Boston (14-7) at Tampa Bay (8-14)

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  • Game info: 7:08 pm EDT Thu Apr 30, 2009
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By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN, STATS Senior Writer Apr 30, 1:04 am EDT

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The last time the Boston Red Sox visited Tropicana Field, Matt Garza helped the Tampa Bay Rays end their season.

The teams are going in opposite directions now as the surging Red Sox meet Garza and the struggling Rays on Thursday night to open a four-game series.

Boston (14-7) fell 3-1 in Game 7 of last year’s AL championship series at Tampa Bay (8-14) as it failed to complete a rally from a 3-1 deficit. The Rays advanced to their first World Series behind Garza (1-2, 4.97 ERA), who gave up one run over seven innings in the decisive game and was named ALCS MVP.

The Red Sox split four postseason games at Tampa Bay, but their poor play there in the regular season was a major reason they settled for the wild card. The AL East champion Rays went 8-1 at home versus Boston in 2008.

This series could be different. The Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball with 12 wins in 13 games while the Rays have fallen into last place in the division after dropping every series since opening the season by taking two of three in Boston.

“We’re not really pleased with what’s going on, there’s no question about that,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We should have been able to win more than one series to this point. But it’s early. It truly is early and I’m very optimistic that we can turn this around.

“I have a lot of faith in our guys, it’s just not working right now.”

The Red Sox will try to solve Garza, who is 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA in eight starts against them including the postseason. He earned a 4-3 victory at Boston on April 9 by yielding one run over seven innings.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA in three outings since that win. He allowed four runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 5-2 loss at Oakland on Saturday.

The Rays began looking ahead to this series after losing 8-3 to Minnesota on Wednesday to finish a 3-6 road trip.

“It would be big if we were able to win some games against the Red Sox, that’s for sure,” Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir said. “We just need a kick start. We just need to get going.”

Boston bounced back after its 11-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday with a dramatic 6-5 win in Cleveland the next night. Jonathan Van Every hit his first major league home run in the 10th inning as the Red Sox rallied from a 5-0 deficit after five innings.

“That was a good win,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “I think I’m probably understating it a little bit.”

Francona will turn to Josh Beckett (2-1, 6.00), who will try to beat the Rays for the second time this year. Beckett allowed one run over seven innings on April 7 as the Red Sox opened the season with a 5-3 victory, improving the right-hander to 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 career starts versus Tampa Bay.

Beckett gave up eight runs over five innings and did not get a decision in his last outing, a 16-11 win over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Updated Apr 30, 1:04 am EDT
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings Away/Home Streak L10
Boston 95-67 2nd East Away 39-42 Won 4 4-6
Tampa Bay 84-78 3rd East Home 52-29 Lost 1 6-4
MLB

47 Comments

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  1. $naps
    47. Posted by $naps Fri May 1 4:12pm EDT

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    hey kiwicran, did they let out grammar school early today? ahem, let me say that the spankee and the red sux fans are the sorriest, most pathetic in baseball...why can't you pukes just all get a life instead of insulting each other, it is soooo boring and juvenile... baseball is a beautiful game until you bring up fans from boston and new york and then it gets comical...i truly hope tampa bay or toronto can wup up on both these teams this summer...karma will catch up to you boston pukes too, just like it has in new york....man, people chilll.....let the players play...enjoy the game without this nonsense...GOOOO MARINERS!
  2. Not Brent
    46. Posted by Not Brent Fri May 1 2:42pm EDT

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    Come on now people, the Red Sox did a pre-game scouting report. The pitching staff believed that the best way to win was by letting up hit after hit, and run after run, effectively wearing out the Rays arms. And legs from all the base running. A brilliant move. After tonights game where the rays knock in 15 runs...oh, they'll be tired.
  3. crango
    45. Posted by crango Fri May 1 1:21pm EDT

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    HEY SKANKEE BLOGGERS!!!!!U ALL have ROCKS in your HEADS!!!!!!!SKANKEES SUCK!!!!OOOLLLDDDD!!!OLD MEN!! .500 team at best!!!REDSOX have plenty of youngsters up the ying-yang!!!!GGGOOOOOOOOOOOO BOSOX!!!!! GOOO BIG BAD BRUINS!!!& CELTICS!!!!YEE-HAW!!!HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. cashman bashman
    44. Posted by cashman bashman Fri May 1 1:01pm EDT

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    This just proves sox fans are the worst in baseball.That Nick Swisher pitching incident isnt so funny now is it,but you people dont have the good sense to keep your mouth shut,After reading your blogs after the Swisher deal I just new it would happen to the red sox.What really blows my mind is you guys actually think the yankees are not a good team,Listen I hate the red sox but im not stupid enough to think they are no good,You see thats the differance between knowledgeable fans and yourself.This is not a shot at you sox fans who post reasonable comments this is for you cobbs who cant think of anything except yankees suck and Swisher is the yanks ace and all the other ingenious stuff you morons say.You know who you are your the ones that think since you swept the first series of the yr your clearly the best in baseball,news flash-there will be injuries,slumps,Lucky streaks,and so on.Stay true to form since van whatever had to pitch is he now the sox ace?Then why do you suggest the same everytime the yanks have a bad day,I know why,because you really know nothing about this game which makes you lousy fans and the majority of you think this way.
  5. MIZZLEFIZZLE
    43. Posted by MIZZLEFIZZLE Fri May 1 12:58pm EDT

