Monday, September 08, 2008

Zooming In On First Place

It was another banner day for the Red Sox yesterday, as they battered Brandon McCarthy for six runs in less than six innings, and went on to an easy 7-2 win over Texas.

Paul Byrd was terrific, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing just three hits and no runs. Jason Bay and David Ortiz belted home runs, and Alex Cora tripled in a run and scored on Coco Crisp's single. (Papi admitted that his injured wrist is still not 100%, and that the "clicking" in his wrist returned a while back. He says he's feels discomfort once in a while, but he's playing through it.)

The Red Sox took 2 of 3 in Texas, while the suddenly struggling Tampa Bay Rays got swept in Toronto by the Blue Jays, 1-0. Their lead in the East is now at 1 1/2 going into the start of tonight's huge three game series bewteen the two clubs that begins at Fenway. Tampa Bay has now lost 5 of 6, while the Red Sox have won 5 of their last 6. Jon Lester will be matched up against Edwin Jackson, in the biggest series the Rays have played in their short history.

And on the Wild Card front, it got even better for the Red Sox, as Minnesota lost to Detroit, so the Sox are now 6 1/2 games up on them. And for those of you scoring at home, Toronto's win and New York's loss to Seattle drops the Yankees into fourth place.

Bring on the Rays.

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