Sox take 2 from O’s, head to Tampa

Ty Hampton
Sox Swagger

BOSTON – After taking 2-of-3 from the Orioles at Fenway this weekend, the Sox head to Tampa Bay tonight with a ½ game lead over the Rays and 1-1/2 games back of the AL East-leading Yankees.

It may only be the midway point of the season but every game against the Rays counts big time and don’t think twice about the Sox wanting to glide into the All-Star break next weekend either in 1st or 2nd place in the East standings. By the same virtue, every game counts right now, even if it’s the Orioles. Matter of fact, especially if it’s the Orioles – they’re by far the worst team in baseball right now and there’s no excuse for the Sox’s 6-1 home loss on Independence Day.

On Saturday the Sox took care of business, Jon Lester (10-3, 2.76 ERA) continuing to post a perfect 12-0 record against the boys from Baltimore. The hot lefty – who just got his first All-Star team nod – threw a solid 7 innings and increased his flawless experience with the Orioles by improving his ERA to 2.00 over his 15 career starts against them.

The Sox jumped on Jeremy Guthrie early and often in the 9-3 victory, putting 4 runs up on the board in the 1st inning alone off of doubles from Youkilis, J.D. Drew and Daniel Nava. Ortiz also later doubled and Youk put 2 more on the board with a 2-run blast to left over the Green Monster.

Sunday’s game lacked all the energy and momentum the Sox seemed to be filled to the brim with the day before, as John Lackey again had one of those days where he runs into a middle inning breakdown, giving up 5 runs in the 4th inning. The Sox never could get the bats going against Baltimore’s Matusz who had a good day on the mound. Youkilis went deep for a solo that would be Boston’s only run of the night.

Tonight’s Matchup:
I hope my boys from Boston were just saving up their juice for Tampa, because this is a pivotal series coming up tonight. Some may say ‘Ty, but it’s only July, it’s the all-star break for crimeny’ – I say ‘nay!’ The shape in which a team goes into and comes out of the break is a factor (even more so in the AL East), and anyone who doesn’t think so is delusional.

Dice-K (5-3, 4.5 ERA) will be looking for a bit of redemption tonight against the Rays, facing off against their ace Matt Garza (9-5, 4.08 ERA).

The Sox also will have to go through the Rays series and their finale with the Jays before the break without Clay Bucholz (10-4, 2.45 ERA), who team officials are being cautious with his sore hamstring – doing all you can do for the injury…and that’s give it rest.

AL East
New York 50-31 --
Boston 49-33 1.5
Tampa Bay 48-33 2.0