Ramirez, went 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 71 games in 2008. He registered 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings. He said he first learned of the trade shortly after 8 A.M. on Wednesday morning when management from the Royals called him while he was at home in the Dominican Republic.

Crisp never got into a good rythum with the Red Sox after coming over to the team from the Cleveland Indians. With Jacoby Ellsbury slated to be the everyday centerfielder, the Red Sox had room to move Crisp and thought that Ramirez was a good enough player to make the trade.

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Jon Lester and the sox pitchers didn’t throw the ball bad. The Rays just got key hits when they needed to and hit a solo home run. Lester took the loss which was his second of the series. He tossed seven innings and was charged with six hits and all three runs that the Rays scored. The Rays scored on a single, double, and home run.

The only offense for the sox was a Dustin Pedroia solo home run in the first inning. Coco Crisp and Jason Bay had the other two hits for team. The rest of the offense was terrible and they were never able to figure Garza or the Rays bullpen out. The big bats in the lineup didn’t show up that is for sure.

I will say congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays as they head into the World Series to take on the Philadelphia Phillies. If any Red Sox fans would like to read our blogs about the Phillies or Rays you can goto Phillies Homeplate and Rays Homeplate.

Now we will sit back and see what management decides to do with players and contracts in the off season. We will still be blogging about rumors and trades so check back daily!

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Four runs in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth inning is how the Sox came back after being down 7-0. Drew finished the game with three rbi as did David Ortiz. Finally Big Papi got a hit and even though it was only one it was huge as he went deep for a three-run home run. Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia both had rbi’s in the rally as well.

Justin Masterson picked up the victory as he tossed the ninth inning. Jonathan Papelbon allowed two runs to score on a double after he came into the game in relief of Manny Delcarmen who walked both of the runners on base. Starting Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka only lasted four innings as he gave up five hits and five runs. Dice-K had problems from the get go as he served up three home runs in the first three innings of the game.

If the Sox want to win game six, they are going to need a great pitching performance out of Josh Beckett. Beckett needs to throw the ball better then he did earlier in the series that is for sure. I have the feeling if the Sox can win game six, then the Rays are really going to feel the pressure and they will also fold in game seven. What do you guy think?

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Dustin Pedroia got things started in the seventh inning with a solo home run that made the score 4-1. Coco Crisp then walked with the bases loaded to make it 4-2 in the seventh. Onto the eighth inning when the Red Sox scored two more runs on a Mark Kotsay triple to tie the game at 4-4. In the top of the tenth inning, the Red Sox started the inning with two singles and then scored the winning run when Jacoby Ellsbury bunted and Orioles pitcher Jim Miller committed an error that allowed Alex Cora to score.

Justin Masterson earned the victory and improved to 5-4 on the season as he pitched the ninth and tenth innings of the game. Dice-K was the Red Sox starter and he gave up four runs over six innings to get the no decision.

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Nine runs in the second inning blew the game open for the Sox. Coco Crisp, Alex Cora, J.D. Drew, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Jason Bay, and Jed Lowrie all had rbi’s in the second inning. Ortiz had the big shot that was a three run home run. In the eighth inning, Jeff Bailey got in on the action with an rbi of his own as well.

Dice-K threw seven strong innings to pick up the win. He allowed six hits and five runs but worked his way out of jams without allowing any runs. Manny Delcarmen and Mike Timlin both tossed one inning each in the game after Dice-K left the game.

Now the Red Sox will play the Toronto Blue Jays in a three game weekend series. Let’s all hope for another Red Sox sweep!

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Josh Beckett was absolutely hammered as he gave up 11 hits and eight runs (seven earned) in only 5 1/3 innings.  Beckett took the loss for the Sox and is now 9-8 on the season.  I was expecting a lot better outing out of Beckett but it just didn’t happen against the Angels.  Justin Masterson allowed a home run in the ninth inning as well.

Coco Crisp had both rbi for the Red Sox.  Crisp went deep in the fifth inning for a two run shot.  That was all the offense for the Sox as once again they struggled against the Angels pitching staff.  Things will come around, hopefully it will be Friday against the Oakland Athletics.

I should tell all the Red Sox readers out there that I will be out of town until Aug 12th and won’t be able to update the blog.  If there is a Red Sox fan out there that would like to give it a try and write some game recaps, please click the contact us button at the top of the page and send me an email.  I will reply with more information.

Thanks!

Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester pitched 7 1/3 innings to get the win and improve to 8-3 on the year.  Lester pitched good as he gave up eight hits but zero runs while striking out six Mariners.  One key for Lester was that he did not walk any batters.  Jonathan Papelbon tossed 1 2/3 innings to get the save which was his 29th of the season.

Jason Varitek got the Red Sox scoring started in the 5th inning when he hit a two run home run and Coco Crisp scored as well.  Jed Lowrie scored Kevin Youkilis and Crisp in the 8th inning on a two run single to left field.  That was enough runs the way Lester and Papelebon were throwing the ball.

The Red Sox need to keep on winning out in Seattle to stay close to the Rays.  I think they will sweep the Mariners actually.  What do you think?

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Hideki Okajima pitched the eighth inning and allowed one hit but zero runs.  Jonathan Papelbon came in for the ninth inning and picked up his 20th save of the season as he shut the door on the Phillies.

At the plate for the Red Sox Coco Crisp had a two run homer in the second inning.  Julio Lugo then tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning with a rbi double that scored Crisp.  The Red Sox did struggle at the plate but they were able to get the victory thanks to how well the pitching staff threw the ball.

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As for the game, the Red Sox defeated the Rays 7-1.  Manny Ramirez hit a three run home run in the first inning that scored Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew.  In the second inning Pedroia had a sacrafice fly that scored another run.  After a scoreless third inning, the Red Sox scored three more runs in the fourth inning on a bases loaded walk to Drew and then a two run single by Ramirez.

Jon Lester picked up the win as he tossed 6 1/3 innings.  Lester gave up eight hits, one run, and recorded five strikeouts while improving his record to 4-3 on the year.  Mike Timlin pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief of Lester before David Aardsma pitched the ninth inning.

The Red Sox will now start up a series with the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

Five different Red Sox  players recorded rbi’s in the game.  Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew, Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis, and Coco Crisp all had a rbi.  Pretty much every other batter in the lineup did some damage to the Rays pitching staff if you look at the box score.

Josh Beckett pitched six innings to pick up the win and improve his record to 6-4 on the season.  By only giving up the one run Beckett also lowerd his era to .

Manny Delcarmen pitched a scoreless seventh inning before Hideki Okajima pitched a scoreless eighth inning.  Craig Hansen was then brought in to pitch the ninth inning and finish the game.

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