Game over: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Strong bullpen, but weak starting pitching and offense today by the Red Sox. Sox take 2 out of 3 against the Jays nontheless. Nick Punto singled with two outs and got to third on a pair of steals, but pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia popped out to end the game. The game was played in 2:52.

Bottom 8th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Rich Hill strands a runner at third by striking out J.P. Arencibia on a called third strike. It's 6-1/3 scoreless innings by Sox bullpen.

Top 8th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Red Sox look like a dead team today. The Bard start seemed to suck the life out of them. They go down in order in the eighth.

Bottom of 7th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Scott Atchison gets a double-play grounder by Jose Bautista and get through the inning.

Top 7th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Drew Hutchinson did a great job keeping the Red Sox at bay. They were never able to get anything going.

Bottom 6th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Don't think anyone expected Franklin Morales to go 4-1/3 innings, but he's done so on 52 pitches. Guessing that's it, but who knows? Morales struck out four and walked none and really has kept the Red Sox alive in this game, though the offense isn't clicking right now.

Top 6th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Red Sox rallied a bit but came up short. Kevin Youkilis was hit with a pitch off the left shoulder and got angry and yelled out at Drew Hutchinson. After Ryan Sweeney struck out, Mike Aviles singled to right. Nick Punto made the final out but stroked it long to left field and Rajai Davis had to track it down in deep left.

Bottom 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Dumb base running by the Jays in this series. David Cooper doubled to left and then tried to stretch to a triple but Daniel Nava threw him out at third on a nice diving tag by Kevin Youkilis. After a Brett Lawrie single, Morales retired Colby Rasmus on a pop up to first. That's 3-1/3 scoreless innings for Morales.

Top 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Kelly Shoppach homered to right field on a 1-1 pitch. Maybe this will get Sox offense going. Scott Podsednik singled to left center and stole second base on a 2-2 count to Daniel Nava, who eventually walked. Adrian Gonzalez popped out, stranding two runners on base.

Bottom 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Morales retires the side. We'll see how long he can go.

Top 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: The Sox go down in order. Hutchinson is now into his second time around the Sox order and still dominating. Both Ortiz and Youkilis struck out. Sweeney battled to 3-2 before flying out deep to left.

Bottom 3rd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Morales had to contend with a Nick Punto throwing error which put Colby Rasmus at second base. Morales struck out two batters in the inning.

Top 3rd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Kelly Shoppach was hit with a pitch (retaliation?). But the Sox went down in order after that as Drew Hutchison regained his composure.

Bottom 2nd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: The ugly outing continued for Bard here the in the second inning. He walked the first two batters. Rajai Davis then bailed out Bard by swinging at bad pitches and struck out. Bard then struck out Kelly Johnson, but Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch off the hands.

Jose Bautista then walked with the bases loaded. Encarnacion was hit off the left hand to force in another run. Encarnacion was in terrible pain, but it gave Franklin Morales enough time to get ready in the bullpen. The crowd started yelling "Get him out!" at Bard. Valentine did just that. He opted for Morales very early, and certainly earlier than Valentine wanted to go to the bullpen, which now faced a maximum 7-1/3 innings of work.

Morales got David Cooper to foul out to third baseman Kevin Youkilis. Bard lasted 1-2/3 innings, 1 hit, 6 walks, 5 runs, two hit batters and two strikeouts. Initial research shows that no pitchers has ever walked six and hit two batters in less than two innings.

Top 2nd: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Mike Aviles singled with two outs before Nick Punto grounded out to end the inning. Looks like the Red Sox may get to Drew Hutchinson at some point in the game, but only if Bard doesn't implode the rest of the way.

Bottom 1st: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Looks like Daniel Bard woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He walked Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar and then rode the count to 3-2 to Jose Bautista, who hit a foul homer to left field. On the next pitch, he straightened it out. A second deck shot, which was also the first hit Bautista has ever had against Bard in 10 at-bats.

Bard then walked Edwin Encarnacion with ball four way outside, eluding catcher Kelly Shoppach. That brought pitching coach Bob McClure to the mound. That seemed to help as Bard started throwing strikes and got David Cooper to bounce back to him to start a 1-6-3 double-play. Brett Lawrie then made a long out to center to get Bard back to the dugout where he needed to regroup. Bard's fastball is around 93 mph and he threw 28 pitches.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Welcome from Rogers Centre. The Red Sox are facing rookie Drew Hutchison today. He's 4-2 with a 4.84 ERA. He's held opponents to a .182 average the first time through the lineup, but .318 thereafter.

Hutchison allowed a two-out double to right to Adrian Gonzalez, who had to hustle into second base to beat Jose Bautista's throw. That was after Daniel Nava worked the count to 3-2 before flying out to left field.

Good morning. Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (28-25)
Podsednik CF
Nava LF
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Sweeney RF
Aviles SS
Punto 2B
Shoppach C
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (5-5, 4.56)

BLUE JAYS (27-26)
Johnson 2B
Escobar SS
Bautista RF
Encarnacion DH
Cooper 1B
Lawrie 3B
Rasmus CF
Arencibia C
Davis LF
Pitching: RHP Drew Hutchison (4-2, 4.84)

Game time: 1:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Blue Jays vs. Bard: Bautista 0-9, Encarnacion 3-7, Escobar 2-9, Johnson 2-9, Arencibia 0-4, Lawrie 2-4, Davis 0-3, Vizquel 1-3, Rasmus 0-2, Cooper 1-1, Mathis 0-1, McCoy 0-1.

Red Sox vs. Hutchison: No history.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox were 30-24 after 54 games last season. With a win today they will be one game off that pace.

Notes: The Sox will try to sweep the Jays behind Bard, who is 0-3, 4.91 in 22 career appearances against Toronto, one of them a start. That came on April 10 when he allowed five runs on eight hits over five innings in a game the Sox lost 7-3. ... Hutchison is a 21-year-old rookie who has started eight games for the Jays. He is coming off seven shutout innings of Baltimore. ... The Sox are 6-1-1 in their last eight series and start the day two games out of first as a result. ... The Sox have won 42 of their last 67 games against Toronto. ... Middlebrooks has hit safely in 21 of his 26 games. ... The Sox lead baseball with 139 doubles. ... Bautista is hitting .205 (17 of 83) against the Sox over the last two seasons, albeit with five homers and 12 RBIs in 23 games.

Song of the Day: "Good Times Roll" by The Cars.

Game over: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 4: That's five of six, six of eight and 16 of 22 for the rampaging Red Sox, who are alone in fourth place and have dumped John Farrell's Jays into last.

Doubront (6-2) gets the win. The Sox are 8-3 when he starts. Good bullpen management by Bobby V that finished with Aceves getting his 14th save. Huge day for Nick Punto (3 for 4, double, homer, two RBIs, 2 runs).

Red Sox are 15-11 on the road with wins in 14 of their last 20.

Middle of the 9th: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 4: It's Nick Punto's world, we're all just living in it. He homered deep to right to start the inning and even watched it a bit.

Punto is 3 for 4 with a double, a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. He had been 7 of 53 (.132) with one extra-base hit and three RBIs this season.

Aceves in to try to close it out.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4: Interesting inning there. Encarnacion singled off Albers. Andrew Miller came in and struck out Rasmus. Padilla came in and Lawrie singled to right. Sweeney double-clutched his throw and threw the ball sideways somehow. Encarnacion scored on the game's fourth error.

Davis then flied to center. With Cooper up, Lawrie tried to steal third and was thrown out by Salty as Yoik made the tag from the seat of his pants.

Dumb, dumb baseball there, trying to steal third with your team down two runs and the tying run at the plate. Very little advantage is gained even if successful.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3: Ortiz singled through the shift with one out against Darren Oliver. Salty then walked. Francisco Cordero came in and walked Youkilis to load the bases. Sweeney grounded softly to first, scoring Ortiz with a pad run. Byrd then lined to left.

Byrd is playing center. Sweeney went to right. Gonzo is at first and Youk is at third. Alvers stays on the mound to start the bottom of the inning.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3: Doubront fanned Johnson and left the game. Albers came in and got the next two outs, Bautista on a fly ball to the fence in left.

Doubront has a 3.75 ERA on the season, 2.72 in his last six starts. He has been their best starter so far, period.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3: The Sox had two on and two outs when Jason Frasor replaced Drabek and fanned Aviles.

Doubront out for the seventh.

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3: 1-2-3 inning for Drabek, who has retired eight straight. Doubront also set down the side in order. He has retired six straight. Felix is at 97 pitches, so perhaps he will get into the seventh inning for the second time this season.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3: The Sox went in order in their half of the fifth. Bautista homered to lead off the bottom of the inning for Toronto, a line shot to left center. He had been 1 for 17 against the Sox this season. Doubront then set down the next three hitters.

Doubront is at 89 pitches and may only have an inning left.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 2: With two outs, Cooper hit a chopper to the left side of the mound. Doubront had a play and flubbed it. Mathis then bunted for a single. A single by Johnson drove in Cooper.

Doubront usually fields his position pretty well, too.

Middle of the 4th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 1: Youkilis doubled and went to third on a throwing error by Bautista in right field. If only the Jays had good outfielders like Adrian Gonzalez.

Sweeney walked. Youkilis then scored when Middlebrooks grounded into a double play.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1: The Sox went in order in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, Mathis homered with one out. Johnson and Escobar singled before Bautista hit a fly ball to center. Encarnacion grounded to short and a bad hop caught Aviles in the right hand. He was shook up but stayed in the game after what was called an error. With the bases loaded, Rasmus had a chance to atone for his flub in the second inning. But he popped to third.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: Doubront walked Encarnacion then retired three straight. Gonzo caught two balls in right field. If you didn't know better, you'd just think he wa a right fielder. It's pretty seamless for him.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: Salty walked and went to third on a one-out single by Sweeney. Middlebrooks hit a laser to the gap in right, so hard that he settled for a single as Salty scored. Punto —yes, Nick Punto — doubled in a run with a liner down the line in right. That was his fourth RBI of the season. Nava followed with a fly ball to center that Rasmus botched. Nava was inexplicably given credit for a two-run single. But no matter how you score it, it's 4-0.

Top of the 2nd: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: That's Felix being Felix. He struck out Johnson with a fastball, got Escobar on a one-hopped back to the mound and Bautista on a grounder to third. Middlebrooks played it behind the bag and made a strong throw to Youkilis.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Easy for Drabek as Nava popped to left, Aviles grounded to short (nice spinning play by Escobar) and Gonzalez hit a fly ball to left.

Pre-game: Good afternoon from chilly Toronto. The roof is closed at Rogers Centre as the Red Sox face the Blue Jays again.

Stick around for updates and please feel free to leave your comments. Hope you're enjoying the weekend.

Good morning. Here is a preview of this afternoon's game:

RED SOX (27-25)
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Gonzalez RF
Ortiz DH
Saltalamacchia C
Youkilis 1B
Sweeney CF
Middlebrooks 3B
Punto 2B
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (5-2, 3.86)

BLUE JAYS (27-25)
Johnson 2B
Escobar SS
Bautista RF
Encarnacion 1B
Rasmus CF
Lawrie 3B
Davis LF
Cooper DH
Mathis C
Pitching: RHP Kyle Drabek (4-5, 4.55)

Game time: 1:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Drabek: Gonzalez 3-8, Ortiz 4-8 (2 HR), Pedroia 2-7, Youkilis 2-6, Salty 1-5, Avile 0-3, Punto 0-2, Sweeney 0-1.

Blue Jays vs. Doubront: Bautista 1-6, Encarnacion 1-4, Johnson 1-3, Arencibia 0-2, Escobar 0-2, Lawrie 2-3, Davis 0-2, Rasmus 1-2, Cooper 1-1.

Stat of the Day: Red Sox leadoff hitters have 37 RBIs, six in the last five games. No other team in the majors has more than 27 RBIs from their leadoff hitters.

Notes: The Sox have won four of five, five of seven and 15 of 21. ... The Jays have dropped six of their last nine. ... The Sox are three games out of first. But their run differential of +23 is the best in the division. ... Doubront is 1-0, 3.48 in six career appearances against the Jays. He faced them April 9 at Rogers Centre, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. Doubront is 4-1, 2.70 in his last five starts this season. ... Drabek is 1-1, 8.16 in three career starts against the Sox but held them to one run over 5.1 innings on April 10. ... Punto is 7 of 53 (.132) on the season and 2 of 15 (.133) filling in for Dustin Pedroia at second base. ... The Sox are 14-11 on the road. ... Ortiz has 391 home runs, good for 54th place all-time. Next up is Jim Edmonds, who had 393. Then Joe Carter (396) and Dale Murphy (398).

Song of the Day: "Bottoms Up" by Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj.

Game over: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2: Scott Atchison finished it off for the Sox, who now have an identical record (27-25) to the Blue Jays. Clay Buchholz was superb tonight going eight innings and allowing two runs on six hits. Daniel Nava had four hits, Adrian Gonzalez three. David Ortiz homered. The game was played in 3 hours before 29,678 at Rogers Centre.

Top 9th: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2: Nick Punto comes alive! A sharp single to right, but he tries to stretch it to a double and Bautista throws him out at second. Wow, Daniel Nava with his fourth hit. he just wears down pitchers.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2: Buchholz allows a pair of hits to Bautista and Encarnacion but escapes.

Top 8th: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2: Will Middlebrooks appeared in the hit column with a single to right. He's 1-for-4.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2: David Cooper took Buchholz deep for Toronto's second run, but no biggie for Buchholz who is in command of this game.

Top 7th: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 1: Big four-run inning for Red Sox who just ripped reliever Luis Perez, who was summoned to replace starter Henderson Alvarez. There were two outs after Ryan Sweeney's ground rule double when the Sox really went to work. Podsednik reached on an infield single scoring Sweeney. Daniel Nava stroked his third hit, knocking in Podsednik. Adrian Gonzalez made his third hit an RBI single and David Ortiz singled in the fourth run but was thrown out trying to get back to first base after he ranged too far toward second base.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1: Well, Clay Buchholz looked like the old Clay Buchholz. He struck out the side -- Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus. Buchholz has struck out six (Bautista three times) and has a good, live fastball tonight.

