 12thsave.

Rangers starter Vicente Padilla (2-7) could not hold the lead,giving up a single to Youkilis and a triple to Ramirez in thesixth that cut the lead to 4-3. He then uncorked a wild pitchthat plated Ramirez with the tying run and was gone afterwalking J.D. Drew and giving up a single to Mike Lowell.

Joaquin Benoit came on in relief and was touched up for an RBIsingle by Coco Crisp and Alex Cora's sacrifice fly to push themargin to 6-4. Benoit also walked three batters, the final oneto Youkilis forcing in Crisp with the seventh run.

Padilla allowed six runs - five earned - and only five hits in 51/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.

Trailing, 1-0, the Red Sox went ahead in the fourth. With thebases loaded, Drew hit a potential double-play grounder to firstbase, but shortstop Michael Young threw wildly on the relay astwo runs scored.

 

Ramirez sparks Red Sox over Rangers

<h3>BOSTON 7, TEXAS 4</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Texas Rangers helped theBoston Red Sox stay on a roll.

Manny Ramirez went 4-for-4 and Tim Wakefield snapped a personaltwo-game losing streak as the Red Sox posted a 7-4 victory overthe Rangers on Saturday.

Kevin Youkilis had a pair of hits, extending his hitting streakto 18 games for Boston, which widened its lead over the TorontoBlue Jays to 11 games in the American League East Division.

"We're playing good baseball right now," Wakefield said. "Wejust have to continue to do that and not worry about whereeverybody else is."

The Red Sox capitalized on some sloppy play by Texas, takingadvantage of an error to score two runs in the fourth. Bostonalso parlaying four hits, four walks and a wild pitch into fiveruns in the sixth inning.

"That's a pretty good club we're playing over there," Rangersmanager Ron Washington said. "You give them an opportunity andthey're going to take advantage of it."

Wakefield (5-5), who had an AL-leading 1.79 ERA through hisfirst seven starts, had been roughed up in his previous twooutings, surrendering four home runs and 11 runs.

The 40-year-old knuckleballer was in trouble again, fallingbehind, 4-2, after a three-run fifth inning. Gerald Laird had atwo-run double in the frame and scored on a sacrifice fly byKenny Lofton.

"I think I was more in the strike zone early in the game,"Wakefield said. "I didn't have any walks tonight. I was ableto mix up my pitches well. I'd like to have the fifth inningback, but these guys answered with five runs in the sixth andmade it a little easier after that."

Wakefield went seven innings, allowing four runs and five hitswhile walking one and striking out four.

"He was great," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "After thetough inning, and a long inning behind it, he comes back andfinds the strike zone and was really good. He gave us seven,and probably could have gone out again."

Two relievers bridged the cap to closer Jonathan Papelbon, whoworked around an error and a single in the ninth for his 12thsave.

Rangers starter Vicente Padilla (2-7) could not hold the lead,giving up a single to Youkilis and a triple to Ramirez in thesixth that cut the lead to 4-3. He then uncorked a wild pitchthat plated Ramirez with the tying run and was gone afterwalking J.D. Drew and giving up a single to Mike Lowell.

"I think from a momentum standpoint, it's huge for us," Lowellsaid of the Red Sox coming right back to retake the lead. "Theyhad things going and we didn't waste any time. I think Youkled off the inning with a base hit and we kept the pressure onthem."

"They score, we come right back, that's a good way to play thegame," Francona said.

Joaquin Benoit came on in relief and was touched up for an RBIsingle by Coco Crisp and Alex Cora's sacrifice fly to push themargin to 6-4. Benoit also walked three batters, the final oneto Youkilis forcing in Crisp with the seventh run.

"He's an improving, good, young hitter who's seeing the ballvery well right now," Francona said of Youkilis. "He's usingthe whole field, he's doing a great job."

Padilla, who leads the AL in losses, allowed six runs - fiveearned - and only five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked fourand struck out three.

"He was throwing the ball pretty well," catcher Laird said. "Hehit a rough spot in the sixth. We got the lead back and wejust didn't make pitches when we had to. We just made somemistakes in the middle of the plate and they made us pay."

"In the sixth he just fell apart," Washington said. "He startedrushing and overthrowing. This team is going to make you workif you're not throwing the ball in the strike zone."

Trailing, 1-0, the Red Sox went ahead in the fourth. With thebases loaded, Drew hit a potential double-play grounder to firstbase, but shortstop Michael Young threw wildly on the relay astwo runs scored.

Texas, which lost its fourth straight, fell to 18-31, ahalf-game better than Cincinnati for the worst record inbaseball.

"We're not going to quit showing up," Washington said. "We'renot going to quit fighting. We're going to stay the coursebecause we believe these guys are going to improve. We're notgoing to give up on them. I believe in these guys and theybelieve in themselves."

 

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/08/15/nba.ref/index.html</p>

</p>

<font size="3">Emphasis added</font></p>

</p>

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleadedguilty Wednesday to two felonies related to wagering on games heofficiated and supplying inside information on games to otherindividuals for betting purposes.</p> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoBox"><div id="cnnImgChngr" class="cnnImgChngr"><div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox"><div class="cnn3pxTB9pxLRPad">

Tim Donaghy was an NBA referee for 13 years. He worked more than 700 games in his career.</p></div></div><div class="cnnWireBoxFooter"> </div></div></div>

The 13-year veteran referee stood before Judge Carol Bagley Amon infederal court in Brooklyn, New York, and admitted takingantidepressants to cope with a severe gambling addiction that has costhim his reputation and career.</p>

<font size="3"> Donaghy received payments forproviding co-conspirators with winning picks based on classifiedinformation he obtained as an official with the league, prosecutorssaid in an affidavit.</font></p>

<font size="3"> He tipped his co-conspirators through theuse of encoded language based on information about players' physicalcondition and information about the relationship between referees andplayers in the league.</font></p>

The two felony counts -- conspiracy toengage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information to otherindividuals -- carry a combined maximum sentence of 25 years. A bailhearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.</p>

Prosecutors saidDonaghy's guilty plea was made in exchange for cooperating in otherinvestigations surrounding organized crime members and gambling onprofessional sports.</p>

According to the affidavit, two ofDonaghy's co-conspirators, high school friend James Battista and ThomasMartino, met in Philadelphia in December 2006 and arranged to payDonaghy $2,000 for each winning pick. Weeks into the scheme, Battistaand Martino increased the pay to $5,000 per winning pick because of theaccuracy of Donaghy's tips.</p>

The three-man operation used Martinoas the middleman between Battista, who placed the bets, and Donaghy,who gave his picks to Martino by using the coded language.</p>

Martino and Battista are expected to be arraigned on conspiracy charges Wednesday afternoon.</p>

While Donaghy told the court Wednesday he did bet on NBA games, no charges on that issue were included in the plea deal.</p>

NBA Commissioner David Stern has termed Donaghy's actions a betrayal, and said they were an isolated incident that did not involve other NBA officials.</p>

"We think we have here a rogue isolated criminal," Stern said in a July press conference.</p>

"We will continue with our ongoing and thorough review of the league'sofficiating program to ensure that the best possible policies andprocedures are in place to protect the integrity of our game," Sternsaid in a statement Wednesday.</p>

Lamell McMorris, spokesman forthe National Basketball Referees Association, called it "a trulyunfortunate case of wrongdoing by one of our own."</p> "We recognizethat a cloud has descended upon all referees, but we are committed toshowing the public that this was an isolated event and that NBAofficiating is conducted at the highest levels of honesty, integrityand fairness," McMorris said in a statement.

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