A couple of years ago, the Boston Red Sox would head down to Tropicana Field and most everyone would think it’s an automatic win for them over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Then before the 2008 season, the Devil Rays become the Rays and the team is a lot better than in years past. Suddenly Tampa can’t lose at home to the Red Sox.

So now late in the season in 2009, the Red Sox are in Tampa with a chance to put the Rays closer to elimination from the playoffs. They have Clay Buchholz on the mound who is coming off of 8 1/3 scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, who up until last night were the only team he had beaten (three times).

Buchholz was given a 2-0 lead before he even stepped out on the mound and by the end of the first inning, he given them the lead back. Rocco Baldelli got him the lead back with a solo home run before Buchholz gave the run back in the fourth.

Buchholz then settled in on the mound retiring the final nine batters he faced and the offense got him the lead. The bullpen made it hold up behind as the hard throwing trio of Billy Wagner, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon each gave a hitless and scoreless inning.

You would have to think right now if the season ended today that the playoff rotation for the ALDS would be Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. You really can’t say what you’re going to get from Tim Wakefield unless his back and calf are feeling fine. If that’s the case, he might be the No. 3. Daisuke Matsuzaka probably won’t be counted on during the postseason but that could also change with a good outing tonight for the PawSox and a start or two back in the big leagues.

As a fan, you have to love the maturation of Buchholz. The no-hitter in his second career start almost derailed his career as he struggled mightily in 2008. After an extended stint in Pawtucket this season, he has definitely seem to grown as a pitcher and looks primed for a pretty successful career.

Now the Red Sox are off to Chicago, a team they just took 3-of-4 from last week, for a holiday weekend four-game set. With the Texas Rangers just three games back, three-out-of-four from the White Sox would just fine with myself and Red Sox Nation.

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.

UConn Football links

The UConn football links will be coming up in a bit in the game preview post. However, if you missed my Q & A with three of the UConn football beat writers, be sure to check it out.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Let’s get it started already [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Geno invades Danbury [Connecticut Post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Andre Drummond No.1 Sophomore [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

A.J. Price Signs with Pacers [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Top Five Reasons Why UConn Could Be Better Next Year [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Amityville’s Price signs with Pacers [Newsday]

Other UConn related links

Men’s Soccer: UConn Soccer Players from California Featured in Soccer America [UConnHuskies.com]

Softball: Mahoney To Be Inducted Into the CHSCA Hall of Fame [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Volleyball: Volleyball’s UConn Toyota Classic Set for This Weekend [UConnHuskies.com]

Blankmeyer and Sherer Lead No. 5 Field Hockey Past Holy Cross 4-1 [UConnHuskies.com]

Friday, September 4^th @ 8:11 PM

Paul Byrd, RHP (1-0, 0.00) vs Freddy Garcia, RHP (0-2, 5.94)

TV: NESN, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Saturday, September 5^th @ 4:05 PM

Tim Wakefield, RHP (11-3, 4.12) vs Gavin Floyd, RHP (10-9, 3.97)

TV: FOX

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Sunday, September 6^th @ 2:05 PM

Jon Lester, LHP (11-7, 3.58) vs John Danks, LHP (12-8, 3.82)

TV: NESN, TBS, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Monday, September 7^th @ 2:05 PM

Josh Beckett, RHP (14-5, 3.87) vs Mark Buehrle, LHP (11-7, 3.86)

TV: NESN, MLB Network, MLB.tv

Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

It’s been a long time since the Boston Red Sox took a series from the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Almost two years to be exact. The Red Sox were looking to solve that problem with Clay Buchholz on the bump.

After a rough start, Buchholz settled in and gave the Red Sox six strong innings and Mike Lowell’s sacrifice fly in the sixth brought in the winning run as they went on to win 6-3 over the Rays in front of 20,823 at Tropicana Field.

The win for the Red Sox (78-55) gives them a 3-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the wild card standings. The local nine remains 7.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Rays (72-61) fall six games behind the Red Sox in the wild card with three head-to-head matchups left this season.

Buchholz (4-3) gave up two runs in the first after being staked to a 2-0 lead. He relaxed though and settled down as he retired the final nine batters he faced to get a win against a team other than the Toronto Blue Jays. Buchholz allowed three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

The bullpen was solid behind Buchholz. The combination of Billy Wagner, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon could be a lethal one down the stretch and into the playoffs if they get that far.

Wagner walked one and struck out 2 in an inning while Bard walked one and struck out one in his inning off work.  Papelbon picked up his 34th save of the season by striking out two in the 9th.

