The Red Sox have not been in first place since the All-Star break, but had a chance to change that tonight against the elusive division leading Rays. Boston won last night and had won 7 straight home contests against the Rays. Two excellent pitchers took the mound, Daisuke Matsuzaka for the Red Sox and Scott Kazmir for the Rays. The game was as you might expect a game between two teams of this caliber to be, close and entertaining throughout.
The Sox struck first taking a 1-0 lead in the first, scoring first for the 2nd consecutive night. The Rays regained the lead with 2 in the 3rd and would hold the lead until the 8th. In the 8th, 3-2 ballgame, Jason Bay, who has been as good as they could have imagined coming over from Pittsburgh, hits a 2 run homerun, his 29th on the season and 3rd in a week. The Red Sox are in good position heading into the 9th with the momentum, the lead, the homefield and the Jonathan Papelbon.
Papelbon came into the night with a 1.61 ERA and having not blown a save since June 22nd and he picked a bad night to change that. 9th inning, first batter is Dan Johnson, who is a great story, woke up today in Philadelphia, was called up, and arrived at Fenway just minutes before the first pitch. He is inserted into the game as a pinch hitter and promptly puts one into the stands in his first bat this season, as Papelbon blows the save. Papelbon, now just trying not to lose the game, gives up 2 doubles to Dioner Navarro and Fernando Perez, and the Sox trail 5-4.
The Red Sox last chance was against Troy Percival, the Rays' closer. They get Jacoby Ellsbury, who pinch ran for Mark Kotsay, to 2nd, but can't get him in as the Rays remained on top of the AL East once again.
Game 3 is the rubber match tomorrow night, once again in Boston, as Andy Sonnanstine takes on Josh Beckett. That game has a 7:05 start time and will be on ESPN Wednesday Night Baseball. The Red Sox unfortunately can not take over first place in that game, but coming out with a series win and being within a half game of the Rays is sufficient. The two teams meet next week at the Trop at Tampa, in what might determine the AL East winner.