Top 6th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1: Daniel Nava just keeping on hitting. he stroked a single to right and moved to third on Adrian Gonzalez's double. After David Ortiz walked to load the bases, Salty got a run in on a fielder's choice, but the Sox couldn't capitalize on a great chance to break the game wide open.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: Buchholz was excellent again working his way out of a jam. A double by David Cooper and a walk to Rajai Davis didn't seem to deter Buchholz, who struck out Kelly Johnson and got Escobar to ground into an inning-ending double-play.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: Mike Aviles hit a sharp grounder off Alvarez's right foot for an infield single. After trainers worked on Alvarez for a good five minutes, he remained in the game, threw a double-play grounder to Nick Punto and a ground out to Scott Podsednik.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: Colby Rasmus singled with one out as Buchholz stays sharp by retiring the next two batters.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: Alvarez retired Salty, Middlebrooks and Sweeney on three ground balls.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: Yunel Escobar just blisters an 0-1 pitch by Buchholz to left, his third homer.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0: Nice two-out rally. Nava stroked a double to right and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's single to left. Nava ran hard to beat the throw.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 1, Blue Jays 0: Buchholz walked leadoff man Colby Rasmus, but retired the next three batters. Two of them — J.P.Arencibia and David Cooper — hit the ball hard to center.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 1, Blue Jays 0: David Ortiz launched a high opposite field homer off Alvarez to lead off the second inning. It was Ortiz's 13th homer. Ryan Sweeney also singled in the inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Clay Buchholz was victimized first by a catcher's interference call on Jarrod Saltalamacchia with Kelly Johnson up, and then an error by shortstop Mike Aviles, who fielded Yunel Escobar's grounder in the hole and dropped it. With runners at first and second and nobody out, Buchholz struck out Jose Bautista and got Edwin Encarnacion, who has 17 homers and 42 RBIs, to knock into a double-play.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Henderson Alvarez has great stuff for a young pitcher and the Red Sox found that out back on April 9 when he allowed one run in six innings and took the loss. Alvarez has lost his last three games, and has seen his ERA rise from 2.62 to 3.56. But he looked good in the first inning as the Sox went down in order. Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Pre-game: Game is underway. We'll be with you with updates shortly. Roof is closed on a rainy night in Toronto.

Good afternoon. Here is a preview of tonight's game:

RED SOX (26-25)
Podsednik CF
Nava LF
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Sweeney RF
Aviles SS
Punto 2B
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-2, 7.19)

BLUE JAYS (27-24)
Johnson 2B
Escobar SS
Bautista RF
Encarnacion DH
Rasmus CF
Lawrie 3B
Arencibia C
Cooper 1B
Davis LF
Pitching: RHP Henderson Alvarez (3-4, 3.56)

Game time: 7:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WRKO

Red Sox vs. Alvarez: Sweeney 2-7, Gonzalez 0-5, Pedroia 1-6, Ortiz 2-5, Youkilis 0-5, Aviles 0-2, Salty 0-2.

Blue Jays vs. Buchholz: Bautista 6-22, Mathis 1-9, Escobar 1-5, Arencibia 0-8, Encarnacion 0-7, Davis 0-6, Vizquel 1-5, McCoy 0-4, Johnson 0-2.

Stat of the Day: David Ortiz, Josh Hamilton and Joey Votto each have 30 extra-base hits, the most in baseball.

Notes: After a 4-3 homestand against the Rays and Tigers, the Sox have three games in Toronto before returning home for six games against the Orioles and Nationals. .. The Sox have won three of four, four of six and 14 of 20. ... The Sox are 1-2 against the Jays this season, those games coming April 9-11 at Rogers Centre. ... The Sox were 15-14 in May. ... Buchholz is 7-3, 2.58 in 12 career appearances against Toronto, 7-1, 2.29 in the last four years. He is 5-2, 1.62 in seven starts in Toronto. ... Buchholz has a 4.56 ERA in his last four starts. It was 9.09 in his first six. ... Buchholz's 7.19 ERA is 121st (and last) in the majors among qualified pitchers. His 1.83 WHIP also is last. ... Alvarez is 0-0, 0.72 in two career starts against the Sox. He held the Sox to one run over six innings on April 9. Alvarez has been hit hard in his last three starts this season: 17.1 IP, 28 H, 12 ER. ... The Red Sox have 36 RBIs from their leadoff hitters, by far the most in baseball. ... Saltalamacchia has five home runs in his last 10 games. ... Ortiz has hit 29 home runs at Rogers Centre. Among opposing players, only Alex Rodriguez (34) has more. ... Big Papi has 390 career home runs, 54th all time. Jim Edmonds is next on the list with 393.

Song of the Day: "Blue Jay Way" by The Beatles.

By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent

Final: The Red Sox went in order and dropped back to one game above the .500 mark after falling to 26-25 with a 7-3 defeat by the Detroit Tigers Thursday night before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,629.

The Sox left six men on base. Three late runs by the Tigers killed any real chance of a come back.

Josh Beckett took the loss (4-5), while Scherzer (4-4) won his fourth straight decision.

Top of 9th: Tigers 7, Red Sox 3 After retiring Berry and Boesch, Hill ran into trouble.

Miguel Cabrera singled, stole second (his third theft of the season), and then advanced to third on Salty’s second throwing error of the night. Although, the throw probably could have been handled by Aviles.

Fielder then ripped an RBI triple to right that bounced off the glove of a diving Ryan Sweeney – forcing you to wonder if his recent concussion, suffered on a similar type of play, was still in the back of his mind. Fielder then came in to score on Delmon Young’s third hit of the night. Laird grounded out to Youkilis to end the inning.

Despite the four-run lead, Jose Valderde is still on his way to the mound for the Tigers.

Bottom of 8th: Tigers 5, Red Sox 3 Coke stayed in to get Ortiz to fly to left. He was then replaced by Joaquin Benoit, who got Youkilis to strikeout for the third time tonight. Saltalamacchia ended the inning with a pop out to third.

The Sox are 2-20 when trailing after eight this season.

LHP Rich Hill is on his way in to start the ninth for the Sox.

Top of 8th: Tigers 5, Red Sox 3 Franklin Morales took over for Beckett to start the inning and after getting Fielder to ground out to short, control became an issue.

Delmon Young followed up Fielder by hitting one over the monster to give the Tigers a two-run cushion. Morales then walked Peralta and Kelly before Bobby Valentine had seen enough.

In came Matt Albers, who K’d Worth to end the inning.

Beckett’s final line: 7 innings, 10 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 1 BB, 1 K, 102 pitches (67 for strikes). He can’t get the win, but his outing tonight went significantly better than his last time out against the Tigers, where he was tagged for five home runs.

Bottom of 7th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 Scherzer walked Punto to begin the inning and was given the hook by Detroit manager Jim Leyland. After a shaky start, Scherzer -- who retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced -- has a chance to pick up his fourth consecutive win for the Tigers.

Scherzer’s final line: 6-plus innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 2 BB, 6 Ks, 117 pitches (76 for strikes).

Phil Coke replaced Scherzer and was greeted by Daniel Nava, who crushed a ball to center that turned into a 400-foot out, as Berry made a nice leaping play just in front of the wall.

Gonzalez (0 for 4) again failed to extend his 10-game hitting streak, flying out to left to end the inning.

Top of 7th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 Beckett, who clearly doesn’t have his best stuff tonight, is really battling. He got Worth to ground to short to lead off the inning and then worked around a Berry single (his third of the game) to get Boesch to ground to Gonzalez (unassisted) and Cabrera to fly out.

Beckett has now thrown 102 pitches (67 for strikes).

Bottom of 6th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 Make that nine in a row retired by Scherzer.

Saltalamacchia led off the inning by becoming the sixth Red Sox hitter to strikeout today. Sweeney fouled out to third and Aviles flied to right.

Matt Albers and Franklin Morales are warming in the Sox pen. Phil Coke is now throwing for the Tigers.

Top of 6th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 Beckett responded with his first 1-2-3 inning since the first.

Laird grounded to second. Peralta went down looking on a cutter to become Beckett’s first strikeout victim of the game (causing some mock cheers throughout Fenway) and Kelly hit a nubber in front of the plate that Salty took care of to retire the side.

Note: The official report on Avila is that he was removed from the game for precautionary reasons. After being examined by the Detroit team doctors we are being told he showed no signs of a concussion.

Bottom of 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 Scherzer seems to be settling in. The tall righty has now retired six Sox in a row after a 1-2-3 fifth.

Gonzalez (0 for 3) flied to center. Ortiz -- who was knocked down by a pitch at his knees during the at bat -- grounded to second, and Youk went down swinging.

Scherzer’s thrown 98 pitches, but no one is warming in the Detroit pen at the moment.

Top of 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 The Tigers regained the lead with the help of the speedy Quinton Berry.

Detroit’s center fielder led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second (his second theft of the game and fifth of the season) and advanced to third when Saltalamacchia's throw wound up in left field.

Boesch flied to left. Then Cabrera – who had already scorched two balls today – knocked in Berry with an RBI single (his 42nd RBI of the season). Beckett then surrendered his first free pass of the game to Fielder, but got out of the inning when Young grounded into a 6-4-3 Twin killing.

Through five innings Beckett is yet to record a strikeout. He’s been right around 92 mph with his fastball all game.

Bottom of 4th: Tigers 3, Red Sox 3 Small ball didn’t exactly work out for the Sox.

Aviles led off with an infield single. Punto sacrificed him to second. Podsednik (bunting for a hit) sacrificed him to third and Nava flied to right to end the inning.

Scherzer’s line thus far: 4 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 earned, 1 BB, 4 K’s, 85 pitches (57 for strikes).

Top of 4th: Tigers 3, Red Sox 3 The slow-footed Laird led off the inning with a hard hit single off the wall in left. A broken-bat grounder by Peralta advanced Laird to second. Kelly then grounded out to Gonzalez, with the help of Beckett covering. And with two down, Worth flied out to the track in left center.

Beckett’s line thus far: 4 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 runs, no walks, no strikeouts, 54 pitches (37 for strikes).

Bottom of 3d: Tigers 3, Red Sox 3 The Sox had fun with two down in the third.

After Gonzalez (who entered the game on a 10-game hitting streak) lined to left and Ortiz grounded to first, Kevin Youkilis doubled down the left field line and scored on a two-out single by Saltalamacchia.

Note: Detroit catcher Alex Avila had to leave the game after a foul ball struck him in the mask, opening up a cut on his face. He was replaced by Gerald Laird.

Top of 3d: Tigers 3, Red Sox 2 Rough inning for Beckett, who surrendered four hits and three runs.

Both the eight and nine batters reached to lead off the inning with Don Kelly (hitting .042 in his last 10 games) singling and Danny Worth doubling to left. Berry then connected for an RBI single to put the Tigers on the board.

Next up was Boesch, who hit a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game at two. Cabrera followed with a rocket to center that Podsednick was able to track down for the second out. But before Beckett could get out of the inning, Prince Fielder singled weakly up the middle to give the Tigers a one-run lead. Young grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Bottom of 2d: Tigers 0, Red Sox 2 The Sox pushed two runs across in the frame. Saltalamacchia started the inning off with a home run into the Sox bullpen. Sweeney followed up with a single. Scherzer then recovered to get Aviles to fly to center and Nick Punto went down swinging. But before the Tigers right-hander could escape the inning he ran into the newfound power stroke of Podsednick, who doubled to center field, scoring Sweeney all the way from first. Nava K’d to end the inning.

The home run was the 10th of the season for Salty. Red Sox catchers entered tonight's game leading all AL teams with a .545 slugging percentage and tied for the ML-best with 27 extra-base hits.

Top of 2d: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0 Some slick defense by Ryan Sweeney in right got Beckett out of a jam. After Prince Fielder flied to center, Delmon Young singled and after an Alex Avila double the Tigers had runners on second and third with one down.

That’s where Sweeney came in. Jhonny Peralta hit a shallow fly towards the line in right that Sweeney caught on the run. He then fired a strike to Jarrod Saltalamacchia to get Young by a step and complete the inning-ending double-play.

Note: Detroit first base coach Tom Brookens was ejected prior to the start of the inning, apparently for arguing over Brennan Boesch’s ground out to short in the first inning. It’s the second ejection of the season for Brookens.

Bottom of 1st: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0 The Sox put two on against Scherzer but were unable to score. Scott Podsednik struck out to start the game. Daniel Nava then singled to right. Adrian Gonzalez followed with a weak pop to short. David Ortiz then worked a walk, but Scherzer, who entered the game averaging an American League best 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings, got Kevin Youkilis looking on a 3-2 pitch to put an end things.

Top of 1st: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0 Quick and easy first inning for Beckett. Quinton Berry and Brennan Boesch both grounded out to Mike Aviles at short and Miguel Cabrera flied out to Ryan Sweeney in right.

Pregame Welcome to Fenway Park where the Red Sox, now 2-1/2 games out of first place in the American League East, will look to sweep the Detroit Tigers in the final game of this four-game series.

RHP Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.15 ERA) will take the mound in opposition of RHP Max Scherzer (4-3, 5.67).

Please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the series finale tonight at Fenway Park.

RED SOX (26-24)
Podsednik CF
Nava LF
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Sweeney RF
Aviles SS
Punto 2B
Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.15)

TIGERS (23-27)
Berry CF
Boesch RF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Young DH
Avila C
Peralta SS
Kelly LF
Worth 2B
Pitching: RHP Max Scherzer (4-3, 5.67)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Tigers vs. Beckett: Avila 3-8, Berry 0-0, Boesch 1-9, Cabrera 3-14, Dirks 1-7, Fielder 3-6, Kelly 0-3, Laird 1-6, Peralta 4-17, Santiago, 1-6, Santos 1-3, Worth 0-2, Young 6-17.

Red Sox vs. Scherzer: Aviles 3-7, Byrd 1-2, Gonzalez 2-11, Middlebrooks 0-0, Nava 0-0, Ortiz 6-8, Pedroia 2-7, Podsednik 3-7, Punto 0-3, Saltalamacchia 2-3, Shoppach 0-2, Sweeney 1-5, Youkilis 2-7.

Notes: The Red Sox will attempt to complete a four-game sweep ... Beckett was battered by the Tigers the first time he faced them this season, giving up five home runs and allowing seven runs ... Adrian Gonzalez has a 10-game hitting streak ... Kevin Youkilis is batting .321 since coming off the disabled list on May 22 ... It is injured closer Andrew Bailey's 28th birthday today ... the Red Sox are 16-17 against righthanded starters this season ... the Red Sox are 23-10 in games in which they hit a home run.

Stat of the day: Beckett has held the Tigers to a .204 average in seven career starts. He's 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA against Detroit.

The Red Sox climbed two games above the .500 mark after improving to 26-24 with a 6-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers Wednesday night before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,195.

The Sox erupted for 12 hits, including a pair of two-run homers in the fourth by David Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks and a solo homer by Kevin Youkilis in the eighth.

Matt Albers (1-0) picked up his first win of the season in relief of starter Jon Lester, who recorded his fourth no-decision of the season after allowing 4 runs on 10 hits while striking out 7 in 6.2 IP.

Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 4 Kevin Youkilis tacked on an insurance run when he hit a leadoff homer, his fourth of the season, off Joaquin Benoit to the Green Monster seats.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 4 Strong inning for Andrew Miller, who started the inning in relief of Matt Albers (1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB). Miller fanned the first two batters he faced before getting a huge play from Marlon Byrd, who came charging in on Gerald Laird's soft fly to center and made a spectacular diving catch to end the inning. Offense, defense, pitching ... it all adds up.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 4 Gonzalez atoned for failing to come up with Cabrera's run-scoring pop fly that tied it in the top of the frame with his second ground-rule double of the game. This one went to right field off reliever Phil Coke and scored Daniel Nava, who reached on a walk, with the go-ahead run.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 4 Lester gave up a leadoff single to Alex Avila but left fielder Daniel Nava gunned him down at second, marking the fourth career assist for Nava. Lester then appeared done for the night after DH Gerald Laird doubled to center, promptiing Bobby Valentine to emerge from the dugout. Lester, however, managed to convince Valentine to leave him in, which he did, much to the crowd's delight. Lester fanned Berry with his 120th pitch of the night (a 93 sinker) and was done for the night, handing it over to Matt Albers, who gave up an infield hit to pinch hitter Andy Dirks.

