AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TAMPA BAY (4) AT BOSTON (15) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOSTON 1ST: J Drew reached on infield single to second. D Pedroia singled to center, J Drew to second. D Ortiz grounded into fielder's choice to first, D Pedroia out at second, J Drew to third. M Ramirez singled to left, J Drew scored, D Ortiz to second. M Lowell singled to center, D Ortiz to third, M Ramirez to second. J Varitek walked, D Ortiz scored, M Ramirez to third, M Lowell to second. C Crisp homered to left, M Ramirez, M Lowell and J Varitek scored. E Hinske struck out swinging. J Lugo walked. J Drew singled to right, J Lugo to second. B Stokes relieved J Howell. D Pedroia flied out to left. (6 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 0, BOSTON 6. BOSTON 2ND: D Ortiz doubled to left. M Ramirez walked. M Lowell homered to left, D Ortiz and M Ramirez scored. J Varitek singled to left. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Varitek out at second. E Hinske walked, C Crisp to second. J Lugo flied out to center. J Drew flied out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 0, BOSTON 9. TAMPA BAY 3RD: J Gomes doubled to deep center. D Navarro grounded out to first, J Gomes to third. A Iwamura walked. A Iwamura stole second. C Crawford struck out swinging. B Harris doubled to left, J Gomes and A Iwamura scored. C Pena struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 9. BOSTON 3RD: J Switzer relieved B Stokes. D Pedroia lined out to right. D Ortiz singled to left. M Ramirez doubled to deep center, D Ortiz to third. M Lowell singled to right, D Ortiz scored, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek reached on infield single to pitcher, M Lowell to second. C Crisp walked, M Ramirez scored, M Lowell to third, J Varitek to second. E Hinske fouled out to first. J Lugo singled to center, M Lowell and J Varitek scored, C Crisp to second. J Drew struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 13. TAMPA BAY 6TH: W Pena in right field. G Norton flied out to left. D Young doubled to left. J Gomes flied out to center, D Young to third. D Navarro reached on infield single to first, D Young scored. R Casanova ran for D Navarro. A Iwamura singled to center, R Casanova to second. C Crawford lined out to left. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 3, BOSTON 13. BOSTON 6TH: D Mohr in left field. J Wilson at shortstop. J Cantu at second base. R Casanova catching. J Hammel relieved S Camp. W Pena flied out to center. D Pedroia walked. D Ortiz singled to right, D Pedroia to second. J Ellsbury singled to left, D Pedroia to third, D Ortiz to second. M Lowell singled to left, D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to third, J Ellsbury to second. D Mirabelli hit for J Varitek. D Mirabelli walked, D Ortiz scored, J Ellsbury to third, M Lowell to second. C Crisp grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, D Mirabelli out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 3, BOSTON 15. TAMPA BAY 7TH: D Mirabelli catching. K Snyder relieved J Beckett. J Wilson flied out to right. C Pena struck out swinging. J Cantu walked. G Norton walked, J Cantu to second. D Young singled to center, J Cantu scored, G Norton to second. G Norton to third, D Young to second on wild pitch by K Snyder. J Gomes fouled out to catcher. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, BOSTON 15.</div>
Crisp, Lowell power Red Sox barrage <h3>BOSTON 15, TAMPA BAY 4</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox offense may havestruggled in June, but it was alive and kicking Thursday night. Coco Crisp provided the big blow with a monster grand slam tospark a six-run first inning as the Red Sox crushed the TampaBay Devil Rays, 15-4, to complete a three-game series sweep. Mike Lowell went 5-for-6, including a three-run homer, and drovein five runs as Boston sent the reeling Devil Rays to their11th consecutive defeat. It was his second career grand slam for Crisp - and the firstsince July 27, 2004 against Detroit. It came off ineffectivestarter J.P. Howell (1-3), who lasted just two-thirds of aninning and allowed six runs and six hits. Crisp's fifth home run this year sparked a Boston offense thathad been dormant throughout June. The team managed just 112runs last month, ranking 13th out of 14 teams in the AmericanLeague. With the 15-run explosion, the Red Sox now have scored 34 runsin July in just five games. Josh Beckett (12-2) was the beneficiary of the offensiveexplosion, allowing him to tie Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia for theAmerican League lead in victories. Lowell continued his All-Star season with a three-run shot - his14th of the year - in the second inning to put the Sox ahead9-0. The five RBI gave him 62 for the season. While Devil Ray pitching pounded for 21 hits, Beckett (12-2) wasdominant early and effective throughout. <div class="pre">Beckett started the game with four straight strikeouts,</div>finishing with nine in his six innings. He allowed three runsand nine hits, walking one. An All-Star himself, this performance could make Beckett acandidate to start Tuesday's game against the National League. Aside from being tied for the AL lead in wins, Beckett is secondin winning percentage at .857 and 12th in ERA (3.44). While Crisp finished 2-for-5 with five RBI, he had a chance toinflict much more damage, coming to the plate with the basesloaded four times in the game. While the Sox maintained their 12-game lead in the AmericanLeague East, the Devil Rays continue to plummet, falling furtherback into their familiar spot in last place, 20 games out offirst.
AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TAMPA BAY (4) AT BOSTON (15) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, C Crawford LF, B Harris SS, C Pena 1B, T Wigginton 2B, G Norton DH, D Young CF, J Gomes RF, D Navarro C, J Howell LHP. Boston Starting Lineups -- J Drew RF, D Pedroia 2B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF, M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, C Crisp CF, E Hinske 1B, J Lugo SS, J Beckett RHP. Umpires -- Gerry Davis (HP), Brian Gorman (1B), Paul Nauert (2B), Chad Fairchild (3B). Gametime Weather: 80 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to left at 15 mph. TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura struck out swinging. C Crawford struck out swinging. B Harris struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 0, BOSTON 0. BOSTON 1ST: J Drew reached on infield single to second. D Pedroia singled to center, J Drew to second. D Ortiz grounded into fielder's choice to first, D Pedroia out at second, J Drew to third. M Ramirez singled to left, J Drew scored, D Ortiz to second. M Lowell singled to center, D Ortiz to third, M Ramirez to second. J Varitek walked, D Ortiz scored, M Ramirez to third, M Lowell to second. C Crisp homered to left, M Ramirez, M Lowell and J Varitek scored. E Hinske struck out swinging. J Lugo walked. J Drew singled to right, J Lugo to second. B Stokes relieved J Howell. D Pedroia flied out to left. (6 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 0, BOSTON 6. TAMPA BAY 2ND: C Pena struck out looking. T Wigginton singled to center. G Norton struck out swinging. D Young grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 0, BOSTON 6. BOSTON 2ND: D Ortiz doubled to left. M Ramirez walked. M Lowell homered to left, D Ortiz and M Ramirez scored. J Varitek singled to left. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Varitek out at second. E Hinske walked, C Crisp to second. J Lugo flied out to center. J Drew flied out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 0, BOSTON 9. TAMPA BAY 3RD: J Gomes doubled to deep center. D Navarro grounded out to first, J Gomes to third. A Iwamura walked. A Iwamura stole second. C Crawford struck out swinging. B Harris doubled to left, J Gomes and A Iwamura scored. C Pena struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 9. BOSTON 3RD: J Switzer relieved B Stokes. D Pedroia lined out to right. D Ortiz singled to left. M Ramirez doubled to deep center, D Ortiz to third. M Lowell singled to right, D Ortiz scored, M Ramirez to third. J Varitek reached on infield single to pitcher, M Lowell to second. C Crisp walked, M Ramirez scored, M Lowell to third, J Varitek to second. E Hinske fouled out to first. J Lugo singled to center, M Lowell and J Varitek scored, C Crisp to second. J Drew struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 13. TAMPA BAY 4TH: T Wigginton flied out to left. G Norton grounded out to first. D Young singled to right. J Gomes hit by pitch, D Young to second. D Navarro grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 13. BOSTON 4TH: S Camp relieved J Switzer. D Pedroia singled to left. D Ortiz grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, D Pedroia out at second. M Ramirez fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 13. TAMPA BAY 5TH: J Ellsbury in left field. A Iwamura singled to left. C Crawford singled to left, A Iwamura to second. B Harris flied out to right, A Iwamura to third. C Pena struck out swinging. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 13. BOSTON 5TH: M Lowell struck out looking. J Varitek struck out looking. C Crisp doubled to deep center. E Hinske walked. J Lugo grounded into fielder's choice to third, C Crisp out at third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 2, BOSTON 13. TAMPA BAY 6TH: W Pena in right field. G Norton flied out to left. D Young doubled to left. J Gomes flied out to center, D Young to third. D Navarro reached on infield single to first, D Young scored. R Casanova ran for D Navarro. A Iwamura singled to center, R Casanova to second. C Crawford lined out to left. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 3, BOSTON 13. BOSTON 6TH: D Mohr in left field. J Wilson at shortstop. J Cantu at second base. R Casanova catching. J Hammel relieved S Camp. W Pena flied out to center. D Pedroia walked. D Ortiz singled to right, D Pedroia to second. J Ellsbury singled to left, D Pedroia to third, D Ortiz to second. M Lowell singled to left, D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to third, J Ellsbury to second. D Mirabelli hit for J Varitek. D Mirabelli walked, D Ortiz scored, J Ellsbury to third, M Lowell to second. C Crisp grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, D Mirabelli out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 3, BOSTON 15. TAMPA BAY 7TH: D Mirabelli catching. K Snyder relieved J Beckett. J Wilson flied out to right. C Pena struck out swinging. J Cantu walked. G Norton walked, J Cantu to second. D Young singled to center, J Cantu scored, G Norton to second. G Norton to third, D Young to second on wild pitch by K Snyder. J Gomes fouled out to catcher. