It wasn’t the way the players, coaches, or fans wanted the season to end, but the Boston Red Sox were beat by the Tampa Bay Rays in game 7 of the ALCS on Sunday night. The Red Sox offense struggled against Matt Garza as they only had three hits and one run in the 3-1 loss.

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!

Red Sox Blog

Things aren’t looking good for the Boston Red Sox right now as they are behind in the ALCS. After pulling out a low scoring victory in game one, the Red Sox have now lost games two and three and find themselves down 2-1 in the series to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sunday night it was a 9-8 loss in and on Monday it was a 9-1 blowout loss. It was very suprising to see the Sox get blown out like that a home in the playoffs. Starting pitcher Jon Lester was pretty bad as he gave up two home runs in 5 2/3 innings. Lester was allowed five runs to score on eight hits while striking out seven. Paul Byrd pitched the final 3 1/3 innings but he also served up two home runs. All but one of the Rays runs came via the home run ball.

As for the Sox offense, they had seven hits but could never get a big hit or two to keep a rally going. Their one run came in the seventh inning when Jacoby Ellsbury hit a rbi sac fly to right field to score Jason Varitek. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis combined to go 0-8 and they need to turn things around on Tuesday if they want to stay in this series.

Tim Wakefield will get the start for the Sox as they look to even up the series at two games each.

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox picked up a huge win on Monday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox scored three quick runs in the first inning and then held off the Rays the final eight innings to pick up the 3-0 victory. Exactly the way the sox were wanting to start off the three game series with the Rays. The sox are now only a half game beind the Rays in the division!

Big papi David Ortiz started things off with an rbi double to score Mark Kotsay to make the score 1-0. Ortiz then came around to score on a rbi single to shallow center by Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis was tagged out on the play when he tried advancing to second base on the play. With the bases now empty, Jason Bay hit a solo home run to make the score 3-0 sox.

That was all the offense that the Sox would need on the night as Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelbon were awesome. Lester pitched 7 2/3 innings to pick up the victory. Lester gave up six hits while walking three and striking out nine others. Good quality start for Lester! Papelbon pitched 1 1/3 innings to record the save which was his 36th of the season.

Great job for the sox and they will now hope to win on Tuesday to take the lead back in the division.

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox weren’t able to complete the three game sweep in New York City but I will stay take two out of three games against the Yankees at this point in the season. On Thurday, the Red Sox seen the Yankees come from behind and score the final three runs of the game to win 3-2. Jason Giambi hit the game winning single off of Justin Masterson in the ninth inning.

Maseron ended up with the loss dropped his record to 4-4 on the year. Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester threw the ball pretty good as he went 6 2/3 innings while allowing five hits and zero runs. Hideki Okajima gave up a two run home run to Giambi in the seventh inning and that is when the Yankees tied the game and really put the pressure on the Sox.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek both had a rbi for the Sox. As a team they struggled at the plate but it could have been the whole get away day deal and they just wanted to get the series over, who knows. Hopefuly they bounce back on Friday however.

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox scored two runs in the eighth and ninth innings as they defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 as the two teams started off a mid week series in Baltimore. It was a good start to the three game series for the Red Sox as they try to keep pace with the league leading Tampa Bay Rays.

Jason Bay connected for two home runs and now has 25 on the season. Bay finished the game with four rbi as he went 3-5. Jason Varitek also hit a solo home run to finish with one rbi while David Ortiz also chipped in with an rbi of his own.

Jon Lester gave up four hits and one run in seven innings of action. Lester got the victory and is now 12-4. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the final inning to earn his 33rd save of the year. Manny Delcarmen had some problems in the eighth inning as he was charged with two runs when Aubrey Huff hit a two run home run off of him.

The Red Sox will try to take game two of the series on Tuesday night.

Red Sox Baseball

The Boston Red Sox and two pitches combined to shutout the Seattle Mariners in a 4-0 victory Monday night out in Seattle.  The Red Sox and Mariners opened up a three game series and the Red Sox grabbed game one of the series with out much problems.  It was a big win for the Red Sox who remained 1.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays who also won on Monday night.

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?

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as they completed a nice comeback and defeated the visiting Minnesota Twins by the score of 6-5.  It was a great win for the Red Sox and huge because the rivals in New York beat the Tampa Bay Rays so now the Red Sox are only 3 games out in the division.

J.D. Drew had a rbi groundout in the eighth to get the Red Sox’s rally started.  Manny Ramirez then hit a two run home run and Brandon Moss then tacked on a rbi single.  Drew, Ramirez, and Moss all had two rbi each in the game.  Dustin Pedroia also had two hits in the game to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

Jon Lester tossed 7 1/3 innings as he got a no decision in the game.  Lester gave up nine hits and five runs as he was shacky through out the game.  To be honest, I’m suprised that he was able to last seven plus innings the way he was throwing the ball.

David Aardsma was the winning pitcher after recording the final two outs in the eighth inning after he came in when Lester excited.  Jonathan Papelbon had some troubles in the ninth inning as the Twins had the game tying run on third base but he was able to finish off the Twins without that run scoring.  Papelbon now has 27 saves on the season.

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies by a 3-0 score on Tuesday night as Jon Lester picked up his sixth win of the season.  Lester tossed the first seven innings of the game and only allowed six hits and no runs.  Lester is now 6-3 on the season and has really been throwing the ball well lately.

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.

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox hammered the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night by the score of 9-2 and take two out of three games in the series.  It was nice to see the Red Sox come out and not only pitch good but hit good as well.

J.D. Drew stayed hot as he he was one of three Red Sox batters to hit home runs in the game.  Drew went deep for a two run hot in the ninth inning to score the final two runs for the Red Sox.  Kevin Youkilis also had a two run home run that came in the seventh inning when the Red Sox blew the game open.  However, the big home run of the night came off the bat of Mike Lowell who hit a grand slam in the fifth inning.  Lowell’s grand slam made the score 5-1 and the Red Sox lead the rest of the way.

I should also mention that Julio Lugo contributed with one rbi as well.

Jon Lester earned the victory to improve to 5-3.  Lester allowed seven hits and two runs as he pitched a very good game.  Lester has really looked good out there on the mound and on Thursday night there was no question he was going to get the win in the game.

Manny Delcarmen pitched a scoreless eighth inning and then Mike Timlin came in to pitch the ninth inning and finish off the game.  Good job by Delcarmen and Timlin to come in and get the job done even though they had a big lead to work with.

The Red Sox will now travel to Cincinnati where they will take the Reds on this weekend. I would expect atleast two out of three wins against the Reds.  What do you think?

Red Sox Blog

The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays once again played in a fiesty game on Thursday night and there was even a bench clearing brawl in the second inning.  Coco Crisp was hit in the right hip by Rays starting pitcher James Shields and Crisp quickly charged the mound at Shields.  Shields threw a wild right punch and Crisp countered with a few punches of his own as he was tackled by Rays catcher Dioner Navarro.  Rays DH Jonny Gomes charged the mound from the dugout, jumped on Navarro and Crisp, and threw a few punches that hit Crisp while he was on the ground.  Crisp, Shields, and Gomes were all ejected from the game and will all be suspended 5-7 games each I would imagine.

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.