Akinori Iwamura’s two-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning ruined an otherwise splendid outing for both Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox, as the second baseman’s blast was just the third hit of the night allowed by the right-hander. The Rays hung on for a 2-1 victory. Buchholz arrived at the eighth inning having allowed one hit, B.J. Upton’s fourth-inning leadoff double, and a pair of first-inning walks. Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro singled between a pair of outs to set the stage for Iwamura, who launched a no-doubt blast to right field that sent a sold-out Tropicana Field crowd of 36,048 into hysteria.
In the fifth inning, Jacoby Ellbury’s RBI infield single brought in Coco Crisp with the only run the Red Sox could produce during another strong night for Tampa Bay pitchers. All the Sox could muster on the night against Edwin Jackson, Trever Miller, Scott Dohmann (2-0) and Troy Percival (save No. 5) were five hits, all singles.
The loss for the Red Sox was their fourth in a row, just the latest in a series of indignities or injuries endured by the reigning world champions. Today, they will play for the 20th consecutive day; tomorrow’s off day can’t come soon enough.
Sox Notes: David Ortiz’s right knee, the same one he had surgery on over the winter, was too bruised and swollen for the designated hitter to play. He will miss today’s series finale as well. Earlier in the day, the Red Sox placed first baseman Sean Casey on the disabled list with a bruised right hip flexor. Brandon Moss was called up from Pawtucket to replace Casey.
