GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (33-48) at BOSTON (50-31)

AL: TAMPA BAY (33-48) at BOSTON (50-31)

<h3>Matsuzaka, Kazmir battle in opener of three-game series</h3>

<div class="pre">Tampa Bay (33-48) at Boston (50-31) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

BOSTON (Ticker) - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays try to end theireight-game slide when the visit the Boston Red Sox in the openerof a three-game series on Tuesday.

The Devil Rays are looking to avoid their first nine-game skidsince September 10-19.

Scott Kazmir (5-4, 4.26 ERA) takes the ball for Tampa Bay. AnAll-Star last season, the lefthander is winless over his pasttwo starts, giving up seven runs in 11 1/3 innings.

However, Kazmir has been impressive against Boston, posting a5-2 mark with a respectable 2.60 ERA in 11 lifetime outings.

The Red Sox will counter with rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5,3.80). The Japanese righthander has been tremendous in his lasttwo outings, holding opponents to just two earned runs combined.

On Wednesday, Matsuzaka yielded one run in eight hits with eightstrikeouts, but did not factor into the decision of a 2-1setback at Seattle.

Despite a 2-2 showing in June, Matsuzaka managed to compile an<div class="pre">impressive 1.59 ERA - third lowest in the majors - for the</div>month.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

TAMPA BAY BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Akinori Iwamura 3B .293 3 12 Coco Crisp CF .262 4 22
Carl Crawford LF .285 6 49 Dustin Pedroia 2B .320 3 25
Brendan Harris SS .308 8 34 David Ortiz DH .312 13 49
Carlos Pena 1B .282 18 46 Manny Ramirez LF .288 11 44
Greg Norton DH .214 2 6 Kevin Youkilis 1B .329 9 44
Ty Wigginton 2B .272 13 42 Mike Lowell 3B .292 12 55
Delmon Young CF .271 9 44 Jason Varitek C .270 8 33
Jonny Gomes RF .246 6 17 Wily Mo Pena RF .224 4 12
Dioner Navarro C .182 1 11 Julio Lugo SS .189 4 34

Scott Kazmir LHP (5-4, 4.26) Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (9-5, 3.80)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR (5-4, 4.26)
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (9-5, 3.80)

UMPIRES: HP - PAUL NAUERT
1B - CHAD FAIRCHILD
2B - GERRY DAVIS
3B - BRIAN GORMAN

WEATHER: 69 Degrees, clear
WIND: 13 mph, out to left</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
STARTING BATS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR AND DIONER NAVARRO
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.293, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.285, 6 HR, 49 RBI)
B HARRIS (.308, 8 HR, 34 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.262, 4 HR, 22 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.320, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.312, 13 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.26

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

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 1-1.
Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.214, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.272, 13 HR, 42 RBI)
D YOUNG (.271, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Gomes rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.22

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

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 22-15; D Matsuzaka 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Kazmir 1-2; D Matsuzaka 1-1. Batters faced: S Kazmir 3; D Matsuzaka 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.288, 11 HR, 44 RBI)
K YOUKILIS (.329, 9 HR, 44 RBI)
M LOWELL (.292, 12 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
W Pena rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.22

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.73

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 22-15; D Matsuzaka 30-23. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Kazmir 1-2; D Matsuzaka 2-2. Batters faced: S Kazmir 3; D Matsuzaka 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY JASON VARITEK SCORED MANNY RAMIREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M LOWELL ON SECOND, K YOUKILIS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0
BOSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: W PENA (.224, 4 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JULIO LUGO SCORED KEVIN YOUKILIS AND MIKE LOWELL.

SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J LUGO ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0
BOSTON 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.261, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D NAVARRO (.182, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
A IWAMURA (.292, 0-FOR-1)
C CRAWFORD (.284, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (0) VS BOSTON (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ramirez lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .329
M Lowell 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .292
J Varitek c 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .269
W Pena rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222
J Lugo ss 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .191

Totals 7 3 1 3 3 1 3

BATTING: RBI - J Varitek (34), J Lugo 2 (36). 2-out RBI - J Lugo 2. Team LOB -
1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
BOSTON - 03 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 2 1 3 3 3 1 0 4.44

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.73

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 53-29; D Matsuzaka 30-23. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Kazmir 2-3; D Matsuzaka 2-2. Batters faced: S Kazmir 10; D Matsuzaka 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.318, 0-FOR-1)
D ORTIZ (.310, 0-FOR-1)
M RAMIREZ (.288, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
C Crawford lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 3 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ramirez lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .329
M Lowell 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .292
J Varitek c 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .269
W Pena rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222
J Lugo ss 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .191

Totals 7 3 1 3 3 1 3

BATTING: RBI - J Varitek (34), J Lugo 2 (36). 2-out RBI - J Lugo 2. Team LOB -
1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 03 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 2 1 3 3 3 1 0 4.44

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 3.69

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 53-29; D Matsuzaka 43-32. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Kazmir 2-3; D Matsuzaka 3-3. Batters faced: S Kazmir 10; D Matsuzaka 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.311, 1-FOR-1)
C PENA (.281, 0-FOR-1)
G NORTON (.211, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
C Crawford lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
B Harris ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
T Wigginton 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Young cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
J Gomes rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 3 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Wigginton-B Harris-C Pena).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260
D Pedroia 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .321
D Ortiz dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .309
M Ramirez lf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
K Youkilis 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .329
M Lowell 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .292
J Varitek c 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .269
W Pena rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222
J Lugo ss 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .191

Totals 10 3 2 3 3 1 4

BATTING: RBI - J Varitek (34), J Lugo 2 (36). 2-out RBI - J Lugo 2. GIDP - D
Ortiz. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 030 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 3 2 3 3 3 1 0 4.40

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 3.69

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 63-37; D Matsuzaka 43-32. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Kazmir 5-3; D Matsuzaka 3-3. Batters faced: S Kazmir 13; D Matsuzaka 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 13 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at BOSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.329, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M LOWELL (.292, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J VARITEK (.269, 0-FOR-1, RBI)</div>