Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4 Boston Red Sox 8 (May 26, 2006)
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0 commentsIn a game that saw David Wells throw four strong innings, but leave in the 5th after being hit by a line drive, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-4 for their second straight win. He was replaced by Julian Tavarez, who would prove reliable as a long relief man in this game, getting his first win of the season.
The first three innings were a pitching showdown, as both Scott Kazmir and David Wells were excellent. The first run of the night came in the fourth inning off the bat of Carl Crawford, who got a home run to right field, making it 1-0, Tampa.
When Wells was hurt in the 5th Boston was behind 1-0, but the Sox rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The offense began with a Willy Mo Peña single; he went to second with the help of Alex Gonzalez. A walk to Kevin Youkilis loaded the bases, and David Ortiz capitalized on that with a three-run double, making it 3-1 Boston.
The sixth would see three more Boston runs scored, starting with a walk to Varitek, then a home run by Mike Lowell, increasing the score to 5-1 Boston. Alex Gonzalez singled again (he's performed much better since his two days of rest), Youkilis singled, then Mark Loretta drove in another run on a sacrifice fly, making it 6-1 Boston.
In the 7th Tampa attempted a rally, starting with a one-out single by Toby Hall. Aubrey Huff then singled, Hall moved to third, then Damon Hollins sent Hall home on a single to second base. Aubrey Huff then crossed home for Tampa, making it 6-3 Boston. In the home half of the 7th, Boston would get a run thanks to a Trot Nixon single sending Mike Lowell home from second.
The next inning started off poorly for Boston, with Carl Crawford homering again, this time off reliever Keith Foulke, making it 7-4. Foulke left immediately (after exchanging some words with a fan near the dugout), and Rudy Seanez came in as the pitcher for Boston, and finished the inning. In the bottom of the eighth Alex Gonzalez singled, Loretta was walked, then David Ortiz singled, sending Gonzalez home and making it 8-4 Boston.
In the ninth Damon Hollis singled, then Travis Lee lined out to second. Joey Gathright popped out to Trot Nixon, then Julio Lugo singled into center, giving Tampa men at the corners with the night's and bringing Jonathan Papelbon out of bullpen to face Carl Crawford. Crawford lined out to Manny Ramirez, ending the game.
Notes:
Outfielder Dustan Mohr was sent to AAA Pawtucket before the game to clear room on the roster for David Wells.
Date
May 26, 2006
