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FINAL: Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 5

The Red Sox won their third straight game, 7-5, with an Independence Day matinée against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Fenway Park.

Tim Wakefield earned his ninth win of the season despite leaving in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. Javier Lopez allowed all three of the inherited runners to score plus one more.

Manny Delcarmen came in to stem the tide and struck out pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes to end the inning. Delcarmen also pitched the eighth inning before Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth to slam the door, earning his 20th save of the season.

Offensively, Boston had nine hits; slumping catcher Doug Mirabelli delivered a 2-run single in the fourth, and Mike Lowell had a two-run homer in the fifth.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:37 PM | Permalink

Tommorow last day for Final Vote

Voting in Major League Baseball's Final Vote -- to determine the last All-Star for both the American and National Leagues -- closes tomorrow at 6 p.m.

At last report, Boston's Hiedki Okajima is the A.L. leader as he vies to become the Red Sox' sixth All-Star.

To vote for Okajima -- or Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman, the Angels' Kelvim Escobar, Toronto's Roy Halladay, or the Twins' Pat Neshek, the other finalists -- go to redsox.com or mlb.com.

Fans can also vote via text message using their cell phone. To vote for Okajima, text "A5" to 36197.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:16 PM | Permalink

Ellsbury's first RBI

Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury -- who started in left field today with Coco Crisp healthy and Manny Ramirez getting the day off -- just recorded his first major league RBI and first extra-base hit, lining a double to the gap in left-center that scored David Ortiz and gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:11 PM | Permalink

Complete lineups

The Devil Rays' lineup hadn't been posted when we first put up the Red Sox lineup, so here are the complete lineups for both teams:

Tampa Bay
Akinori Iwamura 3b
Carl Crawford lf
Brendan Harris ss
Carlos Pena 1b
Greg Norton rf
Delmon Young dh
Ty Wigginton 2b
Raul Casanova c
Dustan Mohr cf

Starter: Edwin Jackson (1-8, 6.88 ERA)

Boston
Coco Crisp cf
Alex Cora 2b
David Ortiz dh
J.D. Drew rf
Mike Lowell 3b
Eric Hinske 1b
Jacoby Ellsbury lf
Doug Mirabelli c
Julio Lugo ss

Starter: Tim Wakefield (8-8, 4.31)

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:38 PM | Permalink

Francona on Ortiz's struggles

During his pre-game chat, manager Terry Francona was asked about David Ortiz's recent difficulties at the plate -- he's hitting just 12-for-61 (.197) over his last 18 games, and his average had dropped from .338 on June 13 to .307 today.

Francona, as is his way, doesn't want to make a big deal out of it.

"David is...if not the, one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. Right now he's just going through a rough spot," Francona said. "The day you hear me (criticize) David Ortiz, I'll take a urine test. It won't happen."

Francona was asked about Ortiz's legs -- he recently told a Boston Herald reporter that he's having quadriceps troubles -- and once again the manager downplayed it, saying that the red-hot media focus in Boston means everything can get blown out of proportion.

Ortiz did miss a couple of games in late May due to sore hamstrings, apparently brought on by dehydration from illness.

"He's done a good job with his legs," Francona said. "At times he's not incorporating his legs like he should, I agree with that. But he's doing a good job of taking care of himself."

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:56 AM | Permalink

Talking with Terry

Terry Francona just wrapped up his pre-game chat, and said that Manny Ramirez is basically getting a day off.

"He's played a lot - he's on pace for 156 games. That's a bit extreme. We talk about this every time Manny doesn't play - I can come up with 100 reasons why he should play because he's such a good hitter, and even when he's not hitting, he's such a threat," Francona said. "But you have to do it."

Kevin Youkilis was sore today after playing last night with his sore left quad, and Francona said the team wants to get to the All-Star break and get Youkilis the three-day break.

Francona wouldn't definitively say its an off-day for Dustin Pedroia, saying that "he might get in later."

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:45 AM | Permalink

July 4 lineup

Here's today's Red Sox lineup:

Coco Crisp cf
Alex Cora 2b
David Ortiz dh
J.D. Drew rf
Mike Lowell 3b
Eric Hinske 1b
Jacoby Ellsbury lf
Doug Mirabelli c
Julio Lugo ss

Tim Wakefield is the starer

As you can see, there are several changes here. Kevin Youkilis is once again out, likely due to his sore left quad that kept him out of Monday's game. We'll find out what's up with Youk and Manny and Pedroia in a few minutes, when Terry Francona has his chat.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:15 AM | Permalink

Sox Streakers for July 4

Hot Streaks
-Dustin Pedroia has an eight-game hitting streak, during which he is 11 for 33 (.333)
-Boston has committed just one error in its last nine home games.
-Kevin Youkilis' club-record streak of error-free games at first base now stands at 125.
-Julio Lugo is 2 for his last 3. I just had to include him in the "hot streaks" category for once.

Cold Streaks
-David Ortiz has gone 46 at-bats without a home run. He's 10 for 52 (.192) over his last 14 games.
-Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford is 3 for his last 33 (.091)
-The Devil Rays' MLB-worst losing streak stands at nine.

Devil Rays vs. Tim Wakefield
-Raul Casanova, 2 for 4 (.500)
-Jorge Cantu, 7 for 21 (.333), 1 HR
-Dustan Mohr, 4 for 12 (.333)
-Carl Crawford, 20 for 61 (.328), 2 HR
-Jonny Gomes, 4 for 15 (.267), 1 HR
-Carlos Pena, 2 for 12 (.167), 1 HR
-Greg Norton, 1 for 8 (.125)
-Dioner Navarro, 0 for 2
-Ty Wigginton, 0 for 8
-Wakefield is 15-2 with a 2.91 E.R.A. in 32 career appearances, including 22 starts, against Tampa Bay.

Red Sox vs. Edwin Jackson
-Doug Mirabelli, 1 for 1
-David Ortiz, 0 for 0, two walks
-Alex Cora, 1 for 2
-Eric Hinske, 0 for 1
-Wily Mo Pena, 0 for 1
-Manny Ramirez, 0 for 1
-Jason Varitek, 0 for 1
-Kevin Youkilis, 0 for 1
-Coco Crisp, 0 for 2
-Mike Lowell, 0 for 4
-Jackson has a 4.15 E.R.A. with no decisions in three career appearances (all in relief) against Boston.

More Stuff
-All-time series: Boston 99, Tampa Bay 53
-Boston has won 19 of its last 22 home games against the Devil Rays.
-Wakefield's 15 career wins against Tampa Bay are more than he has against any other team.
-Edwin Jackson is one of two German-born players on active big league rosters (the other being Will Ohman of the Cubs).
-After starting the season 0-8, Jackson gave up just three runs over 12 innings in his last two starts: one a win and one a no decision.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:30 AM to Projo Sox Streakers | Permalink