Game 93: Sox 1 Rays 0

Marathon! The ESPN announcers (who by the way, are infinitely better than last game's Fox announcers) were joking in the 10th that the Yankees, who play the Rays next, were probably at the hotel hoping this game goes 15 innings. Well, they got more than they wished for as the Sox and Rays played 16.

Great starting pitching from both teams. Beckett went eight innings and only gave up an infield single off of his foot in the first. No walks and 6 Ks. Jeff Niemann matched him going 8 innings with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 10 Ks. After the starters were out of the game, the Sox relievers outshone the Rays going 8 innings with 2 hits, 1 walk, and 7 Ks. The Rays relief gave up only 1 hit between the 9th and 15th but walked 9 batters! The Sox loaded the bases twice (the 9th and the 11th) and scored no runs. In the 11th, the Rays walked the first three batters in the inning and managed to sneak out of trouble unscathed.

Pedroia was really the only bright spot offensively for either team. Three for seven with a walk and the game's only RBI. Reddick walked to start the inning and Varitek sacrificed him over to 2nd. Scutaro reached on an infield single that got Reddick to third but it looked like the Rays were going to escape again as Ellsbury flew out to short left field for the 2nd out in the inning. But Pedroia hit a solid single to plate the run and win the game.

Good to win that series and put a little more distance between us and the Rays.