Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ It was a classic September clash of two clubs battling for A.L. East supremacy.
The game was low scoring. It featured two solid starting pitching performances with highlight-reel defense. It needed extra innings to decide the victor. The weather was brisk enough to make it feel like an October playoff game.
But there was something different about the last three games at Fenway Park.
It was the Red Sox versus the Rays. Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays and not the Yankees.
For the first time in a long time - actually ever - Boston played very meaningful games against Tampa at this time of the season. The 38,114 in attendance knew what was at stake. The Red Sox knew how important this series was. The Rays wanted to make a significant statement.
They did.
In the end the pesky Rays needed 14 innings to finally subdue the Red Sox as Tampa finished victorious with a 4-1 win. More importantly the perennial cellar-dwellers increased their lead to 2 ½ games over the Sox for the top spot in the division.
It was Carlos Pena's three-run homer off Boston reliever Mike Timlin in the top of the 14th inning that propelled the Rays to victory. Pena lifted a 1-0 offering from the veteran right-hander and deposited it into the Monster Seats.
"It was a good sinker away," said Timlin. "I'm not sure how he hit it. I thought it was a pop us and it went over the fence. I was extremely surprised. It was a good pitch. It was down and away, a borderline pitch on the black. It's not something you expect a left-hander to drive out of the park, but it happened."
Even Red Sox manager Terry Francona couldn't believe Pena was able to drive that ball to the opposite field for the two-out homer.
"He didn't miss with that pitch," explained the manager. "It was off the plate. I bet it was a couple of inches off with some movement. We didn't want Pena to hit that inning because of what he can do. It wasn't a bad pitch. . . So many people did so many things on both sides of the field. Our bullpen was outstanding, their bullpen was outstanding. There were things happening on both sides and no one could push a run across. Unfortunately they pushed three."
Red Sox starter Josh Beckett, in only his second start since returning from the disabled list with elbow issues, worked six innings and allowed one run on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine worked seven innings and allowed one unearned run with no walks and seven strikeouts.
"He was pretty good and the good news is he's healthy and feels good," said Francona on Beckett's outing. "He's building up. In another start or two the shackles will be off. I thought he was fine."
Obviously you need to score runs to win.
So Tampa struck first and gained a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Willy Aybar's RBI-triple that scored Cliff Floyd from first base.
Boston answered in the bottom of the third inning on Dustin Pedroia's RBI-double to tie the game. In fact with his extra-base hit he set a new team record for doubles by a second baseman in a season with 46 to break the mark set by Jody Reed in 1990.
The game stayed knotted at 1-1 until the 14th inning. It was an emotional game and turned into an even more emotional series.
"There was a lot of energy, as it should be," said Francona. "This was an exciting series. We have (today) off, which is good. It will be the same this weekend (against Toronto). They're always exciting here."
It was an eventful, stressful and emotional night for both clubs. The best part about this series is the clubs will meet again, beginning Monday in St. Petersburg.
"It's not like it puts us out of the race by any means," said Timlin. "We drop back by one game. We're still in it. I feel like I let the team down, but we got a great team."
This classic matchup isn't over.

 Tags  Red Sox

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