Bay And Drew Power Another Sixth Inning Run Outburst As Red Sox Tame Rays 7-3

It was the bottom of the sixth inning at Fenway Park Friday night and James Shields had had his way with the Boston Red Sox, his team leading the home club by a score of 3-0. But not for long. Jason Bay, who would be the American League MVP if the voting took place now, clubbed a three run tater and JD Drew, following a Mikey Lowell double, smashed a two run shot to make it 5-3 good guys...just like that. Bing, bang, boom...SOX WIN 7-3. Starter Brad Penny pitched well enough to win, going 6 1/3 innings and giving up three runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out two. Hideki Okajima, who has been completely on top of his game, inherited a jam in the bottom of the seventh after Penny left and promptly and efficiently retired the two batters he faced. That was the last gasp for the Rays. Ramon Ramirez retired the last two men in the top of the eighth and Jonathon Papelbon pitched a one hit scoreless ninth to nail it down in a non-save situation. Jason Bay, who so far is hitting .323 with nine taters, a team leading 32 RBIs and a staggering OPS of 1.154, MVP numbers if the voting took place this weekend, said this about that...

“I don’t like to look at my numbers,” he said. “Occasionally, I’ll accidentally glance at the scoreboard and see my average, but it’s not something I focus on. I don’t jump on the Internet every morning or tear through the stats pages. It’s a long season. It would be counterproductive to focus on today.”

That's OK, Jason. We're so glad you're here and Manny is gone, way gone, fifty games gone. Red Sox Nation wouldn't have it any other way. Boston manager Terry "Tito" Francona had this to say about Bay and his bat...

“He’s right smack in the middle of the game when we need him,” Sox manager Terry Francona said. “It seems like he’s getting huge hits.”

He IS getting huge hits, Tito. And so on this Saturday, the Red Sox are playing good baseball, sound and fundamental baseball. They're fun to watch and they're able to put some crooked numbers up on the scoreboard in a hurry. Kevin Youkilis will have to sit out today's game but expect him back soon and as you saw, Jacoby Ellsbury was back in centerfield last night. Today, Jon Lester will face the always tough lefty Scott Kazmir, who the Red Sox try to wear down by trying to lay off pitches just out of the strike zone. If Lester has the stuff he had for his last start, overpowering and pounding the strike zone, only good things will follow. The game will commence with the first pitch at 3:40pm EDT. Enjoy it and enjoy your Saturday. You can click on this post's title for more Red Sox news from the Boston Globe and as always, BE WELL. I'd love to read some of your comments...it's been a while. But no matter what, I'll see you...soon. That's a promise. I keep my promises to you, my Constant Readers. Thanks for making this a daily stop. You make me so very happy.