The Red Sox played today, against the Jays, in what is their last game to gain ground before a pivotal series against the division leading Rays. If everything goes right, the Red Sox would only sit a game back heading into the 3 game set in Tampa. Both the Jays and the Red Sox sent their most consistent pitchers to the mound today, Jon Lester for Boston and Roy Halladay for the Jays.
Both gave the type of performances you'd expect from pitchers of this caliber. Every each gave up a run in the first, both calmed down. All told, Halladay went 7 strong, 3 runs, 2 earned and Lester went 8 innings of 1 run ball, with that lone run being surrendered in the first inning.
The Red Sox however had the advantage. After getting another run in the 8th, as Kevin Youkilis hit a sac fly to drive in David Ortiz who was standing on 3rd after hitting his 1st triple of the season, they lead 4-1. Leading by less than 3 with an inning to go, the Sox handed to ball to their closer, Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon blew a save earlier this week against Tampa, but also had a perfect 3 out save yesterday against the Jays. This time, the job was shaky, but he had room for error. He did surrender 2 runs to the Jays in the 9th, bringing his ERA up to 2.11, but he got the job done as he got the save for Jon Lester, and the Red Sox won their 88th game on the season.
The Red Sox would need a win by the Yankees, against the Rays, to move up at all in the standings and luckily the Yankees brought their bats tonight as they beat the Rays. Now, the Red Sox are going into a 3 game series in Tampa, where they are winless on the season. If the Sox win that series, even 2-1, they will at least have a share of the division lead for the first time since July. If they sweep, they'd have a 2 game advantage. However, if they get swept, they would be 4 back with 10 to go, almost eliminating them from the AL East race.
The Sox do hold a 6 game lead on the Twins for the Wild Card, which almost is a guarantee that a playoff spot is theirs. However, the AL East winning team gets to play either the White Sox or the Twins, who ever wins the Central, in the first round of the playoffs, in their respective home stadium. However, the loser of the division, or the Wild Card winner which ever you want to call it, gets the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem in the first round. The Angels have the Majors' best record.
The Red Sox send Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound on Monday to face Scott Kazmir, a rematch of Tuesday's game between the 2. Game 2 will be on Tuesday and featured Josh Beckett against Andy Sonnanstine and the series will wrap on Wednesday with Tim Wakefield and Matt Garza.