David Price started for the Rays and was tagged for four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings.

Russ Springer retired the only two batters he faced out of the Rays bullpen while Brian Shouse and Chad Bradford each gave up a run. Lance Cormier allowed two hits in two innings.

Kevin Youkilis had a nice night at the plate with a 3-for-5 effort including an RBI. Jason Bay had two doubles and two RBI while Victor Martinez continues to impress in a Red Sox uniform with two more hits and an RBI.  Rocco Baldelli added a solo home run off of his former teammate Price in the second inning.

Great effort from Buchholz keeping the Red Sox in the game and giving them a chance to win an important game. Every game is important but when you’re playing a team you’re competing with, it’s even more important to get that win.

The Red Sox did just that and now head to Chicago for a four-game set. Paul Byrd will make his second start for the Red Sox and he’ll be opposed by Freddy Garcia. First pitch is scheduled for 8:11 p.m. EDT.

After coming back to tie the game last night, the Boston Red Sox bullpen had a little implosion as the Tampa Bay Rays came back to win 8-5. The two teams will square off in the rubber game of this 3-game set at Tropicana Field.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:08 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the Tampa area, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Florida. If the television isn’t your cup of tea, You can also catch the game on the radio on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

Clay Buchholz will look to help the Red Sox to a 6-game lead over the Rays in the wild card. In nine starts this season, Buchholz is 3-3 with a 4.38 ERA and pitched well in his last outing. He hasn’t made an appearance against the Rays this season and is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA in two career starts against them. Buchholz is 0-1 with a 2.25 in his lone start against the Rays at the Trop.

David Price makes his 18th start of the season tonight. On the season, he is 7-6 with a 4.63 ERA. He’s made only career start against the Red Sox and that came this season. In that start back on August 5th, he allowed two runs on six hits in six innings to pick up the win.

The Amazing Adventures of Victor and Clay [Extra Bases]

Wakefield on Saturday? [Extra Bases]

Wakefield throws side session [Projo Sox Blog]

Papelbon fined $5,000 [Full Count]

Buchholz emerges [Clubhouse Insider]

Papelbon fined a seventh time for slow pace [Clubhouse Insider]

If you suck in Boston, you rock in the NL [Batter-up with Bruno]

Here are tonight’s starting lineups:

And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:

With the UConn Huskies football team kicking off the season on Saturday night against the Ohio University Bobcats in Athens, OH, I wanted to do a full fledged preview of the team. But with the amount of changes the team has made, especially with the new offense, I figured the best thing to do was to email some questions to the UConn Huskies football beat writers.

Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant, Chip Malafronte of the New Haven Register and Neill Ostrout of the Connecticut Post all took time from their busy schedules to answer five questions for me. I would like to thank them again for their time. It is very much appreciated.

Q: After watching the Huskies struggle in the passing game last season, what can we as UConn fans expect from Joe Moorhead and the new offense?

Desmond Conner: We really haven’t seen enough of the team to say what fans can expect but I think that was by design. The less we in the media or anybody else sees this new offense the more of a mystery UConn will be to its opponents. That being said I think you’ll see receivers catch the ball.

Chip Malafronte: There will be more plays per game for sure, as the hurry-up, no-huddle offense should provide a little more excitement from the rather vanilla offense of the past few seasons. Zach Frazer has the arm and brains to play quarterback, we’ll see if he’s mastered the offense Saturday. He certainly has more quality options at receiver, including a potential star in Dwayne Difton.

Neill Ostrout: You can expect a no-huddle, fast-paced tempo with a number of new pass plays. But the running game won’t change much, other than featuring the plays that Jordan Todman “likes” instead of Donald Brown’s old favorites.

X’s and O’s are nice and it probably was a good idea to change things up. But players have to make plays and I’m interested to see if the Huskies in the passing game can make some big plays. That doesn’t mean it’s all on the receivers, of course. We all know the quarterback has to deliver it to the right spot at the right time and the offensive line has to hold its ground (two things that didn’t always happen last year).

Q: With the release of the depth chart on Sunday, were there any surprises to you at any of the positions?

Conner: No, not really, except for, maybe Jerome Junior at safety but he has a lot of ability but overall no. No real surprises

Malafronte: Not at all. The closest thing to a surprise was Marcus Aiken as backup safety. Aiken played wide receiver until about a week ago.

Ostrout: Not really.

It’s somewhat surprising that freshman Dwayne Difton isn’t at the top of the wide receiver list but that’s not much of an indication of how much he’ll play. He’s going to play a lot.

