Final, Rays win, 7-4: The Rays decided to keep the bats quiet until the final frame as they scored six runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Sox 7-4.
Bailey blew a three-run lead before B.J. Upton crushed a three-run walkoff homer to center field to end things at the Trop. It's too bad, too, because the Sox had some things to be very happy about.
What started off as a pretty impressive pitching duel turned into an exciting night for the Sox' young guns. Gomez and Lavarnway each chipped in with two hits and and one RBI apiece while Iglesias smoked his first-career MLB homer (and RBI), while putting up three hits in four at-bats. The shortstop also scored a pair of runs to lead the Sox offense while Buchholz shut down the Rays bats. The righty allowed four hits in 7 shutout innings while walking two and striking out four.
…But then Bailey came in. And you know what happened.
10:20 p.m.: Well, that stinks. Andrew Bailey came in for the save but allowed three runs on four hits and a walk before getting the hook. Things are knotted at four apiece as Vicente Padilla is now in to pitch with runners on second and third and one out.
Mid 9th, Red sox 4-1: So after getting just two hits in his previous 35 at-bats, Iglesias now has three hits in four at-bats tonight. That puts his batting average at .128! Nice job, kid.
10 p.m.: Jose Iglesias not only bagged his first three-hit game of his career, he also launched his first career MLB homer and RBI, crushing a homer to deep left-center off J.P. Howell.
Might I add, the Sox dugout did an outstanding job giving the young gun the silent treatment. There was a great shot on NESN of Bobby V slowly walking away smirking at someone on the bench as Iglesias could be spotted way behind him putting his gear away all alone.
After an Ellsbury ground out, Howell was pulled.
End 8th, Red Sox 3-1: With Junichi Tazawa in for Buchholz, the Rays were able to get on the board. Jennings led off with a double down the third base line and moved to third on a fly out to right. Zobrist would plate Jennings with a sac fly to left, which Podsednik caught despite having trouble with the Trop's lights.
Mid 8th, Red Sox 3-0: After driving David Price from the game, the Sox got another run on the board when Mauro Gomez cranked a triple into the right-center gap to score Lavarnway, who doubled with one down.
Lavarnway and Gomez both have two hits and an RBI tonight.
9:35 p.m.: And that's it for David Price, who threw 111 pitches (78 for strikes) in 7 1/3 innings. Price struck out seven, walked one and allowed two runs on eight hits.
End 7th, Red Sox 2-0: The Rays bats almost woke up again in the 7th as Luke Scott smacked an outside fastball and launched a screamer to the top of the fence in left. He missed a tater by less than a foot and would end up with a double. After advancing to third on a groundout, he would be left stranded as Buchholz got Roberts to fly out to end the threat.
Buchholz has tossed 94 pitches.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 2-0: With Podsednik on third and two down, Price handcuffed Pedroia with an inside heater and the Sox second baseman flared out to shallow left field.
End 6th, Red Sox 2-0: While Price faltered in the 6th, Buchholz cruised as the righty was able to keep the Rays at bay and preserve the 2-0 lead heading into the 7th.
Mid 6th, Red Sox 2-0: The Red Sox struck first as Cody Ross found the big gap in left-center to get the Sox on the board. With two outs and one on, Ross launched a changeup to the fence which allowed Iglesias to score easily from second base to give the Sox the 1-0 lead.
Lavarnway would add to the lead a pitch later as he absolutely smoked a liner up the middle, off a diving Ben Zobrist's mitt and into center to score Ross from second. With Lavarnway on first, Gomez smacked a single to shallow right to put runners at first and second for Aviles. After a passed ball, the runners advanced to second and third but Aviles would end it via groundout.
Iglesias is now 2-for-2 off Price, as his leadoff grounder to Zobrist (that was bobbled in the hole) was ruled a base hit.
End 5th, 0-0: Ladies and gentleman, we officially have a pitchers' duel.
With two out and one on, Jennings roped a single to left to make it first and third. However, Buchholz would get Upton to fly out to deep right to end the threat. Through five full frames Buchholz has allowed just three hits while Price has allowed three as well. Buchholz has just two strikeouts to Price's five and has thrown 72 pitches to Price's 69.
