Straggling in here ravaged by the flu and nearing the end of a 20-game stretch without a day off, the Red Sox could have used an easy one at the Tropicana Dome last night. It didn’t happen… Nathan Haynes’ 11th-inning RBI single off struggling Mike Timlin put an end to a hard day and night for the Red Sox as the Rays took Game 1 of the three-game set, 5-4.
The four-hour game emptied the Sox bench and forced them to use catcher Jason Varitek, who still was trying to get his land legs under him after getting knocked around by a bug that swept through the team’s clubhouse during the week. Another injury (Sean Casey, day-to-day with a right hip flexor strain) only compounded the current pain and suffering of the Sox, who have now lost three straight after winning their previous six.
Sox Notes: Rehabbing third baseman Mike Lowell went 1 for 5 and drove in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single. Lowell is eligible to come the DL today, but indications were he would remain with Pawtucket for a few more games.