Miguel Cabrera came up with two men aboard and hit a popup to shallow right that hugged the line and eluded a sliding Gonzalez. It enabled Laird to score the tying run, spoiling Lester's bid for his fourth win of the season. After issuing an intentional walk to Fielder, Albers got out of the inning by getting Brennan Boesch to ground to short for the force at second on Fielder.

Octavio Dotel has replaced Drew Smyly (6 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 4 K, 2 HR) and will pitch in the bottom of the seventh.

Bottom of 6th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 After Ortiz led off with a sharply struck single off the walll, the Sox went down in order, with Byrd grounding one to third for a fielder's choice that wiped out Ortiz at second.

Top of 6th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 Strong 1-2-3 inning for Lester, who struck out Peralta for the second time in the game to end the inning. He has now allowed three runs on eight hits and no walks while ringing up six strikeouts. He has thrown 101 pitches, 71 strikes.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 Adrian Gonzalez struck out to end the inning and stranded Daniel Nava, who doubled to left and went to third on Mike Aviles's groundout to first.

Top of 5th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 Lester has retired eight of the last 10 batters he faced, striking out three in the process including the first two batters he faced in the fifth: Berry (swinging, 94 sinker) and Worth (swinging, 87 changeup). Cabrera battled back from an 0-2 count to double to right, giving him three hits in as many at-bats against Lester, the last two doubles. This after Cabrera had entered the game 1 for 9 for the series.

Bottom of 4th, 2 out: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 A pair of two-run homers by David Ortiz (a bomb to straightaway center) and by Will Middlebrooks (a rope to the Green Monster seats) turned it around for the Sox, who took a 4-3 lead. Ortiz is simply savaging lefthanded pitching this season. He is now hitting 23 for 72 (.319) off lefties with 6 HRs.

This nugget comes from John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press:

Third time in last four starts Smyly has given up two homers, all of them two-run shots:

At Chicago [May14]: by Dunn, Viciedo

Vs. Pittsburgh [May 19]: both by McCutchen

Bottom of 3d: Tigers 3, Red Sox 0 Marlon Byrd got a leadoff infield hit, but was erased on an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play by Nick Punto, who grounded one to the mound.

Top of 3d: Tigers 3, Red Sox 0 After he recorded the first triple of his career, Quintin Berry scored from third on Danny Worth's sac fly to center, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Miguel Cabrera then followed with a towering double to the triangle in center, marking the sixth hit Lester had allowed through 2-1/3 innings, and advanced on a wild pitch. Cabrera scored on Fielder's groundout to third.

Bottom of 2d: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Another 1-2-3 inning for Smyly.

Top of 2d: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 After striking out Peralta and allowing Alex Avila to reach on a single to center, Lester got out of the inning on a 4-6-3 double play ball by DH Gerald Laird, giving the Sox lefty 36 pitches through two innings.

Bottom of 1st: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 The Sox were unable to muster much of a response against Drew Smyly,who retired the first three batters he faced, striking out Adrian Gonzalez (looking) for the third out.

Top of 1st: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Lester got off to a rough start, giving up three consecutive singles after striking out leadoff hitter Quinton Berry, loading the bases for Delmon Young. Lester minimized the damage, though, when he held Young to a fielder's choice that scored Danny Worth from first and erased Prince Fielder at second. Lester got out of the 27-pitch inning after he induced Brennan Boesch to fly to center.

Pregame Welcome to Fenway Park where the Red Sox, now 3-1/2 games out of first place in the American League East, will host the Detroit Tigers in the third game of this four-game series that will conclude a seven-game homestand.

LHP Jon Lester (3-4, 4.72 ERA) will take the mound in opposition of LHP Drew Smyly (2-1, 3.14).

Please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups and pregame notes for today's game:

RED SOX (25-24)
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Gonzalez RF
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Byrd CF
Shoppach C
Punto 2B
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (3-4, 4.72)

TIGERS (23-26)
Berry CF
Worth 2B
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Young LF
Boesch RF
Peralta SS
Avila C
Laird DH
Pitching: LHP Drew Smyly (2-1, 3.14)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WRKO (680)

Red Sox vs. Smyly: No Red Sox have faced Smyly

Tigers vs. Lester: Avila 1-3, Berry 0-0, Boesch 2-10, Cabrera 5-11, Dirks 0-0, Fielder 2-6, Kelly 0-0, Laird 6-19, Peralta 2-6, Santiago 0-3, Worth 1-2, Young 6-28

Notes: Smyly, a rookie, is making his first start at Fenway Park ... Gonzalez needs one home run to reach 200 for his career ... Since May 11, the Red Sox have the best winning percentage in the majors (.722, tied with White Sox) ... Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to start for Triple A Pawtucket Thursday against Norfolk ... The Red Sox lead the majors with 192 extra-base hits.

Stat of the day: Vicente Padilla is 16 for 16 stranding inherited runners.

Game over

Alfredo Aceves saved his 12th game as the Red Sox (25-24) moved over .500 for the first time this season. With Baltimore and Tampa Bay losing, Boston is just 3-1/2 games behind both Baltimore and Tampa Bay in fifth place. Aceves yelled at home plate umpire Bill Welke on a ball he thought was a strike before walking Andy Dirks, but he got the next two batters including Prince Fielder to end the game. Nick Punto made a nice play and recovery on Fielder's grounder diving and having it hit off his glove, but he made the play. The game was played in 3:15 before 37,216.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3

Sox were retired in the eighth. Alfredo Aceves comes on to protect the 3-run lead.

Update: play resumed at 10:50 after a 38-minute delay.

Update: Game is expected to resume at 10:50 p.m.

With Nick Punto up after Scott Podsednik struck out, umpires ordered the tarp on the field at 10:12 p.m.

Top 8th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3

Umpires reviewed Alex Avila's double which fell awfully close to the yellow line in center at the 379-foot marker. Avila moved to third on a ground out with two outs, but Padilla retired Peralta on a ground out to short to preserve the 3-run lead.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3

David Ortiz hit his 11th homer and had his third hit of the game into the Monster seats vs. lefty Duane Below. The run was a welcome one as the Tigers had begun to chip away at the lead. The home run was his 389th, tying Johnny Bench for 55th all-time.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 3

Tightening up here. Andrew Miller gave up an RBI single to Prince Fielder. Vicente Padillla has come on.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 2

Sox had a chance to add on to their lead when Podsednik doubled and Punto reached on an infield single with one out. But Verlander struck out Nava and Sweeney. Verlander has worked six innings or more in 53 straight starts. Longest streak since Steve Carlton's 69 straight Sept. 13, 1979 - April 13, 1982.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 2

Prince Fielder launched a rocket into the first few rows of the right field bleachers, his 8th homer of the season. It came off Bard. The Sox starter did not survive the sixth as Bobby Valentine took him out after 5-1/3 innings (and after striking out Delmon Young), allowing two runs, five hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches. Rich Hill came on and retired one of the next two lefthanded hitters. Alex Avila reached with a walk. Scott Atchison then got out of the inning.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 1

Doubles-machine David Ortiz laced his 18th double, second of the game vs. Verlander, knocking in Adrian Gonzalez (single) from first base. Ortiz was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple.

Top 5th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1

Bard allowed a home run to Jhonny Peralta, who stroked it to the opposite field to the Red Sox bullpen. Bard struggled again with baserunners, but got a big strikeout of Miguel Cabrera to get out of a jamw ith runners at first and second.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 0

Daniel Nava will remember this one for a long time. He unleashed a two-out bases-clearing double on a 3-2 count to give the Red Sox a commanding lead off Justin Verlander. Kevin Youkilis, Mike Aviles and Scott Podsednik all reached on singles. Nava, who had worked a walk in the first inning, patiently made Verlander pitch and throw strikes, working the count to 3-2 before going the other way and sending a liner to left field.

Top 4th: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0

Delmon Young singled off the wall, but Bard got out of it when Boesch knocked into a double-play to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0

Daniel Nava walked to lead off the inning, but Justin Verlander retired
the next three Red Sox hitters.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0

Bard got a little wild, walking No. 9 hitter Ramon Santiago and hitting lead off man Quintin Berry witha pitch, but managed to get out of it again securing the next two outs. Ryan Sweeney made another nice play in right field on a hard-hit curving liner by Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0

The Sox put a run on the board against Justin Verlander when David Ortiz reached on a leadoff double off the wall, went to third on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's single to left, and scored when a hustling Mike Aviles grounded to second and beat out a double-play throw to first to reach safely.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0

Ryan Sweeney made a nice sliding catch of a pop in short right by Brennan Boesch. Bard retired the side in order.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0

Three-up, three down for Sox vs. Verlander, who lost 2-1 to the Indians in his last outing on May 24th even though he went eight innings and allowed two runs.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0

Daniel Bard started out well by striking leadoff man Quintin Berry with a 94 mph fastball on the outside corner. Andy Dirks singled to center, but retired the next two batters with infield outs. Tough task ahead against Justin Verlander. Bard entered the game with 28 strikeoiuts and 29 walks and had struck out only 9 batters in his last 28-2/3 innings.

On a cloudy, somewhat foggy night at Fenway. We'll be back with live updates shortly.

Good afternoon. Here is a look at today's game and lineups:

RED SOX (24-24)
Nava LF
Sweeney RF
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Podsednik CF
Punto 2B
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (4-5, 4.69)

TIGERS (23-25)
Berry CF
Dirks LF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Boesch DH
Peralta SS
Avila C
Santiago 2B
Kelly RF
Pitching: RHP Justin Verlander (5-2, 2.15)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN and ESPN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Verlander: Aviles 3-13, Byrd 5-11, Gonzalez 1-9, Middlebrooks 0-0, Nava 0-0, Ortiz 6-21, Pedroia 0-13, Podsednik 5-31, Punto 4-26, Saltalamacchia 0-9, Shoppach 4-18, Youkilis 6-23.

Tigers vs. Bard: Avila 0-0, Berry 0-0, Boesch 1-3, Cabrera 1-5, Dirks 0-1, Fielder 0-0, Jackson 0-1, Kelly 0-0, Laird 0-0, Peralta 1-5, Santiago 0-1, Worth 0-0, Young 1-2.

Notes: Yesterday's 7-4 win over the Tigers snapped Detroit's four-game winning streak against the Red Sox, including a three-game sweep to open the season. The Red Sox have now won 12 of their last 17 games since May 11, a stretch that is tied for the best in baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox … Adrian Gonzalez is one home run away from his 200th career bomb … Between Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach, the Red Sox lead all catchers in slugging percentage (.561) and a major league best 27 extra base hits … The Red Sox will honor "Breaking Barriers" essay contest winner Chava Sosis, a sixth grader from Providence. Participants were asked to write about obstacles they faced and how they used the values of Jackie Robinson.

Stat of the day: The Red Sox have outscored opponents 88-57 since May 11.

Song of the Day: "What Dreams Are Made Of" by Pusha T.

Game over: Red Sox 7, Tigers 4: For the sixth time this season, the Red Sox climbed back to the .500 mark, improving to 24-24 after scoring a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers Monday before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,921 in the first game of a four-game series that will conclude this seven-game homestand.

Felix Doubront (5-2, 3.86 ERA) picked up the victory after giving up two runs on four hits, including a pair of solo homers, over six innings while striking out six batters.

Alfredo Aceves made things interesting when he gave up a two-run homer to Jhonny Peralta with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but secured the victory when he fanned Andy Dirks to end the game.
,
Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 7, Tigers 2 The Sox tacked on an insurance run when Mike Aviles stroked an RBI double to center that scored Ryan Sweeney, who reached on a single to center.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 2 Another nice inning for Atch After giving up a leadoff infield hit to Gerald Laird, Atchison locked down the Tigers, striking out the next three batters he faced, giving him a season-high four for the game.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 2 Marte retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion. Defensive changes for the Sox: Marlon Byrd will enter the game in the eighth at center field; Ryan Sweeney moves from center to right; Adrian Gonzalez from right to first and Kevin Youkilis, who started at first will come out of the game.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 2: Nice 1-2-3 ininng for Atchison, who got Delmon Young to fly to center, struck out Jhonny Peralta (looking) and fielded his position well by scooping up Andy Dirks' comebacker to the mound and flipping it to first for the inning-ending putout.

Bottom of 6th: Red Sox 6, Tigers 2: Luis Marte relieved Fister with no out and two men aboard after the Tigers starter gave up three consecutive hits, the last an RBI single by Will Middlebrooks that scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who reached on a leadoff single to right. Marte came in and struck out Mike Aviles, then got Daniel Nava to fly to center before striking out Nick Punto (looking) to end the inning.

Scott Atchison has relieved Doubront and entered the game in the top of the seventh.

Pedroia update, 3:35 p.m: The Red Sox just announced that second baseman Dustin Pedroia suffered a jammed right thumb making a diving stab at a groundball in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Top of 6th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 2: Unfazed by the homer he gave up to Gerald Laird in the fifth, Doubront came back in the sixth and stranded Quintin Berry at first after he reached on a single to left (that fell out of Daniel Nava's glove). Doubront proceeded to retire the next three batters he faced, striking out Ryan Raburn (looking, 93 fastball) and Miguel Cabrera (swinging, 79 curveball) and getting Cecil Fielder to ground to second. Through six innings, Doubront has allowed two runs on four hits, including a pair of solo homers, and one walk to go along with six strikeouts. He has thrown 95 pitches, 64 for strikes.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 2: Not a good thing when your starting pitcher has to do a cheerleader split to cover the bag at first, but that's precisely what Fister had to do in order to make the putout on Ortiz's grounder deep into the hole at second. Update: Nick Punto has entered the game for Pedroia at second in the sixth.

Top of 5th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 2: After Doubront got the first two batters out, striking out Jhonny Peralta and inducing Andy Dirks to ground to third, Gerald Laird belted a solo homer off the bottom of the light stanchion in left, pulling the Tigers within 5-2. Dustin Pedroia made a spectacular diving stab to make the 4-3 putout on Danny Worth. Pedroia appeared to injure his right wrist and was spotted in the dugout being tended to by team trainers.

Bottom of 4th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 1 Fister stranded Will Middlebrooks, who drew a leadoff walk, by retiring the next three consecutive batters.

Top of 4th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 1: Nothin' doing for the Tigers in the fourth as Doubront recorded a 1-2-3 inning, on a flyball out followed by a pair of groundball outs.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 5, Tigers 1: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who recorded the first walk-off homer of his career when he belted a two-run homer in Saturday night's 3-2 victory over the Tampa Rays, took Fister deep to left for a solo homer that expanded Boston's lead to 5-1.

