After getting stunned, 7-6, last night and swept for the second consecutive series on Tampa Bay’s home turf, the Sox issued an unspoken warning to the rest of the American League that it would be foolish to overlook or underestimate the Rays, who erased a three-run deficit with a six-run rally in the seventh inning. The Sox, who matched a season high with their five-game losing streak, fell victim to a horrific bullpen meltdown to drop 3 1/2 games back in the standing for the first time since the end of the 2006 season.
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima combined to allow only one run on three hits in the first six innings before everything changed in the seventh. Matsuzaka got off to a sluggish start and allowed seven of the first 11 Tampa Bay batters to reach base, but he miraculously managed to allow only one run on two hits and five walks in five innings, striking out five. He left six runners on base, five in scoring position, and was removed because of a high pitch count (101).
Dustin Pedroia, who fell a single short of becoming the first Sox player to hit for the cycle since John Valentin on June 6, 1996, almost singlehandedly provided the Sox a 4-1 lead by hitting a home run, triple and double in his first three at-bats against Scott Kazmir and scoring each time. The Rays, who improved to 14-4 in their past 18 games, appeared to have little chance of becoming the first team to sweep the Sox twice in the same season since the Yankees in 2001. They managed only one inconsequential hit in the second through sixth innings, striking out seven times in 14 plate appearances.
Nation Notes: Mike Timlin who was on the 15-day disabled list, is expected to be activated today for the series against the Yankees. Reliever Chris Smith will be sent back to the minors.
