Red Sox Snap Scoreless Tie, The Rays Of The Top Five Hundred
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Dustin Pedroia honored with two outs in the top of the round of 16, snapping a tie and giving the nonprofit Boston Red Sox a 1-0 victory over Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night.
Josh Beckett and five relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter for the Red Sox, who won for the eighth time in nine games, retains a lead of 1 1/2-game the Second New York Yankees in the Middle -AL.
Alfredo Aceves (5-1) started three games without a goal for the win. Jonathan Papelbon worked the bottom of the 16th of his 21st save 22 times.
It was the longest 1-0 game in the big league Brewers at Angels 8 June 2004 was 17 innings, according to STATS LLC. The longest game ever was 1-0 between the Mets and Astros 24 rounds in 1968.
Both teams have outstanding performance of their starting pitchers, with Beckett allows one shot - one infield - and Tampa Bay Jeff Niemann limited the Red Sox-end power for two singles through eight innings. They both also missed opportunities to win long before she ends after five hours, 44 minutes - the longest by time in the Rays franchise history.
Beckett limited the Rays a hit in a 3-0 shutout at Tropicana Field complete game last month, and All-Star right-hander was just as hard for them this time.
Reid Brignac third inning, infield single was knocked off the Tampa Bay isolated Beckett, June 15 Back grounder to the mound Evan Longoria thrown against the pitcher in his right foot with two outs in the first and was the only blemish on his pitching line Sunday as he struck out six and retired the last 22 batters to face him.
Niemann was almost as good while working eight innings of the season, allowing two to Adrian Gonzalez singled in the first and only Pedroia the bottom of the left-field line leading to the fourth. On June 9 feet with a right-hander walked Reddick and Scutaro in the fifth with two outs in the eighth inning broke a run of 10 vertices, and not allow a baserunner past second.
Pedroia finished with three Red Sox to five hits. The rest of the team was 2-for-45.
Both teams lost the chance to win in the ninth.
The Red Sox loaded the bases Pedroia double and two walks by reliever Kyle Farnsworth Reddick escaped by getting to fly in center field. Longoria flied to right, sending the game into extra innings, after Boston Daniel Bard gave up a two-out single to Johnny Damon and Ben Zobrist walked in the bottom of the ninth.
Boston missed to take the lead when Gonzalez lined a corner lot in left field in the foul territory in the grand 10th and failed to score after loading the bases with no outs on three walks in the 11th . Jake McGee struck Reddick Cruz and fanned Varitek and got Scutaro to error out of the inning.
Manager Joe Maddon of the Rays and bench coach Dave Martinez were ejected by plate umpire Chad Fairchild, in the 11th inning. Maddon was launched during a pitching change, leaving Martinez to lead the Rays. Martinez was sent off after coming off the bench to talk to Fairchild after Scutaro slammed his bat on the ground in frustration after the expulsion.
The bat catcher Kelly Shoppach ran, but did not prevent him making the catch.
The Red Sox improved to 12-2 since June 30 trails the best record in the league 57-36. The Rays third, have lost nine of 15 to fall seven games of the season fast pace in the division.
Beckett was retired All-Star Game in Phoenix Tuesday night, after feeling pain in his left knee during warming in the bullpen. The right-hander only five strong innings in his last start against Baltimore before the break after a slight hyperextension of the knee on a wet mound at Fenway Park.
Since then spend six weeks on the DL with a lower back strain, Niemann has turned his season around four strong performances in five starts since his return June 20 against Milwaukee. In six starts before going on the DL, he went 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA.
Game Rating
Boston manager Terry said Franco LF Carl Crawford (left hamstring thesis) will be the starting line Monday night game in Baltimore. He completed two rehabilitation games at Triple-task in Pawtucket on Saturday. ... Tampa Bay RF Matt Joyce was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore knee. For the first time the All-Star was injured when the ball is dirty right kneecap in the fifth inning Saturday. He pinch hit in the ninth against the Bard, and lined out. ... LHP Jon Lester Red Sox (strained back muscle) is scheduled to join the rotation and pitch Tuesday against Kansas City. ... David Ortiz had no news of his appeal four-game suspension because of the Boston bench clearing melee with Baltimore on July 8. Slugger think that could have an update on Monday.
