The Red Sox played the Rays today in what was the first game of the last series of the season between these two. Daisuke Matsuzaka started today against Scott Kazmir in Tampa, where the Red Sox are yet to win this season. If the Red Sox were to win tonight they would move into a virtual tie with the Rays, who they have trailed since late July.
Because of the fact that they have yet to win in Tampa and because they lost a series to the Rays just last week in Boston, the odds were against the Red Sox. However, they came out firing tonight. They had four runs in the first, off of homeruns from David Ortiz and Mike Lowell. After getting seven more in the fourth, including homeruns from Jason Bay, Kevin Youkilis, and Jason Varitek, they had a commanding 11-1 lead that they would not give back.
Even a poor performance out of the bullpen by Chris Smith, 4 earned in 2 innings, couldn't stop the Sox who had 6 total homeruns on the night, capped off by a solo shot by Jacoby Ellsbury in the 5th. Matsuzaka finished the night having given up only 3 hits and 1 earned in 5 strong innings, pushing his record to 17-2 and lowering his ERA to 2.93. He is making a strong case and while it will probably be the Indians' Cliff Lee who wins it, Matsuzaka is probably the strongest runner up, despite missing 3 or so weeks with injury and being among with the league leaders in walks.
The Red Sox 13-5 win moved them into a virtual tie with the Rays. They are currently 0 games back but because of the difference in amounts of games the teams have played, the Red Sox are about 2 points back in the winning percentage category. A win tomorrow would fix that. Josh Beckett goes tomorrow for the Red Sox against the Rays' Andy Sonnanstine as the Red Sox look to regain their rightful place atop the AL East for the first time since July 18th.
