Wow! Pow! Red Sox Blast Rays

The fifth inning was the key to Wednesday night's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the hot but injured Boston Red Sox. Joe Maddon, the Rays manager, admits he made a mistake. Mike Cameron singled and Marco Scutaro doubled. Men on second and third with first base open was how it stood. Maddon came out to talk to his pitcher, James Shields. He asked him who he wanted to face...David Ortiz or Kevin Youkilis. He could have decided to intentionally walk Papi and face Youk, who has had MUCH less success against Shields. Papi was 11 for 29 and Youk was 3 for 30. A no brainer? Yes. But he decided to face David Ortiz and Big Papi hit the first pitch he saw into the stands for a three run tater and the Red Sox were on their way. Here's Mr. Maddon...

“I decided to pitch to Ortiz right there,’’ Maddon said. “Don’t blame anybody but me. You can consider it a wrong decision and it was tonight as it turned out.’’

Hey Joe, I liked your decision! John Lackey was great for seven innings, giving up only one run on eight hits, walking two and whiffing three. From there, it should have been easy but it wasn't. Okajima came in to presumably complete the eighth inning, but noooo. He got two outs but gave up two resounding hits and two runs. His ERA has ballooned to nearly six and frankly, he looks like a different pitcher than in the past. Bard finished the eighth and I wish Tito had left him in for the ninth because Atchison and Richardson struggled bigtime. Papelbon was finally called on to finish the game and he did just that. The final score was 8-5 good guys. Phew when NO phew should have been needed.

As hinted yesterday, Victor Martinez has been placed on the DL with a slightly fractured tip of his thumb. With any luck, we'll see him around the All Star break. There's good news on the Clay Buchholz front. He'll make his next start next week barring a setback. The Boston Red sox are an injured club but they've "rallied 'round the flag" and are playing great. Tonight's game with the Rays will be Matsuzaka's to win. GO SOX.

You can click on this post's title for more on the Red Sox and as always, BE WELL. See ya.