Phenom Casey Kelly was better than his line suggests. His three innings facing major league hitters (in his first outing against Baltimore earlier this month he faced mostly minor leaguers at the end of the game) were solid.
It's a matter of a couple of years before we see him at Fenway if everything progresses the way it should. He has all the tools and appears to have his head screwed on straight.
Anthony Rizzo and Josh Reddick homered for the Sox and Kevin Frandsen had a nice at-bat before his game-tying hit in the ninth.
The big guns get back it Wednesday in Sarasota when Jon Lester goes against Baltimore. It is the final road game in Florida for the Sox. We'll follow all the action right here.
Final, 9-9: It's like kissing your sister, right? The Sox and Rays tie in their sixth and final meeting of the spring.
We'll be back to offer a few insights after hearing from Terry Francona.
Mid 9th, 9-9: Kevin Frandsen gets his first big moment in a Red Sox uniform with a two-out, two-strike RBI single to tie it in the ninth.
If the Rays do not score in this half of the ninth it might be over. Joe Maddon and Terry Francona are both discussing things with the umpires. The Sox may go 0-5-1 against the Lightning, I mean Rays, this spring.
End 8th, Rays 9-8: The Red Sox have three outs before they fall to 0-6 against the Rays this spring. Chad Paronto gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth on Tampa Bay's 16th hit of the game.
Mid 8th, 8-8: A lot of guys with numbers 70 and above on their jerseys out there. One such player, Jason Place, loops a two-out single down the line in right to plate the tying run.
UMass product Chad Paronto is on the mound for the Sox. He came on to get the last out of the seventh.
End 7th, Rays 8-7: This was once a six-run Red Sox lead, wasn't it? I guess the Rays just have Boston's number this spring.
Daniel Bard was knocked around a bit and the go-ahead run came in on a fly ball to left that someone (I can't see who is out there now and I'm not in the press box so I don't get the announcements) lost in the sun/wind.
That's two lazy flies the Sox have come nowhere near catching.
For those of you tired of the Rays running up the score on the Sox, here is some good news.
Tim Wakefield threw three scoreless innings at the minor league complex today. He did not allow a hit, struck out three and walked two while facing Tampa Bay Double-A hitters. Victor Martinez caught Wakefield and went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk.
You're welcome.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 7-4: We missed a full inning of action but the score remains the same and we got to hear some good things from Casey Kelly.
The Sarasota native said the only voice he could hear out there was his mom's, which makes sense to many of us.
He has been practicing on the Portland field at the team's minor league complex and figures to break camp with the Double-A squad.
Kelly also talked about how he grew up watching the Rays and how thrilling it was to be facing them.
We will have more on his day after the game.
In the Sox' half of the seventh both Josh Reddick and Tug Hulett had hits. They've really done a number with the bat this spring.
2:55 p.m.: Off to hear from Casey Kelly.
Mid 5th, Red Sox 7-4: Josh Reddick's quality spring continues as he hammers his second home run with one out in the fifth.
Reddick is now hitting .400 (20-for-50) with a team-high 36 total bases.
End 4th, Red Sox 6-4: Tug Hulett is getting a look at shortstop today and while his bat continues to impress, his glove does not.
He loses a pop in the sun, allowing the leadoff man to get on. Ramon Ramirez, on in relief of Casey Kelly, then gives up two more singles before a run comes in on a beautiful double play by Adrian Beltre.
Hulett then was a tad slow getting to a ball in the hole, which allowed another run to come in and extend the inning. It was not an easy play, but he didn't reduce the difficulty level with a very cautious approach to the ball.
By the way, here is Kelly's line:
3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
It looks worse than it was. He threw pretty well and that infield single with two outs in the third hurt him.
Mid 4th, Red Sox 6-2: A rough afternoon for the captain. Jason Varitek has struck out three times in four innings.
Varitek was brought up to play DH and get in a few at-bats. They're not going well.
End 3rd, Red Sox 6-2: Casey Kelly was nearly out of a mess but did not get a call at first base. The Rays then got to the youngster.
