Red Sox-Rays: Updates

(4:54, Game Over)
Troy Percival has retired the Sox in order in the ninth. Jacoby Ellsbury hit a long drive to right to end the game.

(4:48, top 9th, 5-3 Rays)
Great performance by Carl Crawford. Six steals ties a modern record held by four players who have done it five times.. Eric Young last did it for the Rockies in 1996; Otis Nixon in 1991, Eddie Collins did it twice for Philadelphia. The Rays have eight on the day. Tough day for Sox pitchers and Jason Varitek. There was also a questionable sac bunt by Hernandez in the eight which moved the runner along and allowed the runner to get into scoring position. The ball looked as if it kicked out down the line at first, but homeplate umpire Marty Foster ruled otherwise.
(4:37, bottom eighth, 4-3 Rays) Don't know about this TB bullpen. Kevin Youkilis just crushed a ball to deep center for a 2-run homer with Dustin Pedroia aboard against JP Howell. What a clutch player. On the other hand, Big Papi continues to struggle - a tapper back to Howell in this inning making him 0-for-3 with a walk. The Sox put two runners on base after the Youk homer against Dan Wheeler, who relieved Howell, but couldn't make this game even. Stranded were Drew, who stroked his third hit, and Jason Bay, who walked again. Youk by the way is 5-for-12 with 5 RBI in this series.
strong>(3:58, bottom seventh, 4-1 Rays) Nice 5-steal game for Carl Crawford. Dexter Fowler stole five for the Rockies the day after Jacoby Ellsbury stole home. Crawford has stolen these pretty cleanly. Manny Delcarmen had a bit of a control issue here in the 7th. He hit carlos Pena with a pitch to load the bases and then hit Pat Burrell in the stomach/ribs to force in a run. Francona yanked him in favor of lefty Hunter Jones.
(3:47, bottom seventh, 3-1 Rays) The Red Sox have issued the following statement on departed COO Mike Dee, who was introduced as the Miami Dolphins CEO this afternoon in Miami:
“The departure of Mike Dee marks a great loss for the Boston Red Sox, and other NESV affiliates,” said Principal Owner John Henry. “His rare combination of imagination and ingenuity has helped this franchise reach historic milestones on and off the field. His work with Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing were critical to the growth and success of those entities, and his work with every facet of NESV set high standards of excellence across the board.”

“The strength of this organization comes from its people, and the success of the Red Sox demonstrates the impact that a creative individual like Mike Dee can have on a franchise and its fans,” said Chairman Tom Werner. “Mike played a key leadership role in one of the most productive front office teams in Major League Baseball. His indefatigable nature ensured that our partners, sponsors, and fans always received the highest possible value for their investment in this team.”

“Mike and I have enjoyed a deep friendship and built strong professional bonds since we met in Baltimore over 15 years ago, and I will miss him in both capacities,” said President/CEO Larry Lucchino. “Mike is a good, fun guy, and our accomplishments in San Diego and Boston are in a major way attributable to his broad talents and dedication. He is one of the most creative, versatile, and energetic executives in all of sports; the Miami Dolphins could not have selected a better person for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them. For this position, Mike Dee is a bona fide first round draft pick.”
3:40, bottom sixth, 3-1 Rays) Certainly not a bad outing for Penny. At times he has been dominant with his fastball, but he still makes his share of mistakes and the Rays have gotten around on enough of his fastballs to make the difference. Terry Francona and John Farrell were trying to get him through six and they did. Penny allowed a two-out double to Jason Bartlett. Penny threw 110 pitches. Looks like Manny Delcarmen will come in the seventh.
(3:14, bottom fifth, 3-1 Rays)
James Shield is pitching like...well... James Shields. When he's on he's pretty dominating. After the semi-rough first inning, the Sox have put up zeroes. Shields entered the game 2-5 with a 5.59 ERA against Boston, but was 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA at The Trop.
routh(3:07, bottom fourth, 3-1 Rays)
Suffice to say, Julio Lugo should have had the feed from Dustin Pedroia on Michel Hernandez' groundball which might have resulted in a twin-killing in the fourth. Hernandez runs pretty well for a catcher, and he even stole second base after he reached because Penny never even looked at him at first base. Penny certainly wasn't hit hard in that inning, an opposite field double by Akinori Iwamura and a bloop single by Jason Bartlett after he'd walked Ben Zobrist
. (2:39, bottom third, 1-1) Patrick Schuster, the senior lefty from New Port Richey's Mitchell High, threw out the first pitch. Schuster recently had a Florida record string of four consecutive no-hitters snapped. Schuster is projected to be a second to fifth round pick. He's medium thrower 88-92. He's signed to attend University of Florida, but may go to school if he's not drafted high.
(2:30, top 3rd, 1-1) Looks like Brad Penny has settled down, throwing a little harder. Got his fastball up to 95 in the second inning after an adventerous first when he allowed a run and could have allowed more if not for a nice comeback in striking out Pat Burrell and Ben Zobrist with runners in scoring position after Carlos Pena's RBI double. The Sox scored first off James Shields on a bases loaded single by J.D. Drew. Good crowd here but not sold out.