Boston Red Sox cruise past Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 – MLB Update
The Boston Red Sox concluded their most successful road trip in 34 years on Thursday, June 16, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg.
This was the 11th win in the 12 games the Red Sox have played.
"It was a great road trip. We did a lot of good things," third baseman Kevin Youkilis said. "The biggest thing is finishing out games. We don't have to score 15 runs or throw one-hitters. It's doing the little things like we did tonight."
David Ortiz kicked off the game with his characteristic hit, scoring the first run for the Red Sox and giving the team an early lead. Ortiz’ hit came against David Price who was otherwise tough on other hitters.
Clay Buchholz then pitched a scoreless inning to maintain the lead following which Darnell McDonald singled to centre to double the lead. Dustin Pedroia charged Price and doubled to right to take the lead to 3-0 by the end of the second inning.
Sam Fuld scored the first run for the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning with his double to left. Once the second inning came to end, the starters went ahead with unhittable fastballs to contain the hitters.
Buchholz pitched into the fifth inning, as did Price of the Rays, who were then relieved by Alfredo Aceves and Juan Cruz respectively. The Rays’ hitter Casey Kotchman got on Aceves’ fastball and homered to right to bring the lead down to 3-2 for the Rays.
However, the relief pitchers of the Red Sox then remained unyielding in an effort which was aimed at containing the Rays’ hitters. They had outperformed the Red Sox offence in the first game of the series. Daniel Bard pitched a scoreless and hitless eighth
inning to maintain the Red Sox 3-2 lead.
Kyle Farnsworth who replaced Peralta of Tampa Bay in the top of ninth inning was taken to task by Adrian Gonzalez who homered to take the lead to 4-2 for the Red Sox, much to the chagrin of the Rays’ reliever.
Jonathan Papelbon ensured the victory for the Red Sox in the ninth inning. Although he gave up two hits, he did not allow the Rays’ hitters to go for any run to accomplish a magnificent 4-2 victory for the Red Sox.
Boston now leads the American League with .603 PCT, having 41 wins and 27 losses.
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