Top of 3d: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1: The third started off with the ejection of Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont by third base umpire Tim Tschida and, later, Tigers manager Jim Leyland by first base ump Bill Welke, which drew a heated reaction from Leyland. Welke allowed Leyland to vent his anger, before second base ump Chris Guccione interviewed to buffer Welke from Leyland's withering verbal rant. Tigers first base coach Tom Brookens moved over to third, Rafael Belliard took over first base coaching duties and batting coach Lloyd McClendon assumed interim manager duties for Leyland.

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1: Sox broke out their whuppin' sticks on Fister in the bottom of the second with Ryan Sweeney reaching on a one-out, wall-ball double, then scoring on Mike Aviles' sharply-struck single to center. Daniel Nava, batting in the leadoff position, doubled to straightaway center to score Aviles, making it 3-1.Dustin Pedroia then singled off the glove of first baseman Cecil Fielder, enabling Nava to score from second.

Top of 2d: Red Sox 1, Tigers 1: Delmon Young just tied it with a solo homer he crushed to the Monster Seats in left off Doubront.

Bottom of 1st: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0: David Ortiz gave the Sox a 1-0 lead when he laced an RBI double down the line to left off Doug Fister, scoring Adrian Gonzalez, who reached on a two-out single to right.

Top of 1st: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0: Felix Doubront strong out of the gate, making first out by catching Quintin Berry's pop bunt and ending the inning with a strikeout of Miguel Cabrera.

Pregame: Greetings from a sun-splashed Fenway Park, where the Red Sox (23-24) will host the Detroit Tigers (23-24) in a Memorial Day affair. It will mark the first game of a four-game series that will wrap up this seven-game homestand. Felix Doubront (4-2, 3.96 ERA) will go to the mound to oppose Doug Fister (0-2, 1.84 ERA).

Please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Game over: Rays 4, Red Sox 3: No ninth inning comeback this time as the Red Sox again fail to get over .500.

Jake McGee (2-1) gets the win, getting one out. Fernando Rodney picks up the save. Aceves (0-2) takes the loss. Rays had nine hits and the Sox seven.

The Sox fell to 10-13 at home this season.

Rays have to be thrilled to take 2 of 3 in an emotional series.

Middle of the 9th: Rays 4, Red Sox 3: Aceves blew the save. Zobrist walked to lead off the inning then Rodriguez belted a 3-and-1 pitch over everything in left. It was a fastball right over the plate.

Fernando Rodney in to try to close it out for the Rays. Can the Sox get him again?

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: The Sox loaded the bases as Podsednik singled ahead of Ortiz and Youklis walking. But Gonzalez grounded to short.

Aceves in to try to close it out. Byrd in center. That Valentine considers Byrd a better center fielder than Podsednik could be telling once roster decisions have to be made.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Perfect inning for Morales (struck out Pena) and Pena (struck out Upton, got Joyce to ground to first). Aceves warming up.

Sellout crowd of 37,844 today.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Ortiz walked, Youkilis singled and Gonzalez homered down the line in left. Big hit for Gonzo, who really enjoyed celebrating that one.

His second homer at Fenway this season.

Morales has replaced Buchholz. Gonzo to first, Youk to third and Lin to right.

The line for Buchholz: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BBm 6 K. His best start of the season by a bunch.

Middle of the 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 0: Rodriguez doubled off the wall with one out. It was a close play at second but Rodriguez was called safe enraging Pedroia, who was called out on a similar play in the first inning.

Sutton lined to third as Middlebrooks made a terrific diving play. Rhymes (3 for 3) then dumped a single into left to score Rodriguez.

Top of the 7th: Rays 1 Red Sox 0: 1-2-3 inning for Hellickson, who has retired 10 of the last 11 batters he has faced.

Hellickson has thrown 28 pitches in the last three innings, 68 through six.

Middle of the 6th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Upton singled with one out, extending his hit streak to 10 games, a career best. Buchholz was ahead of Joyce 1-and-2 then walked, such was his preoccupation with Upton. Zobrist then bounced into a 4-6-3 double play.

Joyce wiped out Aviles, who then patted him on the back. Good clean play.

Sox need to get something going to with the sticks.

Top of the 6th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Middlebrooks singled with one out before Nava grounded into a double play.

Nava is 0 for his last 8, which given what he has been doing this season is a slump.

Middle of the 5th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Buchholz allowed a one-out single by Rhymes (who is 2 for 2) and then got Gimenez to bounce into a double play.

Top of the 5th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: 1-2-3 inning for Hellickson on nine pitches. He has allowed one run in his last nine innings against the Sox.

Middle of the 4th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Joyce doubled down the line in right field and Gonzalez played the carom well. But his throw back to the infield was wide and deflected off the glove of Pedroia. That allowed Joyce to take third and he scored on a grounder to first base by Zobrist. Buchholz has Zobrist 1-and-2 and couldn't strike him out. Scott singled and stole second before Rodriguez grounded to shortstop to end the inning.

Top of the 4th: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Podesdnik singled with one out and took second when Aviles grounded out. Pedroia then flied to right.

Hellickson so far: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. 40 pitches, 28 strikes.

Middle of the 3rd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Rhymes singled and was thrown out stealing. Gimenez fanned swinging at a heater. Pena then grounded to first.

Buchholz so far: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. 40 pitches, 24 strikes.

Pudge Fisk is here for New Hampshire Day.

Top of the 3rd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Youkilis singled to left, the ball getting past Sutton at third. Gonzalez popped to third. Salty then reached on a fielder's choice that should have been a double play but Hellickson missed the bag on the back end of the 3-6-1. Middlebrooks then K'd on a changeup, Hellickson's best pitch.

Middle of the 2nd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Buchholz set down the side in order. He fanned lunkhead Luke Scott and Drew Sutton along the way.

Top of the 2nd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Aviles flied to deep left. The always smooth Upton put it away. Pedroia then drove a ball into the corner and left and was thrown out going to second by Joyce. He protested but the throw beat him. You're always out when the throw beats you, whether you actually are or not. Ortiz then popped to short.

Middle of the 1st: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: It's New Hampshire Day at Fenway. Which means one of the bears from Clark's Trading Post will roam the stands and everybody will get discount liquor.

OK, that's not true.

Anyway, Buchholz's first pitch produced a fly ball to left by Pena. Then Upton grounded to second. Joyce dumped a single to center before Zobrist flied to right. Gonzo looked like Dewey Evans handling it.

Buchholz warmed up to "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider. No idea what that means.

Pre-game: Good afternoon from Fenway Park. Talk about a perfect day for baseball on a holiday weekend.

It will be Clay Buchholz against Jeremy Hellickson, chapter three, as the Red Sox try to win the series against the Rays. Hang out here for updates and feel free to leave your comments.

Hopefully you'll be enjoying the game on the beach, in your yard or somewhere that's fun. Thanks for following along.

Good morning. Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (23-23)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 1B
Gonzalez RF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Podsednik CF
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-2, 7.84)

RAYS (28-19)
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Zobrist RF
Scott DH
Rodriguez SS
Sutton 3B
Rhymes 2B
Gimenez C
Pitching: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 2.73)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, TBS / WEEI

Rays vs. Buchholz: Scott 5-23, Pena 5-22, Zobrist 3-20, Upton 5-14, Joyce 3-10, Molina 4-10, Rodriguez 2-6, Rhymes 1-4, Johnson 1-2, Gimenez 1-2.

Red Sox vs. Hellickson: Gonzalez 2-14, Ortiz 6-15, Pedroia 4-16, Salty 4-11, Youkilis 2-10, Aviles 2-5, Middlebrooks 0-3, Nava 1-2.

Stat of the Day: Red Sox relievers have allowed 21 earned runs over their last 108.2 innings since the April 21 game against the Yankees when the bullpen allowed 13 earned runs over three innings.

Notes: Buchholz is facing Hellickson for the third time this season and the second time in 12 days. The Sox won the first game, 13-5, on April 14 and lost the second game, 2-1, on May 16 ... Buchholz is 5-3, 2.48 in 10 career games against the Rays. He has allowed seven earned runs in 12 innings this season ... Buchholz has allowed five or more earned runs in seven of his nine starts this season ... Hellickson is 3-1, 4.42 in seven career appearances against the Sox. He has allowed six earned runs in 11 innings this season ... The Sox have won 11 of their last 15 ... The Sox are 5-3 against the Rays this season, 4-2 at Fenway ... The Sox are 10-12 at Fenway overall ... Upton has a nine-game hit streak and is 16 of 38 with six extra-base hits ... Scott Atchison is has thrown 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings ... Gonzalez has a six-game hitting streak but is 11 of 53 (.207) in his last 14 games with two walks and 15 strikeouts ... Josh Beckett, who allowed two earned runs in seven innings on Saturday night, has given up three earned runs in his last 21.1 innings ... Remember Mark Melancon? He has allowed one earned run over 16 innings at Pawtucket with three walks and 24 strikeouts.

Song of the Day: "Walk Of Life" by Dire Straits.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia gives the Sox a walk-off win, hitting a two-run home run off Rays closer Fernando Rodney, his first blown save of the season. Nava opened the inning with a walk, and was bunted to second by Nick Punto, who was pinch-hitting for Shoppach. Saltalamacchia, pinch-hitting for Byrd, drove Rodney's 0-1 pitch over the bullpens and into the stands, his first walk-off home run in his career.

Middle of 9th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1: Rich Hill replaces Miller for the Sox, and after Joyce grounds to first, Zobrist walks. Zobrist steals second, and moves to third when Scott grounds out to first. Hill helps his cause by grabbing a hard comebacker by Sutton, flipping to Youkilis for the third out. Sox will try to rally against Fernando Rodney, who's a perfect 15-for-15 in save opportunities.

End of 8th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1: Peralta sets down the Sox in order: Youkilis strikes out, Podsednik (pinch-hitting) popped out to third, and Middlebrooks flew out to left.

Middle of 8th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1: Beckett's day is done, with Andrew Miller coming on in relief. He retires the Rays in order: Johnson grounds to short, Pena pops out to Pedroia in short right, and Upton strikes out swinging. Sox about to get their shot at Rays reliever Joel Peralta in the bottom of the eighth.

End of 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1: The only extra-base hit in the game belongs to Shoppach, who led off with a Wall-ball double. But the Sox couldn't get him home: Byrd struck out looking,Aviles flew out to center, and after Pedroia singled to left (sending Shoppach to third; it's the fourth time Pedroia's been on tonight), Ortiz grounded out to shortstop Johnson, who was playing to the right of the second-base bag.

Middle of 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1: Rays score twice and promptly take the lead, with Sox foil Luke Scott knocking in the go-ahead run on a single that gets through the right-side shift. Upton led off with a single down the left-field line, then Joyce singled him to third. Zobrist hit a sacrifice fly to left field, which tied the score. Scott then untied it. After he stole second, Sutton struck out swinging, and Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by Middlebrooks at third. With runners at the corners, Molina strikes out swinging, ending what was a 27-pitch inning by Beckett.

End of 6th: Red Sox 1, Rays 0: Sox finally break through, with Middlebrooks scoring Ortiz on a two-out single that second baseman Rodriguez can't handle. It could have been more, but Pedroia got thrown out at home plate by Upton on a one-out single by Gonzalez. Pedroia led off with a walk -- the third time in six innings the Sox have put the leadoff man on -- and Ortiz followed with a sharp single to left. Youkilis lined out to short, and Gonzalez then singled to center, with Upton's one-bounce throw to Molina cutting down Pedroia easily. But Middlebrooks hit a hard shot up the middle that Rodriguez got his glove ono but couldn't field. Nava ended the inning with a groundout to third. So, the Sox score first. The way Beckett has pitched, will it be enough?

Middle of 6th: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Beckett has retired the last 11 batters. He throws Molina out on a comebacker, Johnson flies out to center, and Pena grounds out to Youkilis at first.

End of 5th: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Still no score as Price continues to match Beckett, zero for zero. Nava leads off with a walk and moves to second after a sacrifice bunt by Shoppach. But two groundouts -- Byrd to third, Aviles to short -- ends the inning.

Middle of 5th: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Scott flies out to Nava on the first pitch, Sutton strikes out swinging, and Rodriguez grounds to second. Beckett has faced just one over the minimum, and has needed only 58 pitches to get through five innings.

End of 4th: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Price is proving just as difficult to figure out. He gets the Sox in order for the second time tonight: Youkilis grounds to third, Gonzalez strikes out swinging for the second straight time, and Middlebrooks grounds out to third.

Middle of 4th: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Beckett continues to cruise, getting Upton on a groundout to short, Joyce on a slow roller along first that Shoppach grabs and applies the tag on, and Zobrist on a long fly to center, with Byrd jumping on the warning track.

End of 3rd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Not much offense to this point, although the Red Sox squander a one-out single by Aviles. Marlon Byrd struck out to start the inning, and after Aviles reached, Pedroia hit into a force play, wiping out Aviles. Ortiz flew out to right.

Middle of 3rd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Rays finally get a baserunner, with Jose Molina singling after Sean Rodriguez grounded to short. Elliot Johnson flew out to center, and Pena grounded out to second.

End of 2nd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Sox waste a lead-off single by Will Middlebrooks; Daniel Nava strikes out looking, then Kelly Shoppach hits into a double play.

Middle of 2nd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Six up, six down for Tampa so far. Birthday boy Ben Zobrist (30 today) flies out to center, then fan favorite Luke Scott (kidding) flies to the base of the Wall in left-center. Drew Sutton grounds to second.

End of 1st: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Price, who is 6-4 in his career against the Sox (12 previous starts), gets out of a two-on, two-out jam to keep it scoreless. Mike Aviles flew out to right, then Pedroia lined a sharp single to left-center. David Ortiz flew out to left, Youkilis worked a walk, but Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the threat.

Middle of 1st: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Beckett starts strong, striking out Carlos Pena, getting B.J. Upton to softly line out to Dustin Pedroia, and retiring Matt Joyce on a hard liner to Kevin Youkilis, playing first base tonight.

Pregame: Wondering if there will be any residual effect from last night's ninth-inning dust-up? We're about to find out. Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.38 ERA) takes the hill for the Sox having won his last two starts in dominant fashion: 14 2/3 innings pitched, 11 hits, one earned run. He'll be opposed by Rays ace David Price (6-3, 2.88 ERA). Here we go.

Tonight's lineups and pregame notes:

RED SOX (22-23)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 1B
Gonzalez RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Shoppach C
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.38)

RAYS (28-18)
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Zobrist RF
Scott DH
Sutton 3B
Rodriguez 2B
Molina C
Johnson SS
Pitching: LHP David Price (6-3, 2.88)

Game time: 7:15 p.m.

TV/Radio: FOX/WRKO (680 AM)

Rays vs. Beckett: Gimenez 0-0, Johnson 0-0, Joyce 1-15, Molina 4-25, Pena 4-32, Rhymes 0-0, Rodriguez 0-3, Scott 10-24, Sutton 0-0, Thompson 0-0, Upton 6-31, Vogt 0-3, Zobrist 2-21.

