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WP- C. Buchholz (6-3)
LP- D. Price (7-6)
S- J. Papelbon (13)
The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox have a history of playing hard against one another. Call it animosity. Call it little brother syndrome. Call it what you will. Every game between the two organizations is interesting and Thursday didn’t disappoint.
During the first inning, both benches were warned after David Price beamed Kevin Youkilis to load the bases. Price didn’t comment on the issue but speculation is that Price was returning the favor based on Tuesday night when Youkilis kicked the Rays Casey Kotchman in the left ankle, leaving a bruise. Though Price may have earned style points with his teammates he ultimately put himself and his team behind the eight ball for the remainder of the night.
By hitting Youkilis, Price loaded the bases, and eventually walked in the go ahead run. Also, the warning seemed to have affectively taken away Price’s ability and confidence to attack the inside of the plate. Even accidentally hitting a batter would result in a rejection and possible suspension and fines. The result was a rattled Price that never really settled down. He gave up a couple of runs in the second inning and was gone by the fifth.
Despite shaky pitching, the Rays fought back with Sam Fuld’s second inning double that scored Upton making the score 3-1. Buchholz wasn’t stellar but was affective in handling the Rays lineup through five innings. In the fifth Buchholz left the game with back soreness and Alfredo Aceves entered the game for the Red Sox’s. Tampa responded with a Casey Kotchman solo homerun that brought the Rays within one run.
The Rays kept the game close until the ninth when Adrian Gonzalez jacked a solo homerun of Kyle Farnsworth restoring Boston’s two-run lead. Despite giving up the additional run the Rays made it interesting in the bottom half of the inning. Kotchman led off with a double and BJ Upton reached base on an infield single. Unfortunately, Elliot Johnson responded with committing the ultimate sin. While attempting the sacrifice bunt he popped the ball up to record the first out without advancing any of the runners. Jonathan Papelbon followed by striking out Justin Ruggiano and Sean Rodriguez to end the game. Papelbon recorded his 13th save of the season. Boston took the series 2-1
