That's more like it: Sox spank Rays

Sox 7, Tampa Bay 3
WP: Buchholz (2-2)
LP: Jackson (2-3)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Moss (2); TB-None

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox did two things tonight that they haven't done in a while: beat the Rays, and score more than three runs. Led by Clay Buchholz' strong pitching and the bat and arm of Brandon Moss, Boston avenged last weekend's 3-game sweep by Tampa Bay with a decisive win in Game 1 of this series.

SUPERSTAR: Moss 2-4, 2R, BI, 1 assist
The kid is picking up right where he left off when the club shipped him to Pawtucket after the opening series in Japan.

His 4th inning home run ensured the Sox would score more than 1 run in this game, but it was his laser throw to home plate that nailed Evan Longoria trying to score to end the 2nd that was the key moment of this game.

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Edwin Jackson 4IP, 9H, 6ER, 3BB, 4K, HR
The escalator man was down again in this one, and it was his inability to shut the Sox down when they scored 5 runs with two outs in the 4th that led to the Rays losing this game.

RECAP:
Finally!

After a 2 1/2 hour rain delay that pushed the start to 9:30, and a week of feeble offense that produced thrilling wins and heartbreaking losses, the Sox got back to what they do best: pound the ball and pray the bullpen hangs on.

Since the rain delay pushed the start back I did get to catch the whole game, even though my son's Little League game was a 16-13 marathon. But with the game just ending at 12:48 am EST, I don't have the energy, nor the desire, to wrap this one up.

So as is my custom, I'm gonna get some shuteye and finish the post in the morning. Just another advantage bloggers have over the mainstream media.

Suck that, Bissinger.

----------------------------------------------------
Okay, I'm all rested up and ready to report on what took place last night. If you've already read the Globe or watched SportsCenter this morning, oh well.

The Sox ensured there would be no repeat sweep by the Rays with an impressive performance on the mound and at the plate. Although starter Clay Buchholz (5.1IP, 5H, 1ER, 4BB, 6K) was not nearly as dominant as he was last weekend in St. Pete, he worked his way out of several early jams and held the Rays down until his offense could pick him up.

Tampa Bay had numerous chances to get ahead early and put the Sox in a tough spot, but due to some solid pitching, and their own ineptitude, they were not able to capitalize on those opportunities.

The Rays had seven base runners in the first three innings yet failed to get any across the plate. In the second inning Buchholz walked the first two batters, but then got Dionner Navarro to strike out, Gabe Gross to fly out, and Longoria tagged out at home plate on a throw by Brandon Moss that was as good as any JD Who? ever made.

In the third the Rays again got the first two batters aboard, but Buchholz buckled down and fanned the next three hitters, including Carlos Pena and Longoria looking, thanks to a nasty breaking ball that was baffling Tampa Bay batters all night.

Boston broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third when Dustin Pedroia (3-5, 1R, 3BI) doubled in Julio Lugo, who had also doubled. It was Pedroia's league-leading 12th two bagger of the year, and it broke an 0-11 drought that he had in the Toronto series.

After Buchholz finally retired the Rays 1-2-3 in the fourth, Boston broke the game open in the bottom of the inning, thanks to Edwin Jackson's inability to record the third out.

Jackson quickly retired Mike Lowell and Youk to start the frame, but then Moss followed with a cannon blast to deep straightaway center field that bounced off the top of the camera tent for his first homer since Opening Day in Tokyo.

That shot opened the floodgates for the sputtering Sox, as the next five batters reached base, the big blow being a 2-run single by Pedroia that made the score 5-0 and gave the soggy Faithful hope that this wouldn't be another 9th inning nail biter.

Although Buchholz gave up a run the next inning to make the score 6-1 and Javier Lopez continued the horrible performance of the bullpen by surrendering two runs in the seventh, you never got the feeling that the game was in doubt.

Indeed when Hideki Okajima came in and got three straight fly outs in the 8th, and then Varitek doubled in Moss in the bottom of the inning to run the score to 7-3, you could sense the victory was all but in the bag.

Just to be sure Francona trotted out his closer to pitch the 9th. Whether it was due to the fact that he had already been warming when the score was 6-3, or that Tito wanted to make sure no one (re: Timlin) fucked up this win, Papelbon came in throwing gas and retired the last three batters without incident, wrapping the win up at nearly 1 am.

The win gave the Sox a little breathing room in the division and also served notice that just because the Rays had won four straight against the Sox, Boston isn't about to cede the East title to the upstarts just yet.

Especially if the offense can score more than 1 run per game.

And especially with a healthy and fired up Josh Beckett ready to take the mound tomorrow night, with payback on his mind.

RECORD: 18-13
AL EAST: Up 1gm
STREAK: W1
LAST 10: 4-6
UP NEXT: Sat vs. Rays 705 Shields vs. Beckett