Red Sox vs. Price: Aviles 1-7, Byrd 0-5, Gonzalez 2-15, Lin 0-0, Middlebrooks 0-0, Nava 0-3, Ortiz 3-18, Pedroia 6-20, Podsednik 2-5, Punto 0-3, Saltalamacchia 1-8, Shoppach 0-0, Youkilis 8-22.

Notes: Last night's 7-4 loss to the Rays snapped a 5-game home winning streak. The Sox are 10-4 in their last 14 games … Scott Atchison's three scoreless innings of relief extend his career-long streak to 15.1 innings over his last 11 appearances. It's the longest scoreless streak by a Red Sox pitcher this season. Atchison is 1-0 in 18 games over 27 innings (an MLB high), with 19 hits surrendered and three earned runs allowed, including 20 strikeouts. He has a 1.00 ERA … Because of Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals between the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, the game will be broadcast on WRKO 680 AM instead of WEEI … The Red Sox will honor Carlton Fisk tonight in a pregame ceremony as part of its Memorable Moments Month. Fisk is being honored for his 12th inning home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series against Cincinnati … In facing the lefty David Price tonight, the Red Sox should be more comfortable. The Sox are first in the American League with a .470 SLG percentage against lefties, and have knocked 23 home runs and 76 RBIs against them.

Song of the day: "We are Young" by Fun (a nod to the Celtics).

Tampa Bay uses three home runs early to beat the Red Sox, but a late bench-clearing incident will be talked about the most following the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Aviles popped out to Rodriguez, Pedroia struck out swinging, and Ortiz lined out softly to Sutton to end the game. Time to go see what the combatants have to say.

Middle of 9th: Rays 7, Red Sox 4: The benches and bullpens empty after Red Sox reliever Franklin Morales plunks Luke Scott with a pitch after the first two had been retired. Retaliation for Pedroia getting hit? Mindful of Scott's anti-Fenway comments? Scott took a few steps toward Morales before Saltalamacchia intervened. Things escalated from there, with a large scrum hanging around the home-plate area. Closer Fernando Rodney coming in for the Rays. We'll see if anything else happens.

End of 8th: Rays 7, Red Sox 4: Joel Peralta on for the Rays, and he gets Nava to pop out to second, then strikes out Byrd and Podsednik, both swinging. We go to the ninth. Top of the order coming up for both teams.

Middle of 8th: Rays 7, Red Sox 4: Matt Albers came on for Atchison (three innings, two hits, no runs) and retired the Rays in order for the third time tonight. Sutton lined out to Byrd in right, Gimenez grounded out to Aviles -- who went deep to the hole toward third, and one-hopped a throw that Gonzalez scooped out at first -- and Johnson lined out to left.

End of 7th: Rays 7, Red Sox 4: Red Sox go in order: Gonzalez grounds out to second, Youkilis pops out to second (on the 14th pitch of a great at-bat), and Saltalamacchia lines out to second.

Middle of 7th: Rays 7, Red Sox 4: Atchison wraps up his third inning of work, putting two Rays on but not allowing a run in the seventh. Upton singled, and eventually stole second. Scott flew out to left, Zobrist popped out to short, and after an intentional walk to Joyce, Rodriguez bounced back to Atchison, who flipped to Gonzalez to retire the side. Getting the sense the Sox have a comeback in them?

End of 6th: Rays 7, Red Sox 4: Red Sox claw a little closer, getting a pair of runs on two walks, one hit, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly. J.P. Howell came on in relief of Cobb and promptly walked Saltalamacchia and Nava. On came Burke Badenhop in relief, who gave up a first-pitch single to Byrd, which scored Saltalamacchia. Podsednik bunted successfully, moving Nava to third and Byrd to second. Aviles then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Nava. Pedroia was hit by a Badenhop pitch, bringing on the third Rays pitcher of the inning, Jake McGee. Facing the tying run in Ortiz, McGee got Big Papi to fly out to right field.

Middle of 6th: Rays 7, Red Sox 2: Sutton led off with a single and took second when Byrd committed an error in right field. Gimenez struck out swinging, then Johnson was cut down on a broken-bat grounder to Pedroia, who threw to Atchison covering first. Pena was caught looking to end the inning.

End of 5th: Rays 7, Red Sox 2: The Sox cut into the lead, getting a run-scoring double from Gonzalez after Podsednik singled and Ortiz doubled. In between those two reaching base, Aviles grounded out to third, and Pedroia lined to third. Following Gonzalez's double, which sent Ortiz to third and left two runners in scoring position, Cobb got Youkilis to ground to third.

Middle of 5th: Rays 7, Red Sox 1: Scott Atchison replaced Lester, who allowed six hits, seven runs (all earned), and three home runs in his four innings of work. Atchison walked Zobrist, but retired Joyce on a flyout, and got Rodriguez to hit into a double play.

End of 4th: Rays 7, Red Sox 1: Youkilis lined out to center, Saltalamacchia walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded there when Nava struck out looking and Byrd grounded out to second.

Middle of 4th: Rays 7, Red Sox 1: Two more home runs -- a two-run blast by Johnson, a solo shot by Pena -- adds to Tampa Bay's lead. Sutton singled, but was erased on a forceout, with Gimenez reaching first. Johnson then followed with his third home run, into the Monster seats, and Pena took advantage of the short distance down the right-field line. Byrd gave chase and jumped for it, but it appeared to be a row or two into the seats. Upton popped out to Aviles, and Scott grounded out to Pedroia.

End of 3rd: Rays 4, Red Sox 1: Red Sox go in order for the first time tonight. Pedroia grounds to third, and then the shift claims Ortiz and Gonzalez. Ortiz lined out to second baseman Rodriguez, who was playing in short right field, and Gonzalez grounded out to third baseman Sutton, who was a few steps left of the second-base bag. Cobb seems to be settling down a bit.

Middle of 3rd, Rays 4, Red Sox 1: After Lester loaded the bases with two walks and a base hit, Joyce cleared the bases with a two-out grand slam, the fourth of his career. Elliot Johnson grounded out to short to open the inning, Pena reached on a walk, then went to third on a bloop single by Upton. Scott struck out and Zobrist walked, bringing up Joyce, who launched a 3-1 pitch from Lester into the Sox bullpen. Rodriguez struck out, but the damage had been done.

End of 2nd, Red Sox 1, Rays 0: Not much from the Sox, despite a one-out walk to Marlon Byrd. Daniel Nava opened with a flyout to right, and after Byrd reached, Scott Podsednik hit into a force play (shortstop to second), then Aviles flew out to center.

Middle of 2nd, Red Sox 1, Rays 0: Tampa Bay puts two runners on, but Lester works out of a two-out jam. Ben Zobrist struck out swinging, then Joyce lofted a single into left field. Sean Rodriguez hit a liner that Youkilis caught at third, and Sutton worked a walk. Lester gets out of the inning when Gimenez grounds into a force play, Youkilis to Pedroia.

End of 1st: Red Sox 1, Rays 0: An error, a walk, and a hit put the Sox in front against Cobb, a Boston native. Mike Aviles led off with a shot toward third baseman Drew Sutton, who couldn't handle it and was charged with an error. After Dustin Pedroia fouled out to catcher Chris Gimenez, David Ortiz walked, moving Aviles to second. Adrian Gonzalez lined out to Matt Joyce in left field, but Kevin Youkilis lined a 2-2 pitch cleanly into center, scoring Aviles with an unearned run. Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out to end the inning.

Middle of 1st: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: Lester needs just eight pitches to dispatch the Rays. Carlos Pena bounced to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who underhanded to Lester for the out. B.J. Upton lined the first pitch hard to center, where Scott Podsednik had him played perfectly and barely took a step back. Luke Scott, greeted with boos (remember his unflattering comments about Fenway during Tampa Bay's last visit?) struck out looking.

Pregame: Greetings from Fenway Park on a very comfortable night for baseball. The Red Sox open a three-game series with Tampa Bay, trying for the third time to inch above .500. At 22-22, the Sox are 5 1/2 games behind Baltimore in the AL East. The Rays (27-18) trail the Orioles by one game. Jon Lester (3-3, 3.95 ERA) takes the bump for Boston. He'll be opposed by Alex Cobb (1-0, 2.57).

Here's a look at the series opener at Fenway Park:

RED SOX (22-22)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Byrd RF
Podsednik CF
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (3-3, 3.95)

RAYS (27-18)
Carlos Pena 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Luke Scott DH
Ben Zobrist RF
Matt Joyce LF
Sean Rodriguez 2B
Drew Sutton 3B
Chris Gimenez C
Elliot Johnson SS
Pitching: Alex Cobb (1-0, 2.57)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Rays vs. Lester: Gimenez 0-0, Johnson 1-5, Joyce 0-1, Molina 5-15, Pena 10-37, Rhymes 2-4, Rodriguez 2-4, Scott 0-8, Sutton 0-0, Thompson 0-0, Upton 10-49, Vogt 0-0, Zobrist 7-31.

Red Sox vs. Cobb: Aviles 0-3; no other Red Sox have faced Cobb.

Stat of the Day: The Rays have committed 41 errors, the most of any team.

Notes: Trivia question: The Red Sox have one bunt base hit this season. Who hit it? (answer at end of notes) ... Cobb was born in Boston, but went to high school in Florida ... Aviles is two home runs short of his single-season high of 10 in 2008 ... The Red Sox have four series wins and one split in their last five series ... The Red Sox have a five-game home winning streak entering the opener vs. the Rays ... Ortiz is hitting .455 with four doubles, a home run, eight RBIs and five runs against the Rays this season ... Last year after 44 games, the Red Sox were 24-20 ... This is Lester's first start against the Rays this season. He went 1-3 with a 4.32 ERA against them last season ... The Red Sox have not had a walk-off win since beating the Yankees 3-2 on Aug. 7, 2011 ... The Red Sox' best inning for run production this season has been the third, with 41. The second inning is second with 36 runs ... Pedroia is the only Red Sox player to start all 44 games this season at the same position. ... Trivia answer: Ortiz.

Game over: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: Aceves does it again for his 11th save,

Sox are back to .500 at 22-22 and were 5-3 on their road trip. They have won 10 of 13 and 18 of the last 30.

Back with more later.

Middle of the 9th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: The Sox went in order. It's up to Aceves to try to close it out and end the road trip on a good note.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: Padilla walked Markakis before Jones doubled to left. With two in scoring position and no outs. Davis struck out swinging. Betemit then hit a all into no-man's line behind second base. What looked for sure to be a single wasn't as Lin made a great diving catch. Betemit scored but it sure could have been worse.

Aceves then came in and struck out Johnson on four fastballs. Interesting game. Hope you're enjoying the updates. It's fun doing them.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 4: Scott Podsednik homered to right off O'Day. It's a world gone mad here in Baltimore.

Seriously, Podsednik, Shoppach and Nick Johnson (2) all have home runs. What were the odds of that?

Padilla stays on the hill.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: Hill struck out Exposito and Avery and Padilla struck out Andino. Darren O'Day now in for the Orioles.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: Gonzo and Youkilis (3 for 6 since his return) singled with two outs. Middlebrooks then flied to left.

Lin ran for Youkilis and will go to right as Gonzo goes to first. Rich Hill in to pitch.

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4: Bard struck out Jones and was pulled for Andrew Miller, who struck out Davis.

Then 2011 Andrew Miller returned as Betemit walked and Johnson homered to right. Johnson has two homers in a game for the first time since 2006. Flaherty grounded out to end the inning.

First runs allowed by Miller since his return from the DL.

Bard's line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 90 pitches, 49 strikes.

Sox may need another run or two to win this one.

Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 2: That escalated quickly. Daniel Nava homered with two outs, a line drive to right. Then Podesdnik singled (Scott Podsednik and Nick Johnson have hits in the same game. Is this 2006?) Arrieta was replaced by Luis Ayala and Kelly Shoppach homered to left. That's his second.

So let's review. Will Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach have RBIs in support of starting pitcher Daniel Bard, who has one strikeout in five innings. Just how the Sox drew it up in spring training.

Bard back out there for the sixth.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Bard allowed a leadoff double by Xavier Avery. He then struck out Andino. Yes, Daniel Bard struck somebody out. Whoa, 2011 flashbacks. Then Markakis lined to short and Avery was doubled off. That's twice in a row that has happened to Markakis.

This game is there for the talking for the Sox. Score some runs now and let Miller, Padilla, Hill and Aceves handle it from there.

Middle of the 5th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Red Sox went in order on three grounders.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Bard walked two but didn't give up any runs. In his last five starts — over 27.1 innings — Bard has walked 19 and struck out seven. He has four walks and no K'd today. It's hard to believe.

Meanwhile, the inning with a fly ball down the line in right. Gonzalez made a nice backhanded catch about a foot away from the wall. He is playing right field as well if not better than a lot of guys who actually play right field.

Middle of the 4th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Nava singled but that was it for the Sox.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Andino walked. But when Markakis lined to short, he was doubled off by Aviles. Jones then singled to right, Gonzalez not quick enough to come in and make the play. Jones was then thrown out stealing,

Middle of the 3rd: Red Sox 2, Orioles 2: Pedroia singled. Ortiz and Gonzalez then grounded to second with the second baseman standing in shallow right field. That's the best "shift" of them all. Because they can't run, just let the second baseman lay back and create angles for balls hit hard on the ground. Makes it an easy play.

Gonzo is 5 for 29 on the trip. Yeesh.

Youkilis walked with two outs before Middlebrooks doubled to left. Pedroia scored. Youkilis didn't pick up Jerry Royster, who was waving him in, and stopped at third. When he started running again he was a dead duck at the plate. He'd have scored had he been running hard.

Top of the 3rd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Where have you gone, Daniel Bard?

The one-time ferocious reliever threw a 91-mph "fastball" to the Ghost of Nick Johnson and he hit into the stands in right field. Bard losing his velocity and throwing meatballs to reclamation projects can't be what the Red Sox had in mind.

They've Joba Chamberlained him. Bard then walked Flaherty, a .152 hitter. But he escaped further damage. He's at 42 pitches.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 1, Orioles 1: Youkilis singled to left and went to third on a single to right my Middlebrooks. As he ran down the line, Middlebrooks yelled out, "I'm coming for you, old man." OK, he really didn't do that.

Anyway, on-base machine Daniel Nava walked to load the bases with one out. Scott Podsednik swung at the next pitch and grounded into a double play. Youkilis scored.

Shoppach walked to keep the inning going before Aviles grounded out. Arrieta is at 44 pitches.

Top of the 2nd: Orioles 1, Red Sox 0: Avery reached on an infield single, the ball dribbling up the first-base line. Bard tried to shovel it to first but he had no chance. Andino then grounded a single up the middle. It was one of the few plays this season that Jose Iglesias would have made that Mike Aviles didn't. Nick Markakis then flied to left. The runners tagged and Avery beat the throw from Nava on a close play.

