Six-run 12th lifts Red Sox over Devil Rays <h3>BOSTON 12, TAMPA BAY 6 (12 INNINGS)</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- It took a few extrainnings, but the Boston Red Sox managed to extend their lead inthe American League East while prolonging the Tampa Bay DevilRays' misery. The Red Sox scored six runs in the 12th inning to earn a 12-6victory over the Devil Rays on Saturday. Tampa Bay relievers allowed four walks, along with three hits,in the fateful 12th frame en route to their eighth straightloss. The win, coupled with a loss by the New York Yankees, increasedBoston's lead in the division to nine games. "That wasn't easy," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Thefinal score won't tell the struggles. It was a good win." Righthander Brian Stokes (2-7) began the 12th for the Devil Raysand yielded a one-out single to Mike Lowell before walkingJason Varitek and Coco Crisp. Alex Cora grounded into aforceout, but Stokes walked Julio Lugo with the bases loaded toforce in the tie-breaking run. "It was nice to get that run," Lugo said. "To get that win." Kevin Youkilis, who had been hitting a paltry .189 since theAll-Star break coming into Saturday's contest, greeted relieverJae Kuk Ryu with a bases-clearing double into the gap inright-center field, pushing the advantage to 10-6. The Red Soxadded two more on Manny Ramirez's RBI double. "To tack on runs was great," Francona said. The big inning made a winner out of righthander Kyle Snyder(2-2), who pitched two scoreless innings of relief. The game looked to be over in the ninth when All-Star closerJonathan Papelbon strode to the mound with a 6-4 lead, but the26-year-old righthander yielded a leadoff single to Tampa Bay'sDelmon Young. Jonny Gomes followed by crushing Papelbon's 2-2 offering justinside the left field foul pole to tie the score. "The main focus in the bullpen was get everyone out," Snydersaid. "We have the best closer in baseball, but it's a funnygame. It's never a sure thing. As soon as that happened (TampaBay tied it in the ninth), I knew there was a good chance Iwould get the ball in the 10th." Gomes' heroics stole a win away from Boston starter Jon Lester,who continued his remarkable comeback from cancer and, in turn,hoped it improved his chances to stay in the majors. The lefthander, who was diagnosed with anaplastic large celllymphoma only 11 months ago, allowed four runs and six hits,walked one and struck out three in 6 2/3 innings "I thought Lester was pretty good," Francona said. On Monday, in Lester's first major league start since beingdiagnosed with the treatable form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, helimited Cleveland to two runs in six innings. "It seemed my start went slower than my previous one," Lestersaid. Against Tampa Bay, Lester was in control most of the night -allowing only two sacrifice flies through six innings - beforeleaving in the seventh after allowing a pair of solo home runs. The 23-year-old lefthander, who was called up from Class AAAPawtucket on Monday, is making a push to stay with the Red Sox.When Curt Schilling returns from the disabled list August 5 orAugust 6, Lester or Kason Gabbard is expected to be sent down. With the Red Sox leading, 5-2, entering the bottom of theseventh, Gomes and Josh Paul hit solo home runs to chase Lester. "On Gomes my location was off, but Paul did a good job ofhitting," Lester said. James Shields, who was tagged for 10 earned runs in Sunday's21-4 loss at the Yankees, fared much better. He allowed onlythree runs in five innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. "Tonight was a tough loss for us, but we have Kaz (Scott Kazmir)on the bump (Sunday)," Shields said. "I give our team a lot ofcredit for battling through it. It's tough, we're going througha lot of struggles but we're going to fight to the end." Grant Balfour, acquired in a trade with Milwaukee Friday,relieved Shields. Balfour surrendered two runs in two innings. Before the game, the Devil Rays traded designated hitter TyWigginton to Houston for righthanded reliever Dan Wheeler andsecond baseman Jorge Cantu along with Class AA Montgomeryoutfielder Shaun Cumberland and cash to Cincinnati for a pair ofminor league pitchers - lefthander Brian Shackelford andrighthander Calvin Medlock. Wigginton was hitting .275 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI. "He's done so much for us over the past year and a half, we'regoing to miss the way he plays and prepares," Tampa Bay managerJoe Maddon said. The Red Sox won for the eighth time in their last nine games,while Tampa Bay fell to 5-25 in its past 30 contests.