With two outs Kelly fielded a tapper up the line that Carl Crawford barely beat out to keep alive the inning. A walk to Ben Zobrist loaded the bases and Carlos Pena crushed a single on the first pitch he saw.
Pena's hit was the only solid contact of the inning. Kelly hurt himself with two walks.
He did battle back to strike out B.J. Upton with two on.
Mid 3rd, Red Sox 6-0: There's always so much talk around Red Sox camp about pitching, run prevention and if the offense is still up to snuff. Nobody ever discusses baserunning, but it's a big part of the game as well and the Sox just showed some alertness on the paths.
With one out and Adrian Beltre on first, Josh Reddick lofted one into no-man's land in shallow center. When the ball fell for a hit, Beltre broke to second and then continued all the way to third as the third baseman had raced to cover the vacated second base bag.
Beltre made it easily and Reddick, seeing second still open (the third baseman had chased after Beltre), slid in safely for what I think was scored a double.
That was all a precursor for the big bats to follow. Tug Hulett ripped a two-run double to up his team lead in RBI to 15 and Anthony Rizzo crushed a two-run shot to right.
End 2nd, Red Sox 2-0: The Rays get their second hit off Casey Kelly but Willy Aybar is thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
One observation on Kelly, whom I am seeing live for the first time. He is not afraid to throw off-speed stuff in fastball counts. Great mound presence, good stuff. And he doesn't turn 21 until October.
Rafael Soriano is on in relief for the Rays.
Mid 2nd, Red Sox 2-0: Not that anyone cares, but I am the sole reporter in the overflow media section which is situated behind home plate in the actual crowd. While the others are treated to all the Mountain Dew they can drink, I have a pretty good shot at a foul ball. One just landed a few rows away.
Anyway, the Sox strand two when Bill Hall strikes out to end the top half of the second.
End 1st, Red Sox 2-0: Sporting a glove as red as a rose, Casey Kelly gets past a leadoff double by Jason Bartlett, and looks good doing it.
Kelly froze Carl Crawford on a fastball on the corner and got a couple of grounders from Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena (into the shift).
Terry Francona said the other day that Kelly will throw between 60-65 pitches.
Mid 1st, Red Sox 2-0: Joaquin Benoit gets himself into immediate trouble in the first and Adrian Beltre, batting cleanup, makes him pay.
Mike Cameron was hit by a pitch and Bill Hall walked. After Jason Varitek struck out, Beltre lined a two-run triple down the line in right.
Beltre is heating up at the right time after a slow start to his spring.
12:53 p.m.: With my tour in Florida ending in a couple of days, I've determined that Charlotte Sports Park is high on the list of venues down here.
I've heard some people say they aren't fond of it, but the area is a bit more pastoral. There is a lake aside the parking lot and a fairgrounds offering bull riding exhibitions across the street.
And everyone, EVERYONE, sings along with the national anthem.
12:25 p.m.: The update on Junichi Tazawa came in today. Terry Francona said that the minor league righty has an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right elbow.
11:35 a.m.: Greetings from Charlotte Sports Park, where the sun is shining and the humid conditions of the past few days have left town. It's a great day for a game.
Here are your starting lineups:
Red Sox
Mike Cameron, CF
Bill Hall, RF
Jason Varitek, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Josh Reddick, LF
Tug Hulett, SS
Dusty Brown, C
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Kevin Frandsen, 2B
Rays:
Jason Bartlett, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Carlos Pena, 1B
B.J. Upton, DH
Willy Aybar, 3B
Pat Burrell, RF
Dioner Navarro, C
Gabe Kapler, CF
8:00 a.m.The Red Sox have one more chance to get a win over the Tampa Bay Rays when the teams meet in a matinee at Charlotte Sports Park.
With Monday's 9-3 win over the Sox, the Rays improved to 5-0 in the Grapefruit League series. Tampa Bay has averaged 8.2 runs against Boston pitching.
However, the Rays have yet to see top Red Sox pitching prospect Casey Kelly, who will get the start in place of Tim Wakefield. Kelly will throw about 60-65 pitches while Wakefield gets work at the team's minor league complex.
First pitch is 1:05 p.m.