Bard got ahead of Davis 0-and-2 left the third pitch, a slider, over the plate. Why not throw something in the dirt and get him to chase? Davis hit a fly ball to center, kind of shallow. Podsednik made an accurate throw to the plate but Avery scored. Betemit then lined to right and Adrian Gonzalez handled it.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Aviles reached on an infield single. He broke his bat grounding into the hole in short and the throw was high. Pedroia then popped to right, Ortiz struck out and Gonzalez grounded into the shift on the right side.

Out comes Bard. What's the over/under on his strikeouts today? I'd say 4.5.

Pre-game: Good afternoon from hazy, hot and humid Camden Yards as the Red Sox finish their road trip with a game against the Orioles.

It'll Daniel Bard against Jake Arrieta as the Red Sox try to get to .500 again before getting a day off.

Stick around for updates all game and we'll try to distract you from work. Let's be honest, it's either this or TMZ.

Good morning. Here is a preview of today's game:

RED SOX (21-22)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez RF
Youkilis 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Podsednik CF
Shoppach C
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (3-5, 4.85)

ORIOLES (28-16)
Avery LF
Andino SS
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Davis 1B
Betemit 3B
Johnson DH
Flaherty 2B
Exposito C

Pitching: RHP Jake Arrieta (2-4, 4.72)

Game time: 12:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Orioles vs. Bard: Markakis 3-11, Jones 2-8, Wieters 2-8, Johnson 0-2, Andino 0-3, Hardy 0-3, Davis 1-2.
Red Sox vs. Arrieta: Gonzalez 5-8, Pedroia 2-7, Youkilis 1-6, Ortiz 2-4, Aviles 1-3, Nava 1-2, Punto 0-1, Salty 1-2, Shoppach 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Ortiz has at least 10 runs in each of the last 13 seasons going back to 2000, the only player who can currently make that claim. Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Lee, Paul Konerko, Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero and Lance Berkman could join him.

Notes: The Sox are 4-3 on a road trip that ends today. They're also 11-8 in a stretch of 20 games in as many days. They have a day off on Thursday. ... The Sox have won nine of the last 12 games, outscoring the opposition 65-35. ... The Sox have lost four of five games against the Orioles this season and 10 of the last 14 overall. ... Bard is 0-2, 3.27 in 20 career relief appearances against Baltimore. He is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in his last four starts this season with seven strikeouts over 23.1 innings. ... Arrieta is 0-2, 5.51 in three career starts against the Sox including 0-2, 5.56 in two starts last season. ... Arrieta has been an all or nothing starter this season. He has gone at least seven innings and allowed one earned or less three times. On three other occasions he has allowed five or more earned runs. ... The Sox have hit 13 home runs in their last six games. ... Gonzalez is 5 of 27 (.185) on the trip with two RBIs. ... Nava has hit .324/.514/.471 in 13 games since being called up. ... Alfredo Aceves has allowed two earned runs in his last 17.1 innings.

Song of the Day: "I've Been Working Too Hard" by Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes.

Game over: Orioles 4, Red Sox 1

The Red Sox - Pedroia, Ortiz and Gonzalez - go down in order against sinker-balling reliever Jim Johnson, who earned his 16th save. The game was played before 25,171 in 2:57. Matusz improved to 4-4 and Doubront fell to 4-2.

Bottom 8th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 1: Oops. Matt Albers had strung together 11-1/3 scoreless and hitless innings against Baltimore until Wilson Betemit stroked a two-run homer to right with Wieters (walk) aboard. So much for keeping things close.

Top 8th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Time is running out on the Red Sox. Pedro Strop gave up a walk to Daniel Nava, but retired everyone else around him including Scott Podsednik, wearing No. 26, who pinch hit for Marlon Byrd.

Bottom 7th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Doubront is out after six after throwing 108 pitches. he struck out a career-high nine and walked two, allowed four hits, two runs in six innings. Franklin Morales came on and allowed a single to Chris Davis. Morales balked as he made a move to home before throwing to first. Davis advanced to second base. After Tollelson walked, Matt Albers came on and struck out Robert Andino and J.J; Hardy to retire the side.

Top 7th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Red Sox have to be happy that Matusz reached his pitch limit - 101 - after he struck out Adrian Gonzalez for his ninth whiff of the game. He allowed two hits and one run - the Youk homer. He had Red Sox hitters shaking their collective heads going back to the dugout. Sidearmer Darren O'Day came on. He struck out Youk and Middlebrooks.

Bottom 6th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Quite a pitchers duel between young lefties. Doubront struck out the side after allowing a leadoff single to Nick Markakis. He has nine strikeouts.

Top 6th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: When we previewed the Orioles series from Philadelphia, the one pitcher Ortiz dreaded facing was Matusz. Now we can see why. Matusz has struck him out twice and got him to fly out to right. Coming in Ortiz was 1 for 10 against him. Mike Aviles also struck out as Matusz retired the side in order for the fourth time.

Bottom 5th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Doubront is humming. He has retired seven straight.

Top 5th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Matusz retired the side featuring a pair of strikeouts by Saltalamacchia and Byrd.

Bottom 4th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Nice quick inning for Doubront, who got Betemit to pop foul to first, Davis to tap back to the mound, and he struck out Tolleson swinging on a nasty slider.

Top 4th: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: They weren't saying "Boooo!" they were saying "Yoooouk!" Kevin Youkilis returned from the DL and hit a solo homer to center field. Youkilis is playing first base tonight to keep Will Middlebrooks' hot bat in the lineup with Adrian Gonzalez moving to right field.

Bottom 3rd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0: Doubront gets two quick outs and then allowed a single to Adam Jones, but he struck out the rough and tough Wieters.

Top 3rd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0: The Sox go down in order against Matusz, who has won three of his last four starts. In his first eight starts, Matusz has held lefties to a .143 average.

Bottom 2nd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0: Steve Tolleson, of all people, homered with Wilson Betemit aboard (walk) to give the Orioles the early lead. Doubront has little bumps in the road that he can't seem to get over.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: The Sox got two on base - Adrian Gonzalez with a single to left and Jarrod Saltalamacchia with a two-out walk. But Matusz struck out Daniel Nava to end the threat.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: One thing Felix Doubront needs to learn is to avoid tedious innings. After a strikeout to Robert Andino to lead off the first, J.J. Hardy walked and Nick Markakis singled to center. But Doubront bounced back by striking out Adam Jones and retiring the tough Matt Wieters on a flyball.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Mike Aviles led off against lefty Brian Matusz with a fly ball to right. Dustin Pedroia grounded out weakly to third base. David Ortiz struck out swinging.

Here are the matchups:

RED SOX (21-21)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez RF
Youkilis 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (4-1, 4.09)

ORIOLES (27-16)
Andino 2B
Hardy SS
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Betemit 1B
Davis DH
Tolleson 3B
Avery LF
Pitching: LHP Brian Matusz (3-4, 5.36)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Matusz: Ortiz 1-10, Shoppach 2-7, Sweeney 1-7, Pedroia 2-7, Gonzalez 3-3, Aviles 0-1, Byrd 1-2, Nava 0-1, Punto 2-2, Ross 0-3, Salty 0-3.

Orioles vs. Bard: Davis 1-3, Jones 1-2, Wieters 0-1, Andino 0-1, Markakis 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox have yet to get over .500. This is the longest into a season they have not been over .500 since 1996, when it took until Aug. 25. That team finished 85-77.

Notes: The Red Sox have won nine of 11 (outscoring the opposition 64-31) and 17 of the last 28. ... The Sox are 5.5 games behind the Orioles and tied with the Yankees for fourth place. ... Doubront is 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA on three career relief appearances against the Orioles, a total of three innings. ... Matusz is 2-1, 4.02 in six career starts against the Red Sox. ... Pedroia has reached base safely in 21 of 22 games and 37 of the 42 games this season. He also has a 20 game hit streak against the Orioles. ... Aviles is 12 of 30 with seven extra-base hits and seven RBIs in the last seven games.

Song of the Day: "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead.

Game over: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6: Alfredo Aceves earned his 10th save with a 1-2-3 inning. The real story was Vicente Padilla who got two critical outs with runners in scoring position in the 8th. There were only 16,392 on hand at Camden Yards. The game was played in 3:16 as the Red Sox moved to .500 at 21-21.

Top 9th: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6: Troy Patton strikes out Adrian Gonzalez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in a 1-2-3 innings.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6: Rich Hill eight-appearance hitless streak came to an end when Nick Markakis singled to left field. Adam Jones followed witha single right field and Hill found himself in the biggest jam he's been in in some time. Valentine allowed Hill to stay on to pitch to the switch-hitting Matt Wieters righthanded. Wieters battled Hill on 1-2 and finally won the battle with a single to left field, scoring the sixth Orioles run. Chris Davis tapped back to Hill, who made the play at first base while the runners advanced.

With one out, Valentine took Hill out and brought in Vicente Padilla to face the switch-hitting Wilson Betemit. Betemit flied to shallow left and the runner had to hold. Padilla then reared back and struck out Nick Johnson, with a high fastball. Johnson is now 0-for-8 with three strikeouts vs. Padilla who leads the majors with 15 inherited runners and none have scored.

Top 8th: Red Sox 8, Orioles 5: Che-Hsuan (Freddy) Lin roped his first major league hit with two outs, a sharp single to left. The Sox dugout applauded as the ball was retrieved as a keepsake for the Taiwan native. It was a proud moment for the kid. Mike Aviles struck out, but lefty Troy Patton uncorked a wild pitch which advanced Lin and Aviles reached safely on the strikeout. Pedroia singled to left on a hard hit bal, but Lin, who runs very well, came around to score a much-needed insurance run.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 7, Orioles 5: Miller continues to be terrific, retiring the Orioles in order.

Top 7th: Red Sox 7, Orioles 5: By the way, here's Buchholz's very unimpressive line: 5.1 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts. Now back to the action. Che-Hsuan Lin tried to bunt his way on, but no dice. He eventually struck out. Mike Aviles dumped a single into left field and Pedroia doubled to right. The O's walked Big Papi intentionally and with the bases full, Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the go-ahead run with a sac fly to left field off reliever Kevin Gregg. Middlebrooks stroked his third hit with a lined single up the middle, scoring Pedroia with the second run of the inning. Salty K'd to end it.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 5: Hi gang, Nick Cafardo taking over while Pete does his newspaper work. The ugly Buchholz outing continued. Matt Wieters walked with one out. Chris Davis (please don't let him pitch), who homered earlier, singled to right. OK, Bobby V, I think we've seen enough of Bucky, eh? Yup, here he comes. Bobby agreed with me. Andrew Miller is on.

The Big Man, and happy birthday to him by the way, got Betemit to tap out to Gonzalez at first. The runners advanced to second and third with two outs.Nick Johnson then flew out to center to end the threat. Another good job by Miller, who has now retired 20 of the 24 batters he's faced.

Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 5, Orioles 5: No quit in these Red Sox. Ortiz hit a rocket that landed on Eutaw Street, way out the park. No. 10 for Papi.

Gonzo then doubled before Middlebrooks reached on an infield hit. Salty grounded out to first, moving the runners up. Nava drove in a run with a sac fly before Middlebrooks scored on a balk.

Hey, the Red Sox benefited from a balk for a change.

Brand new ballgame. Can Buchholz hang in there?

Top of the 6th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: Bucholz retired the Orioles in order.

Middle of the 5th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: 1-2-3 inning for Hunter, who pitches better with a lead than Buchholz did. Amazing how a lack of walks helps a pitcher.

Top of the 5th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: Davis homered for the O's as Buchholz continued to look like a ghost of the pitcher the Red Sox once thought was on the verge of stardom

Middle of the 4th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: The Sox had three singles and did not score run. Middlebrooks, who singled with one out, was thrown out stealing on what had to be a missed hit-and-run. Salty and Nava then singled before Byrd grounded back to the mound.

Top of the 4th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Terrible inning for Buchholz, who threw 31 pitches.

Betemit singled before Johnson walked and Andino singled with a bunt to load the bases. Avery walked on a nine-pitch at-bat to force in a run. Buchholz thought he had him struck out twice including on the final pitch, a high curveball that appeared to be strike.

Hardy then singled in a run, hitting a ball up the middle that Aviles wanted to flip to second but tried to go to first with and was too late. Markakis walked to force in another. Jones grounded into a double play as Avery scored. Then Wieters grounded out to finally end the inning.

With a 2-0 lead, it's inexcusable to walk three batters in an inning.

Middle of the 3rd: Red Sox 2, Orioles 0: Nava singled and took third on a ground-rule double to the gap in right by Byrd. Lin grounded to third in his first MLB at-bat, failing to advance the runners. But Aviles whistled an RBI single over the head of Hunter. Pedroia then flied to right, just deep enough to score Byrd, who beat a good throw from Markakis.

Ortiz struck out to end the inning but the Sox have given Buchholz a lead to work with.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Three groundouts for Buchholz. He has thrown 20 pitches and Hunter 18. Both pitchers are perfect so far.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 0 Orioles 0: Nine up and nine down so far between the two teams. Gonzalez actually tried to bunt against the shift but it was too close to the pitcher and he was easily thrown out. Ortiz needs to give him tips.

Top of the 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Easy 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: The Red Sox went in order against Hunter. Kind of a sparse crowd here.

Pre-game: Good evening from Camden Yards. There are some dark clouds overhead but the game will start on time. Clay Buchholz will be facing Tommy Hunter of the Orioles.

Game over

The Red Sox took two out of three against the Phillies and now move on to Baltimore for a rematch of last September when the Orioles eliminated the Red Sox from the playoffs. Alfredo Aceves finished off the Phils in the 9th. Josh Beckett (4-4) pitched another outstanding game, pitching 7-2/3 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a three-run homer and Mike Aviles hit a leadoff homer to start the game. The Red Sox have now won 8 out of their last 10 games. Today's attendance at Citizens Bank park was 45,586 making it the 225th consecutive sellout. The game was played in 2:46.

Top 9th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 1

A Nick Punto walk was about all the Red Sox got. They haven't scored since the third inning. They're turning the four-run lead over to Alfredo Aceves.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 1

Vicente Padilla wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in relief of Josh Beckett, who allowed a sacrfiice fly by Juan Pierre to end his shutout bid after Pete Orr, No. 4, doubled. After Beckett walked Hunter Pence, Valentine came out for the second time in the inning to take him out.

Top 8th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Lefty Jake Diekman tricked Sox hitters in relief of Cliff Lee. He struck out the side - Gonzalez, Middlebrooks and Saltalamacchia went down swinging.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Beckett allowed a leadoff infield hit and then retired the next three batters. He's pitching very well. During the inning Bobby Valentine and the trainer came out to ask if Beckett was OK. Beckett told him he was and stayed in the game. Beckett has done a lot of running around in this game and it may be he tweaked something like his back but we won't know until after the game.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Josh Beckett sent a long drive to the leftcenter gap, but he was doubled up and the promising inning ended quickly.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Beckett walked Jimmy Rollins, but then started a 1-6-3 double-play on a hard come-backer by Juan Pierre.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Lee has found what ever he didn't have early in the game. He's mowing Sox hitters down with another dominant 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Another nice play by Ortiz at first base as Beckett covers on the play this time. Beckett retires the side 1-2-3.

