Doin' Damage

Boston waited until the middle of the contest with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before going to work. The Sox didn’t even come up with a hit until the top of the 4^th inning when DH David Ortiz lined a two out single to right field. Starting pitcher Jason Hammel for the Rays retired the first 11 Sox he faced. Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield surrendered his only run of the night in the bottom of the 2^nd inning on a single by C Dioner Navarro that scored Ty Wigginton. Boston eventually won the game 7-1, taking their time with the Devil Rays.

Once the Boston lineup shook off their jet lag from flying in from Cleveland early Friday morning, the runs came in abundance. 1B Kevin Youkilis got the party started in the top of the 6^th with a three run shot off Hammel, ending Youk’s 0-for-12 slump. Ray’s reliever Casey Fossum surrendered a single RBI to RF JD Drew in the 8^th, who pulled out of a slump of his own, scoring Ortiz. CF Coco Crisp would earn two more RBI’s that same inning and C Doug Mirabelli would drive him in to make the contest a six run game.

After Wake threw for six solid innings giving up six hits, walking three and fanning seven the Sox turned to the JV squad in the bullpen. I hate to say it because most of the 25 players that comprise a major league roster are all very important, but to say that Manny Delcarmen is as valuable as All-Star Hideki Okajima is a little off, to say the least. Normal long reliever Kyle Snyder came in and closed out the 9^th as manager Terry Francona will have him do when the Sox have a sizeable lead.

I’m sure that this series with the Rays is not on too many fans’ radars, however, these are the games that the Sox are expected to win. If they give up this series in the next two days they run the risk of losing the momentum they gained from the Cleveland series. Monday will be a much needed day off so if the Sox win tonight with Jon Lester on the mound, expect a lot of normal day starters to get some rest. Boston will go home to Fenway and open a three game mid-week series with the Baltimore Orioles before heading out on the road again for another nine game road trip. The Sox will face Seattle, Los Angeles and Baltimore before going back to Fenway on August 13^th.

News of Note

Manager Terry Francona told reporters in a pre-game interview last night that starter Curt Schilling should join the rotation on August 5^th or 6^th which would put him on the mound for the first time in the majors since mid-June. That start would come against either Seattle or LA on the road. No word as to who will be sent down to make room for Schil.

SS Julio Lugo went 0-for-4 last night in Tampa, ending his 15 game hitting streak. After being in a slump for most of June, Lugo has been batting at the top of the lineup and is currently hitting .222.

Last night’s victory marked Boston’s seventh win in eight games, their best stretch of games this season. The win was also Tampa’s seventh straight loss and the Rays have lost 19 of 24 since June 25^th.

Other than bringing up starter Jon Lester and designating Joel Pinero for assignment, the Sox have been relatively quiet on the transaction front.