The Sox were coming off a big win and hoped to take this game and the series. Felix Doubront was up against one of the Rays young, successful arms of Alex Cobb. Felix pitched better than his last start, but he still had efficiency issues and didn't get out of the 6th inning. However, the Sox would get a hit late and take the game in the bottom of the 8th.
Felix Doubront took the mound for the Sox after being shelved in the bullpen for the last week when Webster was called up for a spot start. Doubront had to throw almost 30 pitches to get through the 1st inning, but he was able to get through it unscathed. Dubi seemed to be squeezed something fierce by homeplate ump Joe West. In the 2nd, Doubront gave up a solo HR to Roberts to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. In the 4th inning Papi tied the game up with an RBI single to score Victorino. Sox 1-1. Doubront kept trucking through until the 6th inning when he issued a walk to Loney and was pulled from the game. Doubront still had issues with being efficient, but it was definitely a step forward. His pitching line for the night was 5+ IP, 104 pitches, 3 H, 2 R, 6 BB and 7 Ks.
Clayton Mortensen came out in relief of Doubront, however he would not have himself his best outing. Mortensen walked two batters to have the bases loaded. Then Morty gave up an RBI single to Jennings to give the Rays the lead 2-1. Mortensen was done and Andrew Miller was in the game. Miller gave up an RBI single to Luke Scott and the Sox were trailing 3-1. Miller got the 2 outs we needed, but the damage had been done. Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless 7th inning and then Junichi Tazawa pitched a scoreless 8th inning. The Sox bats took to the top of the 9th hoping to get something done against Rays closer Fernando Rodney. Rodney was pretty wild during the inning and ended up walking the bases loaded. Rodney got Napoli and Drew to strikeout and had Will Middlebrooks down to his last strike. However, Will Middlebrooks hit a breaking ball to the outfield for a double and cleared the bases. The Sox were now leading 4-3. Since Uehara was not available, Tazawa would take the mound in the 9th and pitch a scoreless 9th to grab the victory for the Sox.
The water is so very dirty. The Sox haven't won a series in a while and it has been a much missed sight.
Red Sox 4 Rays 3 BOXSCORE
WP: Tazawa (3-2) LP: Rodney (1-2)
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