Top 5th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Lee has settled down, retiring the last eight batters he faced. David Ortiz again lined out to second baseman Galvis in medium right in the shift. Gonzales lined out to Galvis with no shift and Will Middlebrooks popped out to short right where first baseman John Mayberry made the play.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Shane Victorino reached on an infield hit, he stole second base, but Beckett retired the side after that. David Ortiz flashed some leather with a nice stop of the ball on his knees, but Beckett was slow covering and Victorino beat it out. Ortiz then snatched a hard-hit liner by Hunter Pence. The final out was a line drive hit by John Mayberry to right fielder Adrian Gonzalez.

Top 4th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Sox went down in order.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Beckett worked out of a jam in the bottom of the third. With runners on second and third, he got Rollins to ground to third with the infield in. Then Pierre lined to first and David Ortiz snapped it up.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 5, Phillies 0

Probably the deepest position on a shift I've seen on Ortiz was Freddy Galvis playing what I believe was a medium right field. Ortiz lined out right to him. Adrian Gonzalez singled to left, his second hit. Will Middlebrooks launched a a double to leftcenter sending Gonzo to third. Saltalamacchia, hitting righthanded, launched an absolute bomb to centerfield on a 2-0 pitch, his 7th homer. He now has 19 RBI.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Phillies 0

Beckett's got his stuff today. Hunter Pence reached on an infield single to third base, but Beckett got a double-play grounder to third by Ty Wigginton. Once again, great turn by Pedroia, who hangs in with runners bearing down as well as anyone I've ever seen.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Phillies 0

Getting anything off Cliff Lee is a victory, but the Sox managed to add to their lead with some very patient at bats. Daniel Nava seemed to turn the tide after one out when he walked after being down on the count 0-2. Marlon Byrd stroked a single through the shortstop hole. After Josh Beckett's sac bunt attempt failed and Nava was thrown out at third, Mike Aviles ran the count to 3-2, fouled off some tough pitches and then singled to left scoring Byrd.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 1, Phillies 0

Beckett has a good curve ball and tail on his fastball in the first inning as the Phillies go down in order. Beckett struck out Jimmy Rollins on a curve ball that caught the outside of the plate. Juan Pierre hit a hard drive to left on which Daniel Nava made a nice play to track down and Shane Victorino grounded up the middle where Mike Aviles scooped it up and threw him out.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Phillies 0

Mike Aviles loves this ballpark. The Sox shortstop led off the game with a home run off Cliff Lee. Aviles also led off Saturday night's game with a homer. Lee certainly recovered striking out the side, though Adrian Gonzalez singled up the middle with two outs. Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks, all went down on strikes.

Good morning. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (19-21)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz 1B
Gonzalez RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (3-4, 4.97)

PHILLIES (21-20)
Rollins SS
Pierre LF
Victorino CF
Pence RF
Wigginton 3B
Mayberry 1B
Galvis 2B
Schneider C
Pitching: LHP Cliff Lee (0-1, 1.95)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, TBS / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Lee: Ortiz 6-25, Punto 6-21, Byrd 6-18, Aviles 3-18, Pedroia 4-14, Gonzalez 7-13, Ross 3-12, Shoppach 0-9, Salty 1-3, Beckett 0-2, Sweeney 1-2.

Phillies vs. Beckett: Rollins 12-49, Wigginton 10-32, Schneider 4-30, Polanco 5-27, Pierre 2-9, Victorino 3-10, Pence 3-8, Luna 3-6, Ruiz 1-5, Lee 0-1, Orr 1-1.

Stat of the Day: Aviles has hit in five straight games at 8 of 20. Six of those hits have been for extra bases.

Notes: The Sox have won seven of their last nine games and are 2-2 on their eight game road trip that continues in Baltimore on Monday. ... Beckett is 8-5, 4.18 in 20 career appearances against the Phillies, 2-2, 5.33 in four games since he joined the Red Sox. ... Lee is 3-4, 3.56 in 11 career starts against the Sox. He dominated the Red Sox last June 28, throwing nine shutout innings and allowing two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. ... Lee has made only five starts this season because of a stay on the disabled list. He has allowed three earned runs in 14 innings since returning to the rotation. ... The Sox were 21-20 after 41 games last season. ... Sox pitchers have allowed 22 earned runs over 79 innings in the last nine games.

Song of the Day: "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson.

Game over: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5: Hunter Pence reached on a bunt single, but he was doubled off first on a liner from Carlos Ruiz to Mike Aviles, making life easier for Alfredo Aceves, who earned his ninth save. Aceves also allowed a single to Ty Wigginton after the double, but he struck out Hector Luna to end the game. There were 45,656 on hand.

Top 9th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5: Sox unable to add on to their lead and will hand it over to Aceves, seeking his ninth save.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 5: Just as the night was tough for Jon Lester, it was tedious for Vicente Padilla as well. He allowed two hitters to reach in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Ty Wigginton reached on an infield hit and Hector Luna singled. Freddy Galvis hit a long fly ball to center on which both runners advanced. That brought Bobby Valentine out to get Padilla and on came lefty specialist Rich Hill to face pinch-hitter Juan Pierre. Hill induced a grounder to Ortiz at first with the runners holding put. Hill did his job and Valentine opted for Alfredo Aceves with Jimmy Rollins coming up.

Aceves battled Rollins to 3-2 and then induced a slow ground ball to shortstop. Aviles tried to hurry, but the speedy Rollins beat it out allowing the run to score. Aceves walked John Mayberry on four pitches to load the bases, but Shane Victorino showed no patience by swinging at the first pitch, popping out to Aviles in short left field..

Top 8th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: The Red Sox got a big run cut down at the plate when Jimmy Rollins made an outstanding play on Daniel Nava's grounder and gunned Salty at the plate. Salty hit a righthanded double to left center to start the inning. He was advanced to third on Ryan Sweeney's sac bunt. After the Nava play, Padilla flew out deep to center to end the inning.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: Credit the save to Ryan Sweeney. You won't see a better play in center field than he made to rob Carlos Ruiz of extra bases. It was an all-out running, diving, face-to-the grass catch at the warning track in right center. Even Philly fans applauded.

Jon Lester departed after six. He didn't have his best stuff but had the three-run lead. Vicente Padilla came on and allowed a one-out infield single to John Mayberry and a pop single to Shane Victorino. But he struck out Hunter Pence on a slow curve and then Ruiz got robbed.

Top 7th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: The meat of the Sox order - Ortiz, Gonzalez and Middlebrooks - go down.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: Lester put two more batters on base, but Dustin Pedroia turned a tremendous double-play after he received a slow feed from Mike Aviles and then took a hit from the runner and still made a strong throw to first.

Top 6th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: Sox can't add to the lead.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: Lester doesn't make it easy on himself. Mayberry and Victorino singled and a double-play ball by Hunter Pence helped Lester escape. He struck out Ruiz to end the inning.

Top 5th: Red Sox 7, Phillies 4: David Ortiz couldn't have hit a ball harder and farther than the two-run blast to center, his ninth homer. Dustin Pedroia, who was in a 3-for-15 funk on this road trip, led off the inning with a single to center. Will Middlebrooks singled with one out and that sent Charlie Manuel out to get Blanton.

Lefty reliever Raul Valdes stopped the bleeding by retiring Salty and Ryan Sweeney (strikeout). Blanton's line: 4.1 innings, 9H, 7R, 6ER, 4SO, 4HR.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 4: As quickly as he finds it sometimes, he can lose it. Jon Lester hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch to lead off the inning. After retiring Ty Wigginton with a ground ball out to third base, Hector Luna singled him in. Freddy Galvis followed with a two-run homer. Lester collected himself to retire the next two batters.

Top 4th: Red Sox 5, Phillies 1: Will Middlebrooks was having an awful 1-for-11 trip and the decision to replace him with Kevin Youkilis next week was getting easier. But Middlebrooks tends to pull you back into his corner. Nice piece of hitting drilling a Joe Blanton fastball on the outside part of the plate into the bleachers in right for his fifth homer.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia then crushed a ball deep into the rightcenter bleachers. Blanton has fielded like he has two left feet, making his second error when he couldn't handle Ryan Sweeney's roller to the right side of the plate. He rebounded by striking out Daniel Nava. You'll recall, Blanton was the pitcher Nava hit his first major league at-bat grand slam against. It was actually on the first major league pitch of his career back on June 12, 2010 vs. the Phillies,

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 3, Phillies 1: Lester lost some concentration after two quick outs. John Mayberry singled and Shane Victorino barely missed a home run with a double off the left field wall, scoring the run. Pence then sent a ball to the right field corner on which Gonzalez made a nice catch near the railing on his knees.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 3, Phillies 0: OK, the Red Sox gripe too much about balls and strikes, but Adrian Gonzalez had a gripe about the called third strike Gary Darling called to ring him up. Joe Blanton's curve ball was at his ankles. The Sox went down as Blanton struck out Dustin Pedroia and got David Ortiz to ground out to short rightfield into the shift. Scary moment when Ortiz took a tumble when he tried to leg out a hit and tripped over Blanton who was covering.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 3, Phillies 0: Lester got his swagger back. Ty Wigginton fouled out to right field and Hector Luna and Freddy Galvis grounded out. Lester made a nice play on Galvis' slow roller, turned and made a hard throw to Ortiz at first. Big Papi cheated a little off the bag to to get the throw in the mitt quicker.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 3, Phillies 0: Joe Blanton has had an excellent season for the Phillies - 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA coming in - but he's been batting practice for Sox hitters in his last eight starts against Boston.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled and Ryan Sweeney doubled him to third. Blanton then missed a throw after a nice stop at second base by Freddy Galvis, allowing Salty to score. Lester then knocked into a double-play scoring the second run of the inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 1, Phillies 0: John Mayberry Jr. reached on a throwing error by Jon Lester with one out. with two outs, Lester walked Hunter Pence, but managed to retire Carlos Ruiz on a grounder to shortstop. Lester didn't look as crisp in this first inning as he did in a complete-game 6-1 win over Seattle his last time out. Lester didn't walk a batter and struck out eight and threw 119 pitches.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Philadelphia 0: Mike Aviles started the game with a home run off Joe Blanton. Aviles also homered last night. He's hit seven on the season. Aviles is now 6-for-12 on this road trip.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (18-21)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz 1B
Gonzalez RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Sweeney CF
Nava LF
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (2-3, 3.71)

PHILLIES (21-19)
Rollins SS
Mayberry LF
Victorino CF
Pence RF
Ruiz C
Wigginton 3B
Luna 1B
Galvis 2B
Pitching: RHP Joe Blanton (4-3, 2.96)

Game time: 7:15 p.m.

TV/Radio: FOX / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Blanton: Ortiz 8-26, Pedroia 5-19, Punto 4-19, Gonzalez 7-16, Ross 3-12, Byrd 2-9, Shoppach 2-6, Salty 1-2, Lester 0-2, Nava 1-2.

Phillies vs. Lester: Wigginton 8-20, Pierre 2-9, Rollins 1-8, Victorino 2-8, Ruiz 0-7, Polanco 0-5, Luna 0-4, Pence 0-3, Blanton 0-2, Schneider 0-2.

Stat of the Day: This is the latest the Red Sox been in fifth place since Sept. 1997. They finished 78-84 that season.

Notes: As the season hits the quarter pole, the Red Sox are 7.5 games out of first place. They were 20-20 after 40 games last season and three games out of first. ... The Phillies have won a season-best six straight. ... Lester is 3-0, 0.43 in three career starts against the Phillies, all at Citizens Bank Park. ... Lester has allowed one earned run in his last two starts (14 innings). ... The Sox have not lost a season series against the Phillies since 2003 (1-2). ... Blanton is 3-3, 4.70 in 10 career starts against the Red Sox. He last faced them on June 12, 2010 at Fenway Park, allowing nine runs on 13 hits in four innings. One of the hits was Daniel Nava's famous first-pitch grand slam in the first plate appearance of his career. ... Aviles is 7 of his last 15 with five extra-base hits and three RBIs. ... The Sox are 150-116 in interleague play, 105-58 since the start of the 2003 season. ... Carlos Ruiz has 19 RBIs in his last 16 games for the Phillies.

Song of the Day: "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix.

Game over

Bobby Valentine was ejected by first base umpire Gary Darling when he argued that first baseman Ty Wigginton was pulled off the bag by a high throw from Jimmy Roillins to retire Marlon Byrd by a hair. Jonathan Papelbon saved his 12th game in as many tries facing a weak bottom of the Sox order. While Kelly Shoppach was able to reach on a hard-hit ball to third which Mike Fontenot couldn't find after it hit off his body, Papelbon got Byrd and then struck out Nick Punto to end the game. Time of game was 2:50.

Bottom 8th: Phillies 6, Red Sox 4

Freddy Galvis homered to left off Franklin Morales.

Top 8th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 4

Adrian Gonzalez homered for the first time in 109 at-bats, shot to the upper deck in right off Chad Qualls. Looks like Cody Ross came out when he fouled a ball off his foot in the 8th.

Bottom 7th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 3

Update on Saltalamacchia: he has a left ear laceration. Kelly Shoppach just threw out Juan Pierre trying to steal. Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz singled, but Albers was able to get out of the jam when he struck out Ty Wigginton..

Top 7th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 3

Sox managed a Marlon Byrd single but nothing else.

Bottom 6th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 3

Matt Albers is on and retired the side. Bard lasted 5 innings, five runs, three hits, five wealks and three strikeouts. Not very good.

Top 6th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 3

Cody Ross homered to left down the line.

Bottom 5th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 2

Hunter Pence homered to left. Ty Wigginton was hit with a pitch nd the ball hit Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the left ear. Salty had to come out of the game and was replaced by Kelly Shoppach.

Top 5th: Phillies 5, Red Sox 2

The Sox go down in order..

Bottom 4th: Phillies 4, Red Sox 2

Bard walked two more but got out of it.

Top 4th: Phillies 4, Red Sox 2

Cody Ross doubled and Will Middlebrooks' liner to right fell in for a hit. With runners at first and third and nobody out, the Sox managed to get one run in on Daniel Nava's sacrifice fly.

Bottom 3rd: Phillies 4, Red Sox 1

Daniel Bard drilled Carlos Ruiz in the left elbow. Ruiz had hit a two-run single off Bard in the first. Bard was able to overcome the baserunner.

Top 3rd: Phillies 4, Red Sox 1

Mike Aviles, who doubled his first time up, homered to lead off the inning.

Bottom of 2nd: Phillies 4, Red Sox 0

Mr. Fix-It must have made a house call to Daniel Bard, who retired the side.

