**Monday , September 15, 2008 β ** The Boston Red Sox are locked in a fight with the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East. Before the game started, the Rays were in first place by one game. Now that the Red Sox have taken this first game in the series β at the Rays house β they are tied.
And there are two games left to go between the two teams.
The Red Sox won the game in what turned out to be a laugher, as they knocked Rays ace Scott Kazmir (11-6) out in the fourth inning, and tee-ed off on his replacement as well for a total of seven runs in the frame.
David Ortiz got the Red Sox off to a good start in the first inning. Kazmir had uncharacteristic wildness and walked the first two batters. Then David Ortiz came to the plate and parked one over the right field fence. Afer Youkilis flied out, Mark Lowell homered to left.
In the third, the Rays got a run back off Daisuke Matsuzaka when fellow countryman Akinori Iwamura got a homer of his own.
But then the Sox broke it open in the fourth, with three homers in the inning, by Jason Bay, Jason Varitek, and Kevin Youkilis. Both Varitek and Youkilis had men on board when they hit βem, too.
In the fifth, Jacoby Ellsbury homered.
The Rays got in a few licks - also by homer, as Justin Ruggiano homered in the sixth and Dan Johnson had a two-run homer in the seventh.
David Pauley got the save, and Daisuke Matsuzaka now has a record of 17-2. Hard to believe, when you watch the way he pitches, that he has that good of a record, but heβd been fortunately enough to have excellent run support.
Next game, Tuesday night. Be there or be square.