Red Sox best Rays, 7-3, to take the series win
The Boston Red Sox topped the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon via a 7-3 victory, marking the first time the Sox won a three-game series since taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays back on June 25-27. The Red Sox cruised to victory on the strength of their bats, as two home runs — one from Mike Avilles and one from Daniel Nava — helped the Red Sox to the 7-3 win.
Josh Beckett got off to a shaky start after letting up three runs in the first inning; however, Beckett was able to snap out of it and pitched a scoreless five more innings before being relieved by Junichi Tazawa. Red Sox hitters also stepped up their game in the fifth and sixth innings. Daniel Nava started off the fifth inning with a 391-foot home run. Then, Will Middlebrooks hit a two-run single out to center field to knock in Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross.
The Red Sox will be looking to continue their strong play when they take on the the White Sox at Fenway Park this week.
Bright Spots:
– Jacoby Ellsbury recently returned from the DL, and Carl Crawford is scheduled to return to action soon. The return of such important players could spark some life into the last-place Sox. Crawford played with the Pawtucket Red Sox for a short time while dealing with an elbow injury and is expected to return to Boston on Monday. Ellsbury returned to action on Friday for the beginning of the series with the Rays after being out since April with a shoulder injury. Ellsbury went 6-for-14 and scored a run over the weekend.
– Adrian Gonzalez made an unexpected, but welcomed emergence into the line up for the Red Sox final game against the Rays. Gonzalez was feeling better Sunday after being out of the games Friday and Saturday with back pains. Gonzalez immediately helped the Red Sox with an RBI single in the first inning.
– Josh Beckett had been struggling and was winless in his last six outings prior to Sunday’s game. Beckett broke that streak Sunday night with the win against Tampa Bay.
Downers:
-Red Sox will meet the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox this week. The White Sox are 49-39 while theRed Sox are just a game above .500 at 45-44.
Looking ahead:
Red Sox will return home Monday for a four game home series with the Chicago White Sox. This will be the first meeting of the Red Sox and recently traded Kevin Youkilis.
