The Tampa Bay Rays took a two-run lead and blew it open in the top of the eighth inning, scoring six runs en route to a 9-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Manny Delcarmen took the brunt of the damage, failing to record an out while allowing four hits and five runs. The Rays leave Boston in the same shape they entered it, after splitting the mini two-game series with the Red Sox.
Daisuke Matsuzaka took the loss after surrendering three runs to Tampa in the top of the fourth. The Sox managed just one against Rays starter Matt Garza, who earned his ninth win of the season. David Ortiz continued to hit well, recording three of Boston's four runs batted in.
It wasn't the Rays' big bats that did the damage. Tampa's 7-8-9 hitters finished a combined 4-for-12 with three runs scored and seven runs batted in. Former Sox backup catcher Kelly Shoppach doubled in two runs in the first. Then, Shone Rodriguez bashed a two-run single in the 8th. Jason Bartlett followed that up with a three-run homer.
Boston rallied for three runs in the home half of the 8th, but couldn't quite break through. Eric Patterson made his Sox debut as the team tries to cope with its injury issues. With the addition of Victor Martinez to the disabled list, the Red Sox are down two of their best bats and are likely just trying to survive until the All-Star break. Luckily, they've got some time off. After an off day tomorrow, the Sox take on the Orioles in their final three game homestand before the break.
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