Sox back where they belong: 1st place

Sox 5, Rays 1
WP: Beckett (6-4)
LP: Jackson (3-5)
SV: None
HRs: None

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox regained sole possession of first place in the AL East with their 12th straight home victory and 5th in a row against the Rays at Fenway. Josh Beckett pitched well enough to win as the new-look offense again performed admirably in Big Papi's absence.

#1 STUNNER: Manny Delcarmen 1IP, 0H, 0BB, 0R, 3K
Yesterday JD Drew made his 2008 debut in this category, today it's another former doghouse inhabitant's turn. With no one on the offense nor Beckett really turning in a great game, it was Manny D's surprising 3-K showing that really stood out tonight, begging the question: where the fuck has this been all year!

THE BIGGEST LOSER: BJ Upton 0-4, 3K, ejection
The talented center fielder may be getting a little full of himself. Not only did he whiff three times, but he tried to throw everyone out at home (he did finally get Manny, but his percentage is low) and he got ejected arguing a close strike three call in the 8th.

My advice: lighten up, Francis!

RECAP:
The Rays would be about five games ahead of the Sox in the AL East this year - if they didn't have to play any games at Fenway.

For the fifth time in five Fenway meetings the Sox waxed the Rays, and this time the result put Boston back in the driver's seat in the East with one more game to play here between the two until September.

Too bad because the Sox would have the Rays back in the cellar by the All Star game at this rate.

The best part about this victory is not just that the Sox won, but how they did it - without the benefit of the longball and by using a revamped lineup that relied on old school techniques rather than "in your face" mashing.

Talk about a versatile team.

After the umps missed yet another home run call this year when Dustin Pedroia's first inning drive appeared to curl around Pesky's Pole but the crew couldn't see it and ruled it foul, Boston went straight to the small ball to grab the lead in the third.

Coco Crisp started the inning with a single to right, and with the hit and run on he made it to second on Julio Lugo's groundout, preventing a double play. That set up the first run of the game when he came around to score easily on Jacoby Ellsbury's (2-5, R, BI) sharp single to center on the very next pitch, even though Upton foolishly attempted to throw him out at home.

Ellsbury moved to second on a wild pitch by Edwin Jackson (5IP, 6H, 4ER, 3BB, 4K, 94P), and after Pedroia struck out JD Drew, batting third in place of Ortiz tonight, belted a ground rule double into the right field seats to score Ellsy and give Boston a 2-0 lead.

Manny Ramirez, who has yet to homer at Fenway since hitting #'s 500-502 on the road last weekend, worked an 0-2 count by fouling off three pitches before he delivered an RBI single to left, and the Sox had a 3-0 lead on three singles, a double and a well-called hit & run.

Small ball indeed.

The Rays would get one run back in the fourth off Beckett (6IP, 7H, 1ER, 0BB, 5K, 92P) on a double by Evan Longoria, a groundout and an RBI single by ex-Sox Eric Hinske, who was 2-4 with an RBI against his old mates.

But Boston would get the three run lead right back in the bottom of the inning when Youk (2-4, R, BI) and Tek both bounced singles into left and Coco crushed a sac fly to center, which scored Youk despite Upton's attempt (again) to nail the runner at the plate.

Beckett dodged a potential bullet in the 5th when Aki Iwamura scorched a one out single to center, nearly taking Becks' head off, but Carl Crawford lined a laser right to Youk at first, who then stepped on the bag to easily double up the stunned Aki.

The score remained 4-1 for a few innings and Boston got a small scare when Beckett slipped throwing a pitch to Cliff Floyd in the 6th, and although he said he was fine and remained in the game to finish the inning, his night was done after that.

Boston missed a chance to pad the lead when Coco got tagged out rounding third on a single to left by Ellsbury in the 6th, but they did tack on a run after Delcarmen struck out the side in the top of the 7th, and once again it was a bunch of little plays that got the run home.

Pedroia grounded out to begin the inning before Drew singled to center, stole second, and after Manny walked Mike Lowell blooped a single to left to load the bases with one out.

Youk then singled to left to score Youk with Boston's 5th run, and the damage could've been worse but Upton finally got his man when he nailed Manny trying to score on a medium depth fly ball to center off the bat of Jason Varitek.

You know what they say, even a broken clock gets the time right once a day.

The game was basically in the books after that as Okajima (1IP, 1H, 2K) and Craig Hansen (1IP, 1BB) continued the improved play of the bullpen and kept the Rays at bay, and in a game that was played in chilly temps and a steady mist the Sox took back what was rightfully theirs - first place.

Who knows, maybe this hit & run small ball stuff will catch on and they won't even need Papi anymore.

Yeah right. That thought's about as crazy as the Rays winning the AL East.

In other words unthinkable, especially if they have to play crucial games at Fenway in September.

RECORD: 37-25
AL EAST: Up 1/2 gm
STREAK: W2
LAST 10: 6-4
UP NEXT: Thu vs. Rays 6:05 Shields vs. Colon