Final, 1-1: Extra innings in spring training. Everyone loves that … except for everyone.
As such, this one is over after nine innings, after Joe Maddon and Terry Francona agreed to settle on a tie.
The Sox have some traveling to do, so extra baseball just wasn't necessary. So 25 years from now, when you're asked the trivia question of whether the Red Sox won or lost their final home game at City of Palms Park, you'll know it's a trick question. They tied the Rays.
Middle 9th, 1-1: Blake Maxwell pitched another scoreless inning for the Sox, who haven't allowed a run since the fourth inning. The problem is they haven't scored since then, meaning it's still tied heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Who do you have in your office pool for the Sox' walk-off hit: Jorge Padron, Paul Hoover or Jed Lowrie?
End 8th, 1-1: Wow. Runs just don't want to cross the plate this afternoon in Fort Myers.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia launched a two-out pitch deep to right field, but the ball just didn't carry and Dustin Biell reached up to make the final out of the inning.
Middle 8th, 1-1: Matt Albers pitched around a leadoff single in the eighth to keep this one tied. Due up for the Sox in the bottom of the eighth are Alex Hassan, Drew Sutton and Saltalamacchia.
End 7th, 1-1: For a brief moment, we almost had a run. Almost. Alas, it was not meant to be.
Jed Lowrie led off the inning with a walk, which was followed by a Mike Cameron single. With two on and nobody out … Nate Spears grounded into a double play.
Cesar Ramos then caught Darnell McDonald looking, ending the threat and the inning. The Sox have now stranded eight runners and they're 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Middle 7th, 1-1: It's the seventh-inning stretch, and you have to wonder if anyone will score again in this one.
Dan Wheeler just rolled through his former team in the seventh, striking out Dan Johnson before inducing a pair of flyouts to Elliot Johnson and Matt Joyce.
Jed Lowrie will lead off the bottom half of the inning with his first at-bat of the day.
End 6th, 1-1: The Sox had something going in the sixth, thanks to a Drew Sutton walk and a Jarrod Saltalamacchia single. However, Jorge Padron struck out and Paul Hoover flew out, ending the threat.
The Sox have now left seven runners on base through six frames.
Middle 6th, 1-1: Sean Rodriguez nearly homered with two outs, but the ball sailed just foul and he eventually popped out.
Earlier, Wakefield picked off John Jaso at first base after the catcher led off with a single. Wakefield's through two, working quickly and effectively.
End 5th, 1-1: The Red Sox kept their streak alive of having a batter reach base every inning, but again, there were no runs to be had. Nate Spears drew a two-out walk, but it went for naught. Wakefield is back out for the sixth.
Middle 5th, 1-1: Tim Wakefield didn't show any problems starting this one a few innings late, retiring Brignac, Furmaniak and Biell on a flyout and two groundouts to the mound.
Buchholz finished the day having allowed one hit, two walks, and one run on 78 pitches (44 strikes) over four innings. He's ready for the weekend.
End 4th, 1-1: Gonzalez's opposite-field homer is followed up with a popout from Youkilis and a gap double from Drew. Jorge Padron entered the game to run for Drew, and Varitek struck out to end the inning.
Still, Gonzalez's game-tying homer shows just how dangerous this lineup can be. Even if you get through Ellsbury-Pedroia-Crawford unharmed, it only gets tougher with Gonzalez and Youkilis coming up after that. You knew that, of course, but it's good to see it in action.
Tim Wakefield is on to pitch, while Gonzalez and Youkilis are both done for the day.
Bottom 4th, 1-1: The Red Sox trailed for a grand total of about seven minutes, as Adrian Gonzalez led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer.
Middle 4th, 1-0 Rays: The Rays got their first hit off Clay Buchholz, and with Sean Rodriguez on second after a walk and a steal, Elliot Johnson drove in the first run of the game.
1:59 p.m.: In addition to Nate Spears' entering the game for Pedroia, Darnell McDonald is now in for Carl Crawford. So all that excitement about this lineup that I was selling earlier? Well, it's no more.
End 3rd, 0-0: For the third straight inning, a Red Sox batter reaches base. For the third straight inning, nothing comes of it.
Marco Scutaro led off the inning with a sharply hit single down the left-field line. That's exactly what Francona will hope for with Scutaro in the No. 9 spot, as he can "turn the lineup over" so to speak (that's sort of a nothing phrase, if you ask me … but you didn't).
Ellsbury, Pedroia and Crawford, however, were sat down in order, and Pedroia is now out of the game.
Middle 3rd, 0-0: Another 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz, who induces a pair of groundouts and strikes out Dustin Biell in the middle of it all.
End 2nd, 0-0: The Sox get another base runner but can't do anything with it, and the teams head to the third inning tied at zero.
J.D. Drew hit a liner to right field with two outs, and Matt Joyce's diving attempt was not enough to reel in the ball. Jason Varitek followed, eventually grounding out to third to end the frame.
Middle 2nd, 0-0: Well, so much for the perfect game.
Buchholz walked Matt Joyce with two outs but struck out Reid Brignac to end the inning. Due up: Youkilis, Ortiz, Drew.
End 1st, 0-0: A one-out single by Dustin Pedroia is wasted, as Ellsbury, Crawford and Gonzalez were all retired by Wade Davis.
Middle 1st, 0-0: Groundout, flyout, groundout. That's not a bad way to get back on the mound after a rough outing. Now, let's get a look at that monster Red Sox batting order.
1:04 p.m.: Clay Buchholz is fresh off getting lit up by the Marlins on Thursday, a spring outing that shouldn't be cause for too much concern. Still, you can bet he and the Sox would like to see some solid work today against this Rays lineup:
1. John Jaso, C
2. Sam Fuld, CF
3. Sean Rodriguez, 3B
4. Dan Johnson, DH
5. Elliot Johnson, 1B
6. Matt Joyce, RF
7. Reid Brignac, SS
8. J.J. Furmaniak, 2B
9. Dustin Biel, LF
1 p.m.: They're just about ready for first pitch in Fort Myers, where the Sox will play their final spring training game at City of Palms Park. Terry Francona addressed the crowd, and Carl Crawford was presented with Tampa Bay's "Good Guy" award for 2010.
10 a.m.: All winter, the question has been "What will the Red Sox' lineup be?" On Tuesday in Fort Myers, you may finally have your answer.
Manager Terry Francona is rolling out a lineup that very well could be what we all see on Friday in Texas, save for maybe Jarrod Saltalamacchia replacing Jason Varitek. Here's a look at who the Sox will be sending to the plate against the Rays.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Carl Crawford, LF
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
6. David Ortiz, DH
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Marco Scutaro, SS
You'll notice, of course, that the Nos. 3 and 4 spots and the Nos. 6 and 7 spots feature back-to-back lefties, something that Francona doesn't fear, based on his spring tendencies.
Clay Buchholz will be on the mound for the Sox, opposed by Wade Davis and a "makeshift" lineup from the Rays. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m.