Mid 5th, 0-0: Well, at least we got to witness one of baseball's most exciting plays: the old strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out. Aviles was absolute toast at second after Nava struck out looking. Nava has to at least get the bat around on that pitch — even if its an ugly, weak swing — to give the Sox' shortstop a chance at second. Not pretty so far here at the Trop.
End 4th, 0-0: Buchholz didn't work up much of a sweat in that one — and no, not because Ciriaco is no longer manning center.
The righty needed just six pitches in the 1-2-3 fourth frame.
Mid 4th, 0-0: That's it for Mr. Ciriaco. After the top half of the fourth, Bobby pulled the center fielder and replaced him with Jacoby Ellsbury. Two strikes and you're out.
End 3rd, 0-0: Another inning, another Ciriaco blunder.
This time, however, the Sox center fielder lost a pop up in the Trop's roof. No harm, no foul?
Mid 3rd, 0-0: Iglesias attacked Price's first-pitch fastball and was able to drive a base hit back up the middle with one out. In doing so, his average jumps from .057 .083.
Longoria made a pretty sweet play on a slow grounder in and to his left if you're into that kind of thing, too.
End 2nd, 0-0: The Rays failed to take advantage of their first break of the contest. The home team left two runners on after Ciriaco and Nava had some communication issues out in right-center.
Ciriaco's inexperience showed as he didn't attack Longoria's slicing (and very catchable) gap shot. The center fielder is the boss of the outfield — he calls the shots and has the final say on any fly ball in the outfield. Ciriaco, likely a bit hesitant being in CF, wasn't going hard to the ball and it looked as though Nava even had to call him off at the last second … but it was too late. Longoria would wind up on second (scored a double) and then move to third on a ground out to short two batters later.
With two down, Luke Scott drew a walk to give the Rays a first and third situation before Scott would take second on an uncontested steal. Carlos Pena would strike out on a 3-2 heater to end the threat.
Mid 2nd, 0-0: Price mixed in a bit of everything that inning as he got the Sox to pop out (Gomez), ground out (Aviles) and strike out (Nava).
End 1st, 0–0: A relatively calm first shift for Buchholz as the righty threw just 11 pitches and got three groundouts.
Mid first, 0-0: Dustin Pedroia's broken bat groundout highlighted a pretty dull top half of the first. Pedie's bat barrel snapped off and came flying back at Price, who had to hop over the lumber as the ball floated over his head.
The southpaw must have been a little startled as he booted a comebacker off the bat of Ross during the next at-bat,. He managed to settle down after the odd plays as he struck out Lavarnway (looking) to end the frame.
7:14 p.m.: Any other old school baseball fans out there remember Jose Oquendo? Ciriaco (starting in center tonight) may be the closest thing the Sox have to "The Secret Weapon" (Video).
OK, maybe not.
3:30 p.m.: Pedro Ciriaco is leading off and playing center field, meaning Jacoby Ellsbury will likely be sitting this one out. Check out the entire Sox lineup below.
Pedro Ciriaco CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Cody Ross DH
Ryan Lavarnway C
Mauro Gomez 1B
Mike Aviles 3B
Daniel Nava RF
Scott Podsednik LF
Jose Iglesias SS
Clay Buchholz P
8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox will have their work cut out for them in Thursday's series finale as they go against lefty ace, David Price.
Price, who was excellent against the Yankees last week after skipping a start due to shoulder soreness, struck out six and allowed just two runs in two frames against the Yanks. The 27-year-old southpaw is 18-5 with a 2.54 ERA this season and is 7-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 13 career starts against the Sox.
Buchholz is 11-6 with a 4.33 ERA this season. The righty last won a game on Aug. 16 and the Sox are just 1-4 in his last five starts. Getting a no decision in his last outing (which the Sox won), Buchholz allowed just two runs (one earned) and four hits in seven frames but tied a season-high in walks, as he allowed five free passes. He does, however, have a 3.16 ERA over 12 starts since the All-Star break.
Coverage kicks off at 6 p.m. on NESN.
