It’s become a recurring theme lately with Jason Bay and late inning heroics.
Last night in the 8th inning with the game tied at 3 between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, Bay came up with a chance to be a hero yet again and as he’s done all season long, he got the job done driving in David Ortiz with the winning run on a double.
Jonathan Papelbon made it interesting again in the 9th but got the save to help the Red Sox to their first series win over the Rays since June 3-5, 2008. Before this series, the Rays had taken six straight series from the Red Sox including the 2008 ALCS.
Some people had written off the Red Sox last night because Matt Garza was on the mound for the Rays. Sure Garza had some nasty stuff but the Red Sox were able to touch him up for 3 runs in 7 innings of work. Unfortunately for them, Josh Beckett wasn’t able to protect the 3-1 lead.
I’m not saying Beckett pitched all that badly because he really didn’t. He just didn’t bear down at the right time. A couple pitches out over the plate was the difference for him. The good thing to come out of the outing from Beckett is the fact that he didn’t give up the big inning, something’s that plagued him in some of his starts this season.
Is there any hitter right now on the Red Sox besides Bay you’d want up in a clutch situation? Maybe a healthy Kevin Youkilis but right now I’ll put my money on Bay. He continues to get the job done and is definitely playing himself into a nice contract for years to come as he is a free agent at the end of the season.
The Red Sox are off today as they traveled to Anaheim last night for a 3-game set with the Angels. This is the final west coast swing for the Red Sox this season. They’ll finish this trip off in Seattle with a 3-game set as well with the Mariners.
Pair of doubles help Sox complete the triple [Boston Globe]
Jonathan Papelbon rebounds to blow away Rays [Boston Herald]
Red Sox Defeat Rays [Hartford Courant]
Red Sox 4, Rays 3 [Projo Sox Blog]
Quick promotion for Bard [Boston Globe]
David Ortiz glad for Glen ’Big Baby’ Davis [Boston Herald]
Bard Called Up From Pawtucket [Hartford Courant]
Rays’ Can’t Stop Perfect Night in Boston Sports [Projo Sox Blog]
Pedroia incurs groin injury [Boston Globe]
Prospect arrives to try and write a big ending [Boston Herald]
Virtually unhittable in Pawtucket, Bard gets promotion [Providence Journal]
Let’s end the silent treatment [Boston Globe]
Dustin Pedroia tweaks groin, will sit [Boston Herald]
Red Sox journal: Buchholz making progress [Providence Journal]
Masterson unfazed by recent struggles [RedSox.com]
He keeps the players playing [Boston Globe]
Baldelli impressed with former teammate [Projo Sox Blog]
Lowell, Sox join MLB with pink tribute [RedSox.com]
Red Sox farm system stocked with high-ceiling starting pitching prospects [Wicked Good Sports]
Thank You, Jason Bay [Center Field]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times websites.