And it’s kind of surprising that freshman Marcus Aiken is in the two-deep after only a week of playing safety but that’s not much of an indication of how much he’ll play. He’s not going to play a lot.

Q: Who are the sleepers on the team the fans can look forward to watching?

Conner: I like Jerome Junior as a sleeper. The safety next to him, Robert Vaughn is poised for a big year but I really like wide receiver Gerrard Sheppard.

Malafronte: I think Marcus Easley will do some things, even though he didn’t make the two-deep for Ohio. LB Sio Moore has the talent to be a special player, and this year will allow him to get his feet wet behind a very talented crew at the position. DE’s Trevardo Williams and Jesse Joseph and safety Jerome Junior could also be impact players as freshmen.

Ostrout: I think tight end Ryan Griffin is a good one. He’s a big target with good hands who can block a little bit.

Most people don’t know a lot about his game (myself included, perhaps) but he’ll raise a few eyebrows this season every once in a while.

Q: One of the strengths of Randy Edsall’s teams have been the defense. Can we expect that again in 2009?

Conner: Obviously lost some good ones on this side of the ball including the two ends, Cody Brown and Julius Williams. Lindsey Witten can be an outstanding player on one side. Jesse Joseph, a true freshman is starting on the other side. He’s a great knack for the game according to head coach Randy Edsall. Jerome Junior has a big role replacing Dahna Deleston but he could be faster and a bigger hitter when its all said and done.

Malafronte: I think so. Replacing Darius Butler at corner, Dahna Deleston at safety and ends Julius Williams and Cody Brown won’t be easy, I mean, all four are in the NFL. How much of a pass rush UConn can generate with so many young players is a question, but the corners are still strong with Jasper Howard and Reggie McClain while Robert Vaughn is a 4-year starter at safety.

Ostrout: Yes.

All indications are that it’s another stout Husky defense. The linebackers are great. The defensive line is very good. The corners are very good. The safeties are/will be good.

Q: How do you think UConn finishes up record wise (plus Big East) and will they head to a bowl game for the third straight season?

Conner: I think they can win eight. I think they will win less if the offense has any problems.

Malafronte: Tough call right now. I think UConn can go 8-4 on the high end and 4-8 on the low end. It will probably be somewhere in between, so I’ll say 6-6 right now. But that could change after seeing them in action this weekend.

Ostrout: I think the 6-to-8 win range is pretty likely. A few good breaks and it could be 9 or 10 (really!). A few bad breaks and it could be 4-5 (really).

The two early non-conference tests are big (North Carolina, Baylor) and the first two league home games (Louisville, Rutgers) will also be telling.

In the end I’d expect them to get seven wins and go bowling again.

Before we get going today, just a quick shout out to my Uncle Peter on his birthday. Happy Birthday!!!

Things didn’t go quite as planned for Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox last night at the Trop against the Tampa Bay Rays.

I think everyone, including Beckett, expected his troubles from the last three starts to be behind him and that he would return to his dominating self. He struck out the first batter he faced the his homer-itis returned as Carl Crawford hit a home run. Another breakout of homer-itis in the second put the Red Sox in a hole.

As the Red Sox always do, they battled back as Beckett settled in and looked dominating over his final three innings. Whatever adjustments he made with pitching coach John Farrell worked. Let’s just hope they can carry over into his next start.

After the Red Sox tied it up at 5 all in the top half of the 8th, the bullpen imploded as Ramon Ramirez was tagged for a run. Then Manny Delcarmen came into the game and was rudely greeted by Evan Longoria who hit a no-doubt 2-run home run to ice the game for the Rays.

My question is this. Should Ram-Ram have been back out there for his second inning of work in the 8th?

My answer is no. Yes, Daniel Bard, Billy Wagner and Jonathan Papelbon weren’t available. But why not use Takashi Saito or Delcarmen to start the 8th.

Yes I know the Red Sox aren’t going to win every ballgame the rest of the season although I’m sure we’d all like that. But last night, I think Terry Francona made a  mistake, which happens from time to time.

Last night’s loss makes tonight’s game very crucial for the Red Sox. We can probably rule out an AL East division crown as the Red Sox sit 7.5 games out of first behind the New York Yankees.

The Texas Rangers are off tonight so the Red Sox could increase their lead over them to three games in the wild card. A loss makes it two games. The Red Sox could also put the proverbial nail in the coffin of the Rays with a win as the Rays are five games back in the wild card. A win makes it six and a loss makes it four.

There will be a lot riding on the young shoulders of Clay Buchholz tonight. But as of late, he’s shown he can shoulder the load and I think that continues on at the Trop tonight.

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