The Red Sox moved back into first place in the AL East last night with a strong-enough start from Josh Beckett, some solid station-to-station offense and a stand-up job by the bullpen. There were a couple of hard plays at second base involving Coco Crisp that resulted in some heated exchanges in the Red Sox’ 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. For a series in early June, that is about all the notice anyone could want that the intensity level is strong between these teams. They play each other 10 more times, including tonight’s series finale. Should be a good show.
Beckett (6-4) allowed one run without walking a batter, while striking out five and spreading out seven hits. He lasted six innings and 92 pitches, with manager Terr Francona hustilng the right-hander into the showers after a scary but inconsequential slip on the mound in his final inning. Beckett was fine, but with the Sox reeling from injuries to Daisuke Matsuzaka and David Ortiz in the last week, the Red Sox were not about to take a risk on it’s most precious pitching possession. The bullpen began its contribution in the seventh when Manny Delcarmen struck out all three batters he faced. Hideki Okajima, who has struggled of late, allowed only a single in the eighth while Craig Hansen continued his recent string of strong outings by retiring three straight batters after a leadoff walk in the ninth.
The offense began with a three-run third inning as Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D Drew (double) and Manny Ramirez delivered run-scoring hits against Rays starter Edwin Jackson. The teams traded runs in the fourth with Beckett allowing an RBI single by Eric Hinske and the Sox responding via Crisp’s sacrifice fly to score Kevin Youkilis.
Sox Notes: Baseball America just released its updated mock draft, and the respected trade publication has the Sox taking left-handed slugging first baseman David Cooper from Cal with the 30th pick of the first round. Cooper, who transferred to Cal from Cal-State Fullerton is listed at 6-1, 210 pounds.
