One pitch was the difference as Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up a two-run homerun to B.J. Upton eventually losing the game 2-1.
Boston as a team left 14 runners on base not helping out their own pitchers cause as Matsuzaka went 6 innings, giving up two hits, two runs, walked four and struckout eight earning his 10th loss of the season.
The Red Sox had their chances especially in the third inning but only scored one run even with having the bases loaded with no outs.
Mike Lowell sacrificed flied Dustin Pedroia home, but J.D. Drew popped out to second and Jason Varitek grounded out to first to end the inning.
Varitek left a total of eight men on base in the game and later blamed himself for the missed opportunites in the game.
Matsuzaka was phenomenal only allowing one hit until the Upton two-run blast in the sixth inning, his 18th of the season.
Al Reyes earned his 19th save of the season closing out the ninth and Devil Rays starter Edwin Jackson earned his fourth win pitching for 6 innings, on five hits, one run, five walks, and three strikeouts.
Boston also had a chance to pad onto the scoreboard in the fourth inning as Eric Hinske walked, stole second base and reached third on a throwing error by Devil Rays catcher Josh Paul but was stranded by Julio Lugo who grounded out and Alex Cora flew out to end the inning.
Cora replaced Pedroia in the bottom of the third after Pedroia was hit on the left elbow by Jackson. The X-rays on Pedroia’s elbow were negative.
The Red Sox have not won three straight games since July 26-28.
Notes: David Ortiz was thrown out at home in the fifth inning on a Lowell single up the middle. It was clearly not the Red Sox night tonight.
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