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    Hey jonah s...u dont pluralize red sox u dumba@@...hahahaha...red soxs!
  6. MIZZLEFIZZLE
    42. Posted by MIZZLEFIZZLE Fri May 1 12:55pm EDT

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    Hahahaha.....man i love baseball season. it brings out the best in everyone.GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  7. Jonah S
    41. Posted by Jonah S Fri May 1 12:49pm EDT

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    Suck it Red Soxs, you just got your butt kicked. Yankee fans, you suck for supporting a team that wants to buy a championship, year after year. Now, the Red Soxs are doing the same thing. Remember last year Red Sox fans, the Rays beat you to go to the World Series. The Red Sox and the Yankees has too many primodonnas on your team that doesn't play as a team. The Rays recout guys that just want to play ball and is not looking solely for money. Thats why the Rays make more money than the Soxs and the Yanks. Go Rays, go Rays, go Rays.
  8. <i>roymorris24</i>
    40. Posted by roymorris24 Fri May 1 11:11am EDT

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    man the red sox are still the best in the al east. so suck it yankees n rays
  9. <i>danfsu02</i>
    39. Posted by danfsu02 Fri May 1 10:47am EDT

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    No need to watch the home run derby this year. I'll just wait for Chien-Ming Wang's next start.
  10. INFERNO
    38. Posted by INFERNO Fri May 1 10:25am EDT

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    Why do people talk about the yankees in a Boston/ Rays section????? U people that live in shi**y baseball cities get over it !!!!!!!!!!! The Rays are a flop and they will prove me right this year and bostons team needs AArp GO YANKEES!!!!!!
  11. <i>knuckles112294</i>
    37. Posted by knuckles112294 Fri May 1 9:48am EDT

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    Boston will fade away, and the Yanks are just starting to roll...wait until A-rod is back in the lineup behind Big Tex. Chamberlain to the bullpen when Wang gets back and Hughes will be the fifth starter
  12. Eurometal
    36. Posted by Eurometal Fri May 1 9:16am EDT

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    Hey Yanks...news flash...you lost by 18 runs to Cleveland. Everyone gets their turn.
  13. MIZZLEFIZZLE
    35. Posted by MIZZLEFIZZLE Fri May 1 7:12am EDT

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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....................LOVE it! At least the Yankees scored in that bad game with Cleveland! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
  14. Lewie
    34. Posted by Lewie Fri May 1 2:54am EDT

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    Hey the sox's had a bad game, big deal. Every team so far has had a bad game. And this wont be the only game they play poorly, there are 162 games, come on! Lets just remember the hot streak they were on, it's not over, they will bounce back, they always do.Anyone remember the 22-4 lose the Yankees were handed by the Indians, was it? But yeah every team is going to lose bug time, lets just hope it's not as bad as 22-4.
  15. John
    33. Posted by John Fri May 1 1:02am EDT

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    Allow me to state the OBVIOUS.....The division title STILL RUNS THROUGH THE TROP!!! GO RAYS!!
  16. Arrowmaker
    32. Posted by Arrowmaker Fri May 1 1:02am EDT

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    One more comment before I sign out of here. Losing 13 to 0 at the end of the season counts no more and no less than losing 13 to 12 or 1 to 0. It's the first time the Sox have been shut out this year (the Rays have been shut out twice the Yanks not at all), its the first time the Sox have lost by double digits (the Yanks have done so twice the Rays once). It's going to be a long season, so all of you who get so worked up that you've worn the paint off the !@#$% buttons need to go see your physician, get on a beta blocker so your heart doesn't explode and calm down just a bit. Try to enjoy baseball, its a game.
  17. John
    31. Posted by John Fri May 1 12:56am EDT

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    The Yankees have severe problems in their pithing to overcome. The starting rotation especially. Unless they can dramatically improve this and settle down this group they r in for a long long season. They are a distant 3rd at best in this division in my opinion at best. Let the best team win. The AL East this year should produce an exciting and interesting race....and in my opinion the Word Series winning team. The Tampa Rays.
  18. Bryan
    30. Posted by Bryan Fri May 1 12:54am EDT

