Tampa Bay Taters Boston

BOSTON: 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 7 1

TAMPA BAY: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 - 4 9 1

This game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays should have ended in the ninth inning with a Boston shutout of Tampa Bay. Instead, Terry choose to take Lester out in the seventh inning with only a two-run Red Sox lead and, unfortunately, the Boston bullpen faltered today and the Rays won in extra innings. Stay with the starter!!! Why is that so hard to do? Don't give the opponents an opportunity to face a pitcher they can hit when there's a small lead. It's so frustrating when Boston suffers an unnecessary loss. Tomorrow in Tropicana Field Boston will try for a split of the two-game series.

=============================================

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Losing Pitcher: Takashi Saito (3)

TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Matt Garza, Winning Pitcher: Lance Cormier

BOSTON: Homeruns: Kevin Youkilis (20), Dustin Pedroia (7)

TAMPA BAy: Homeruns: Evan Longoria (two)

=============================================

RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 43, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

=============================================

Next game: Wednesday 5 August 2009, 4:08 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Brad Penny