Francona Wins Big in Return to Fenway

Connelly’s Top Ten: Rask Falls on Face

Bruins Lose 4-3 in OT as Rangers Fight to Stay Alive

For the Bulletin Board: Lundqvist’s “Lucky Bounces,” Savard’s “#ByeByeTorts”

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Boston Fights Rays, and Rain, For Win

With the rain in full force, the Red Sox were able to squeeze in a game against the Rays between showers. In the end, they squeaked out a 9-1 win, as the game was called in the sixth inning.

Josh Beckett got his 15th win of the season, going all five innings for the complete game. He only gave up one run while striking out four, and more importantly did not give up a home run. his counterpart, Tampa’s Wade Davis, was rocked in the third, being tagged for eight runs.

It was a rainy day in Boston and things weren’t going well after over two hours the game was still delayed. However, the weather let up and play soon resumed. Beckett, who spent the time watching college football, then took the mound and got things going.

Scoreless in the third, the Red Sox bats started to heat up. Back-to-back-to-back singles from Victor Martinez, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz got Boston going. After a wild pitch brought Youkilis home and a walk to J.D. Drew loaded the bases, Alex Gonzalez nailed a shot off the Green Monster, clearing the bases. Jacoby Ellsbury then knocked a ball down the first base line, far out enough to reach, scoring Gonzalez and giving the Sox eight runs in the third.

In the fourth inning, Youkilis crushed a ball over the monster, putting the Sox up 9-0. By the fifth, the rain began coming down again, and it was heavy. The Rays did all they could to keep the game going so it would be delayed without being an official game.

An Akinori Iwamura single and a Dioner Navarro hit-by-pitch, led to a Jason Bartlett single scoring Iwamura. With two on and two out, Carl Crawford flew out to center, ending the threat. By the sixth inning, with Evan Longoria on for the Rays, the game was delayed and eventually called, handing Tampa its ninth straight loss.

For Boston, Beckett won his 15th game of the season and his first since August 12th. The Red Sox have now won six straight home games but gained little ground on the Yankees in the AL East. The Sox are now seven and a half games behind, while they extended the Wild Card lead to three games.

The Red Sox are finishing up a double header Sunday in Fenway Park against the Rays with Clay Buchholz taking on Matt Garza in the first game and Jon Lester against James Shields in the latter game.

Sox Stud of the Game: Josh Beckett

After going through some rough times recently, Beckett has appeared to turn it around and get back on pace. Perfect timing as the Sox are in the middle of a playoff push.

Sox Duds of the Game: 6-8 batters

Jason Bay, JD Drew, and Jason Varitek combined to go a pathetic 0-9 with five strikeouts. Drew and Bay scored after being walked, but Alex Gonzalez was the only guy in the bottom of the order to produce.

Say What!?!

During the two hour plus rain delay, Beckett spent his time watching some good old college football. “There was a different football game on every TV that you walked by, so we stayed pretty busy,” said Beckett.

Game Notes:

WP: Beckett (15-6)
LP: W. Davis (0-1)

• Beckett earned cheap complete game with a five-inning effort in the rain-shortened game.

Tags: Alex Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, David Ortiz, J, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Bay, Jason Varitek, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox, Victor Martinez

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