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, BOSTON 15. BOSTON 7TH: J Witasick relieved J Hammel. E Hinske walked. J Lugo grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, E Hinske out at second. W Pena flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, BOSTON 15. TAMPA BAY 8TH: M Timlin relieved K Snyder. R Casanova popped out to third. A Iwamura flied out to right. D Mohr fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, BOSTON 15. BOSTON 8TH: G Glover relieved J Witasick. D Pedroia popped out to second. A Cora hit for D Ortiz. A Cora flied out to left. J Ellsbury singled to center. M Lowell singled to left, J Ellsbury to third. D Mirabelli walked, M Lowell to second. C Crisp struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, BOSTON 15. TAMPA BAY 9TH: J Wilson popped out to second. C Pena singled to right. J Cantu grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, C Pena out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 4, BOSTON 15.</div>
Crisp, Lowell power Red Sox barrage <h3>BOSTON 15, TAMPA BAY 4</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox offense may havestruggled in June, but it was alive and kicking Thursday night. Coco Crisp provided the big blow with a monster grand slam tospark a six-run first inning as the Red Sox crushed the TampaBay Devil Rays, 15-4, to complete a three-game series sweep. Mike Lowell went 5-for-6, including a three-run homer, and drovein five runs as Boston sent the reeling Devil Rays to their11th consecutive defeat. It was his second career grand slam for Crisp - and the firstsince July 27, 2004 against Detroit. It came off ineffectivestarter J.P. Howell (1-3), who lasted just two-thirds of aninning and allowed six runs and six hits. "As soon as I hit it, I knew I got it," Crisp said. "The firstpitch was a good one but I laid off it. He left the next pitchright down the middle of the plate." Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon knows Howell needed to be sharpagainst an offense like the one he saw Thursday night. "If you're not making your pitch and you're just outside thezone, they're going to be patient enough to make you come backinto the zone, and that's what happened," Maddon said. Crisp's fifth home run this year sparked a Boston offense thathad been dormant throughout June. The team managed just 112runs last month, ranking 13th out of 14 teams in the AmericanLeague. With the 15-run explosion, the Red Sox now have scored 34 runsin July in just five games. Josh Beckett (12-2) was the beneficiary of the offensiveexplosion, allowing him to tie Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia for theAmerican League lead in victories. Lowell continued his All-Star season with a three-run shot - his14th of the year - in the second inning to put the Sox ahead9-0. The five RBI gave him 62 for the season. With seven hits and two home runs in his last two games, Lowellseems to be over the thumb injury that plagued him over the lastfew weeks. "My approach has been really good lately," Lowell said. "And Ithink I've totally eliminated the whole thumb issue at the plateand that's big for me." Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, the leading vote-getterfor the All-Star game, may skip the contest due to a hamstringinjury. That would make Lowell the AL starter at third base. "I think it would be cool if they announced you as you'rerunning out there instead of just standing out there on the(third base) line," Lowell said. "It's the same honor to mebut, yeah, there's a little added oomph when your name's calledout with the eight other guys. It'd be good but I'm losing zerosleep over it." While Devil Ray pitching pounded for 21 hits, Beckett (12-2) wasdominant early and effective throughout. <div class="pre">Beckett started the game with four straight strikeouts,</div>finishing with nine in his six innings. He allowed three runsand nine hits, walking one. An All-Star himself, this performance could make Beckett acandidate to start Tuesday's game against the National League. "It's exciting," Beckett said of the possibility. "It'scompletely out of my control but it is exciting. I'll be happyif he (Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland) chooses me." Aside from being tied for the AL lead in wins, Beckett is secondin winning percentage at .857 and 12th in ERA (3.44). While Crisp finished 2-for-5 with five RBI, he had a chance toinflict much more damage, coming to the plate with the basesloaded four times in the game. That's never happened to me before and I've never seen ithappen before. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't get that lastat-bat because I was tired," Crisp joked. While the Sox maintained their 12-game lead in the AmericanLeague East, the Devil Rays continue to plummet, falling furtherback into their familiar spot in last place, 20 games out offirst. "I never say things can't get worse because they always could,"<div class="pre">Maddon said. "You just come out and play tomorrow."</div>