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    First off I am a huge Red Sox fan. I hang my head in shame after this blow out. how can you have a streak like they had and then fold to the rays. I will say this much, the rays are one of the most underrated teams in baseball. they are young and have an abundance of talent. Now this coming from a sox fan might suprise you...The yankees are a damn good team with plenty of talent. Old talent but still talent regardless. I cannot stand the yankees , they are a team built around the principal of money. Once Steinbrenner started calling the shots they went to crap. I believe if he would have stayed out of the teams dealings and let Joe T run the team the way it should have been run I dont think they would be in the same position they are today. Overall i see the yankees as being an overpaid bunch of men who need their ego's stroked. the Rays salary is half of what the yankees is and they seem to be a much better ball club. They have a "team " mentality...i still have to laught CC Sabathia was worth all that money....another steinbreener descision that was a flop. The yankmee's could have gotten 2 pitchers for that kind of money. and although they may have not thrown for the same numbers as cc they probably wouldnt have choked.
  19. John
    29. Posted by John Fri May 1 12:49am EDT

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    let me state the OBVIOUS....the road to the division title STILL runs through the TROP. After a 13-0 drubbing of the BOSOX tonight, thats just what the doctor ordered to help the RAYS reaquire the mental focus and toughness that they showed ALL of last year despite the naysayers on their way to their first division and AL crown. They returned all of their line up from last year that counted, and improved big time in the offseason through aquisitions. This 4 game series is huge. To the REDSOX NATION last time I counted thats 3 of 4 head up this year and that stands to get worse with the 3 of 4 were gonna take this week....or dare say it possibly a SWEEP of the front running SOX??? The bigger Q is when will the Rays clinch?? place your bets now and tale the Rays om;ine to win the Division and finish what they alomost accomplished last year in a World Series Win. 18 to 1 right now. Easy $$$$$$. GO RAYS.
  20. Arrowmaker
    28. Posted by Arrowmaker Fri May 1 12:40am EDT

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    Padded their stats by taking out their starters???? going 0 for 2 or 0 for 4 in one game doesn't really make much difference by the end of the season for someone who's going to get 600+ at bats. Resting a starter (which they did in the last game against the Indians as well) makes sense when you're in the middle of playing 17 days in a row, 12 of those games against the AL East projected challengers, its the end of April with a very long season ahead and the game is out of hand. Francona is a smart manager. Putting in a 29 year old career minor league player to pitch and save the arms in the bullpen (who have already worked quite a lot this year in case you haven't noticed and who are missing one of their primary arms from the pen in Masterson) is a smart move, not some attempt at media hype or even worse an effort at copying the Yankees. The only thing I'd want to copy the Yankees in doing is winning championships, and even saying that makes me a bit nauseated.
  21. John
    27. Posted by John Fri May 1 12:34am EDT

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    Nice post Arrowmaker. Its gonna take a long time for the sports world to get past that but your way to the rung or bust mentality that has so long been the gorilla on the bombers back. I do agree that they r going in the right direction to a very small amount. But they still are bloated with over payed underperforming primma donnas collecting a fat paycheck cashing in om their career stats.
  22. Marc
    26. Posted by Marc Fri May 1 12:27am EDT

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    Oh and one more thing, I really dont see how this proves it to be any sort of fluke? Or that the Rays will bomb, they just smoked the Red Sox. And the Red Sox just preserved their stats by taking out their starters. Class-less @#$%es
  23. Marc
    25. Posted by Marc Fri May 1 12:24am EDT

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    Kinda lame that the Sox couldnt just use their bullpen again, they had to try to be like the Yankees and use their right fielder. Like really? It was done once, its not as OMG when you do it again just to be like your rival. Red Sox sux
  24. Arrowmaker
    24. Posted by Arrowmaker Fri May 1 12:23am EDT

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    EdwardB,

    Most real baseball fans know the yanks have a good (improving recently anyway) farm system. You're wrong on a few of your players though. Bruney was from the Diamondbacks, Albaladejo was Pirates to Nationals to Yankees, and Veras was Rays to Rangers to Yankees.

    The sense of rental players comes from the long time rant about them being the best team money can buy, which really comes from the salaries of about six of the players. ARod, Teixeira (recently), Jeter (160million career earnings), Rivera (100million career earnings), Posada (47million over the last 4yrs alone), Pettite (108million career earnings), Mussina (from the orioles now gone, 109 million over 8years with the yankees) etc. etc. etc.

    Get used to the fact that smaller markets (which for the yankees means all of the other teams) will always criticize the payrolls. The sox are #4 on payrolls but have no individual player in the top 25 paid players in the league.
  25. John
    23. Posted by John Fri May 1 12:04am EDT

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    to DOM K regarding YANKS4.......My vote is with uninformed or just plain dumb. Eddy B put out some good stuff though. The Yankees could suprise if they can calm down their starting rotation and develope some TEAM chemistry though. Im looking forward to a very interesting and exciting season in the AL East race. EVA Longoria in stripes!!!! Im still Laughing!!!!!!!!
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Starting Pitchers

J. Beckett Bos vs. M. Garza TB
17-6 Record 8-12
3.86 ERA 3.95
199 K 189
55 BB 79
1.19 WHIP 1.26

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