The Red Sox didn’t really hit the cover off the ball tonight but they did get some timely hits as they got to the Devil Rays bullpen for five runs in a 7-1 win. It was Kevin Youkilis’ 3-run homer that did the damage as early on the Sox were shutdown by the D’Rays starter Jason Hammel. Manny Ramirez kept up his hot streak at the plate as he got two more hits.
Hammel kept the Red Sox at bay for the 1st and 2nd innings while Tim Wakefield set the Devil Rays down in the first after Akinori Iwamura led off with a double.
In the 2nd inning though, the D’Rays got to Wake for their only run of the night. After Wake got Delmon Young and Brendan Harris out, he gave up a single to Ty Wigginton. Wiggy moved over to second when Wake walked Johnny Gomes. Dioner Navarro brought in Wiggy with a single giving the D’Rays a 1 zip lead. Wake then issued a walk to Iwamura but got Carl Crawford to ground out to end the inning.
Hammel kept on cruising as he didn’t give up a hit until there was two outs in the 4th as Big Papi beat the shift for a single. Hammel got out of the inning as he got Manny to ground out to Wiggy at second.
Wakefield got Wiggy out leading off the 4th inning and then struck out Gomes looking on a nasty knuckleball. Navarro followed that with a single. The Sox got out of the inning when Iwamura’s single hit Navarro while he was running. Wakefield set down the Rays in order in the 5th inning.
Hammel cruised through the 5th inning as well but ran into some trouble in the 6th. Hammel got Doug Mirabelli to strikeout to start the inning but then issued a walk to Alex Cora. With Julio Lugo at the plate, Cora stole second base. Hammel then ended up walking Lugo and that was the end of his night. Joe Maddon went to his bullpen for Juan Salas and the move didn’t pay off as Youk pounded a 3-run homer giving the Sox a 3-1 lead. Salas rebounded to get Big Papi to strikeout but then allowed a double to Manny. Salas then had some control issues as he walked J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell to load up the bases for Coco. Maddon went to his bullpen again for Casey Fossum. Fossum came in and retired Coco as he lined out to Young in rightfield.
Wakefield had a pretty easy 6th inning as well. He only issued a 2-out walk to Wiggy but got out of the inning as Gomes grounded into a fielder’s choice. This was Wakefield’s last inning of work as his pitch count was at 101. Wakefield went 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 run, 3 walks and he struck out 7.
The Red Sox got to D’Rays bullpen for some more insurance runs in the 8th inning. Fossum started out the inning by getting Youk to fly out. He then issued a free pass to Big Papi and then was taken out of the game as Maddon wanted a righty, Shawn Camp, to face Manny. Manny greeted Camp with a single to right with Big Papi moving over to third. Drew brought in Big Papi with a single to right for a 4-1 Sox lead. The single for Drew broke an o for 12 slide. Camp fought back as he got Lowell to pop out. Coco then hit a shot that Crawford almost caught on a diving catch but the ball popped out and Coco had a double and the Sox had two more runs. Mirabelli brought in Coco with a single to right making it 7-1 Red Sox. Camp finally got out of the inning as Cora popped out but the damage was done.
Manny Delcarmen, who had come in for Wake, worked a perfect 7th but was touched for a hit by B.J. Upton leading off the 8th. Delcarmen got Carlos Peña to hit into a fielder’s choice then finished off the inning by getting Young and Harris out.
Kyle Synder worked an uneventful 9th for the Sox holding the W for Wake. Wake now moves to 12-9 on the season. The Sox will hand the ball to Jon Lester tomorrow night, who will be making just his second start of the season since returning from cancer. He will be opposed by James Shields who has struggled as of late. Gametime is 7:1o PM at the Trop.
Notes and Musings:
The Red Sox announced that Curt Schilling will make one more start for Pawtucket before returning to the rotation. His anticipated return date is August 5th or 6th.
The Red Sox made some moves on the farm as they promoted Jed Lowrie and Lincoln Holdzkom to Triple-A. To make room for Holdzkom and Lowrie, they sent Zach Borowiak and Barry Hertzler to Portland. They also signed Brady Clark to a minor league deal. He will take the place of Jacoby Ellsbury, who went on the Triple-A DL with a slight groin pull.
Manny Ramirez has 39 career homers against the D’Rays. That’s the most by any player.
Tim Wakefield now has 17 career wins against the D’Rays. That’s the most by any pitcher. He had been tied with Mike Mussina. He is also 8-0 at the Trop or Red Sox South as Remdawg and Don said.
Wakefield now has a decision in every start (21) this season.
Julio Lugo’s hitting streak ended tonight at 15 games. This was the first time he has played at the Trop since his trade to the Dodgers last season.