Top 2nd: Phillies 4, Red Sox 0

Hamels mows the Sox down

Bottom 1st: Phillies 4, Red Sox 0

Rough start for Daniel Bard, who just when you think has turned the corner, gets stuck in a pot hole. Bard walked three batters, allowed a bases-loaded single to Carlos Ruiz scoring two runs and then Ty Wigginton hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring the third run. Daniel Nava made a weak throw from left field and should have been able to nail Hunter Pence. John Mayberry Jr., then singled in the fourth run. Ughh.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Phillies 0

Can't waste too many opportunities against Cole Hamels. Sox just did. Mike Aviles doubled off the wall to lead off the game and there he stayed as Dustin Pedroia (strikeout), Adrian Gonzalez (fly out), Cody Ross (walk) and Will Middlebrooks (popped to second) couldn't get it done.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (18-20)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (3-4, 4.30)

PHILLIES (20-19)
Rollins SS
Pierre LF
Victorino CF
Pence RF
Ruiz C
Wigginton 3B
Mayberry 1B
Galvis 2B
Pitching: LHP Cole Hamels (5-1, 2.28)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WRKO

Red Sox vs. Hamels: Ross 10-38, 4 HR; Gonzalez 8-24, 2 HR; Pedroia 5-12, 1 HR; Byrd 2-8, Salty 3-6, Nava 1-3, Ortiz 0-3, Punto 1-2, Shoppach 1-2.

Phillies vs. Bard: Wiggington 2-6, Pierre 0-2, Victorino 0-2, Polanco 0-1, Rollins 0-1, Ruiz 0-1.

Stat of the Day: Red Sox pitchers have a 1.60 ERA in the last seven games. They have allowed only 50 hits over 62 innings with 21 walks and 49 strikeouts.

Notes: As the Sox play the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Celtics will play Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal against the Sixers across the street at 8 p.m. ... The Sox and Phillies are in last place in their respective divisions but are showing signs of life. The Red Sox have won six of their last seven games while the Phillies have won five straight. The Sox are 6.5 games out in the AL East and the Phillies four games out in the NL East. ... The Red Sox will be meeting up with Jonathan Papelbon for the first time since he bolted Boston for a four-year, $50 million deal. Papelbon is third all-time in games pitched for the Sox (396) and first in saves (219). ... The Sox are 28-18 against the Phillies all-time, 15-11 at Citizens Bank Park. They are 13-5 here in the last six seasons. ... Bard has pitched 3.2 innings in his career against the Phillies. ... Hamels is 3-0, 1.44 in four career starts against the Sox. Hamels lost his first game of the season, giving up three earned runs in 5.1 innings against Miami. He is 5-0, 1.93 since. ... Gonzalez has gone 106 at-bats without a home run. ... Middlebrooks is 4 of his last 23 with 12 strikeouts, one extra-base hit and three RBIs. He has eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in his first eight games. ... This is the first time Ortiz has been out of the starting lineup.

Song of the Day: "You Can't Talk To The Dude" by Jonathan Richman.

Game over: Red Sox 5, Rays 3: Aceves finished off the Rays with a perfect ninth as the Sox and Rays split the short series.

The Sox have won six of seven games and are 4-2 against the Rays this season.

Sorry for the technical issues with the updates this evening. It's as frustrating for the writers as it is for you. Hopefully it'll get solved soon.

Top ninth: Red Sox 5, Rays 3: Padilla stayed in the game and allowed a double by pinch hitter Matt Joyce with one out. He then hit Thompson. Zobrist grounded into a force for the second out.

In came Alfredo Aceves. Upton had an RBI single before Scott grounded to first.

Top eighth: Red Sox 5, Rays 2: Cody Ross knocked in a pair of runs with a two-out single to center as Boston stretched out its lead. He drove in Dustin Pedroia (single) and David Ortiz (Walk). Ross homered in the third and has accounted for three of Boston's five runs.

Bottom seventh: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Bobby Valentine did some serious managing in the seventh, using three pitchers - Scott Atchison, Andrew Miller, and Vicente Padilla to retire the Rays.

Top seventh: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Red Sox players are at it again. Mike Aviles just got himself tossed by homeplate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing a called strike three. Adrian Gonzalez continued his complaining. None of this is helping Red Sox hitters expand their strike zone as Burke Badenhop struck out the side.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Felix Doubront finally reached the end of the road when with two outs he allowed a single to Ben Zobrist and a double down the third base line to BJ Upton. with two outs, Valentine gave Doubront the hook and brought on lefty Rich Hill to face Luke Scott. Hill got the big out getting Scott to fly out to left. Doubront's line: 5-2/3, 6H, 2R, 1 ER, 4BB, 7Ks.

Top 6th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Moore is going to be one heck of a pitcher as he matures. He's retired 10 straight after Ross' third-inning homer with great stuff.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Doubront spotted the pesky Keppinger a leadoff walk, but got the next three hitters as he continues to preserve that thin one-run lead.

Top fifth: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Pedroia, Ortiz and Gonzalez make outs.

Bottom fourth: Red Sox 3, Rays 2: Doubront allowed a lead-off single to Sean Rodriguez and struck out Elliot Johnson. But on a come-backer by Chris Gimenez, Doubront couldn't find the handle in time to get the lead runner at second and had to settle for the out at first. Rich Thompson then made his first major league hit impactful, singling to right-center scoring Rodriguez.

Doubront continued to get his pitch count high, walking Ben Zobrist. Thompson and Zobrist pulled a double steal on the slow-to-the-plate Doubront. BJ Upton then walked to load the bases as Doubront's outing was getting out of control. At this you're wondering, where's pitching coach Bob McClure? Doubront got ahead of Luke Scott, who lined out to Adrian Gonzalez at first to end the possibility of further damage. Doubront threw 34 pitches.

Top fourth: Red Sox 3, Rays 1: Byrd and Shoppach strike out and Mike Aviles flies out vs. Moore.

Bottom third: Red Sox 3, Rays 1: With two outs, B.J. Upton reached on catcher's interference. Luke Scott was hit with a pitch and the opinionated DH mouthed a few things to Doubront. Keppinger then stroked an RBI single before Carlos Pena took a called third strike.

Top third: Red Sox 3, Rays 0: Cody Ross homered after Gonzalez and Middlebrooks struck out. Gonzalez was shaking his head over the called third strike on the inside lower half of the plate.

Bottom second: Red Sox 2, Rays 0: Doubront put a couple of batters on - Keppinger with a single and Elliot Johnson with a walk, but kept his composure and didn't allow a run.

Top second: Red Sox 2, Rays 0: Haven't heard much from Marlon Byrd lately, but he managed to homer vs. Matt Moore on a lined shot to left. Byrd had gone 126 at-bats without a home run. He raced around the bases. Dustin Pedroia also singled. David Ortiz lined out hard to right.

Bottom first: Red Sox 1, Rays 0: A pair of K's and a groundout dished out by Felix Doubront.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Rays 0: Sox loaded them up with one out. Mike Aviles (single), David Ortiz (single) and Adrian Gonzalez (hit by pitch) set up Will Middlebrooks in a prime time situation against lefty Matt Moore. The kid, who is coming back down to earth, took a called third strike. Excellent at-bat by Cody Ross forced home a run when he took a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Ross took a very close pitch on the outside corner on 2-2 for ball three, fouled off a couple of pitches before drawing the walk. Daniel Nava then ran the count to 2-0 before Moore had a talking to by Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey. Daniel Nava came within inches of a double down the line, but the ball just missed the white line. he wound up striking out to end the inning. Moore, however, needed 33 pitches.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (17-20)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Ross RF
Nava LF
Byrd CF
Shoppach C
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (3-1, 4.46)

RAYS (24-14)
Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Scott DH
Keppinger 2B
Pena 1B
Rodriguez 38
Johnson SS
Gimenez C
Thompson LF
Pitching: LHP Matt Moore (1-3, 5.31)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI

Rays vs. Doubront: Pena 1-5, Zobrist 1-6, Rodriguez 2-5, Scott 2-4, Upton 1-4, Joyce 1-2, Keppinger 1-3, Gimenez 1-2.

Red Sox vs. Moore: Gonzalez 1-5, Pedroia 0-6, Aviles 2-5, Ortiz 3-4, Ross 1-3, Shoppach 1-2, Salty 0-1.

Stat of the Day: Franklin Morales has not allowed a run in 23 consecutive road appearances, a stretch of 20.1 innings. He last allowed a run on the road on May 25, 2011. In 22 innings at Fenway Park over that same stretch, he has allowed 17 earned runs.

Notes: The two-game series ends tonight with two young lefties meeting for the second time this season. Doubront allowed four runs in five innings against the Rays at Fenway on April 15 in a game the Red Sox won 6-4. He did not get the decision. Moore allowed six runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings and took the loss. ... Doubront is 0-1, 4.61 in five career outings against the Rays. ... Moore is 0-1, 6.75 in two appearances against the Sox. ... Middlebrooks is 6 of his last 32 with 12 strikeouts. ... Gonzalez has gone 103 at-bats without a home run. ... The teams were 1 for 19 with runners in scoring position last night.

Song of the Day: "Protection" by Donna Summer.

Game over:

Tough loss for the Red Sox. They committed three balks, one of them cost them a run and that was the difference in the game. Fernando Rodney saved it for Tampa Bay. The five-game winning streak is over. Time of game was 3:29 before 20,843.

Bottom 8th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Another balk by Morales, his second in as many innings, advancing the runner to third. Morales also hit Rhymes to create a first and third one out. Valentine yanked Morales and brought in Scott Atchison. Rhymes was attended to when he collapsed after going to first base. First base coach George Hendrick held him as his body crumpled to the ground. He was carted off. We don't have a report on what exactly happened to him. Atchison did a great job getting out of it.

Top 8th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1
Sox go down.

Bottom 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Franklin Morales walked Matt Joyce with two outs and then balked him to second. Morales fanned Luke Scott to end the inning.

Top 7th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Mike Aviles singled with one out, but Mauro Gomez, who was pinch-hitting for Ryan Sweeney, knocked into an inning-ending double-play. Let's review pitching lines: Hellickson is out after six innings, which is a break for the Red Sox. Hellickson threw 104 pitches and allowed five hits and one run with two walks and six strikeouts. Jake McGee is on. Buchholz lasted five innings plus two batters, allowing six hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He committed a balk to score a run and also hit a batter.

Bottom 6th: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

After Buchholz was struck with a liner from Matt Joyce, on which Joyce reached on an infield hit, Carlos Pena singled to right, sending Joyce to third. Bobby Valentine came out to get his pitcher. Did Valentine feel that Buchholz had hurt his leg? Luke Scott's medium fly to right vs. Andrew Miller was caught by Ross, who seemed to take a poor angle to the ball. It didn't create the best throwing position and Joyce was able to score. Miller, while creating a nail-biting moment when he walked Jose Molina to load the bases and went 3-2 to Elliot Johnson, struck Johnson out on a 94 mph fastball to get out of a jam and keep things close,

Top 6th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Hellickson really dealing. Struck out Gonzalez and Middlebrooks, but Salty stroked his second hit (single) before Cody Ross sent a fly ball deep to center which BJ Upton tracked down.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Buchholz showing some life with his rising fastball. He sets down the Rays in the fifth

Top 5th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Let's update Kevin Youkilis DHing for Pawtucket vs. Durham - 1 for 2 with a walk and double. OK, 1-2-3 inning for Hellickson.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

Buchholz retired Carlos Pena on a pop up to Adrian Gonzalez in short right, and got Luke Scott on a soft liner to Dustin Pedroia before Sean Rodriguez singled off Will Middlebrooks's backhand. Will Rhymes then singled to right, sending Rodriguez to third. with runners at the corners, Jose Molina took a called thrid strike to end the inning.

Top 4th: Red Sox 1, Rays 1

We focus on whether Will Middlebrooks will have take a seat when Kevin Youkilis returns. Wonder if Carl Crawford gets his job back if Daniel Nava continues to play as well as he has? Nava knocked in the tying run with a looping single to left-center that Matt Joyce failed to come up with on the dive. It drove in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who doubled to right with two outs. Cody Ross walked and that set up Nava's clutch hit. With runners at second and third, Mike Aviles grounded out to end the threat.

Bottom 3d: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Slow, slower, slowest. My goodness could Clay Buchholz work any slower? Anyway, he allowed a bunt single by Elliot Johnson on a ball third baseman Will Middlebrooks probably should have let roll as it appeared it was heading foul. Johnson stole second, but Buchholz was able to escape striking out two of the next three batters.

Top 3d: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

A leadoff double by Mike Aviles and the Red Sox get absolutely nothing. Two fly outs by Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia and a ground out by David Ortiz. Yuk.

Bottom 2d: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Buchholz wasn't quite as sharp, struggling with his control. After allowing a single to Carlos Pena, who beat the shift, Luke Scott was hit in the foot with a pitch. Sean Rodriguez helped Buchholz with a 5-4-3 double play grounder, but Buchholz walked Will Rhymes and balked in Tampa Bay's run.

Top 2d: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Ugly inning for Sox hitters. Hellickson makes Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Cody Ross, and Daniel Nava look silly as they all strike out.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Clay Buchholz is trying to match the superb efforts of Jon Lester and Josh Beckett in their last starts. Buchholz retired - Ben Zobrist, B.J. Upton, and Matt Joyce in order.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Will Middlebrooks struck out, stranding two runners in the first inning. With one out, Dustin Pedroia singled to left field and David Ortiz walked. Adrian Gonzalez flied to right and Middlebrooks took a called third strike against Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (17-19)
Sweeney CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Ross RF
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-1, 8.31)

RAYS (23-14)
Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Pena 1B
Scott DH
Rodriguez 3B
Rhymes 2B
Molina C
Johnson SS
Pitching: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 2.95)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, ESPN / WRKO

Red Sox vs. Hellickson: Gonzalez 2-11, Ortiz 6-13, Pedroia 3-13, Salty 2-8, Aviles 1-3, Ross 0-3, Sweeney 1-2.

Rays vs. Buchholz: Scott 5-22, Pena 3-19, Zobrist 3-17, Upton 5-11, Joyce 2-7, Molina 4-8, Rodriguez 1-4, Rhymes 0-3, Keppinger 0-3, Gimenez 0-1.

Stat of the Day: Red Sox starters are 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in the last five games.

Notes: This is a rematch of April 14 when Buchholz beat Hellickson in a game the Sox won, 13-5, at Fenway Park. Buchholz went seven innings and allowed five earned runs. Hellickson went five innings and allowed five earned runs. ... Buchholz is 5-2, 2.38 in nine career starts against the Rays, 2-1, 2.23 in five starts at Tropicana Field. ... Hellickson is 2-1, 4.99 in six career appearances against the Sox. He is 2-0, 1.42 in four starts at the Trop this season. ... The Sox have won five straight and sit 5.5 games out of first. ... The Sox are 3-1 against the Rays this season and 8-8 on the road. ... Nava has hit in six straight at .533/.708/.1.000. He has reached base safely in 17 of 24 plate appearances. ... Middlebrooks (.300/.340/.640) has 14 RBIs in 12 games. ... This is the start of a three-city, eight-game road trip for the Sox. They play two against the Rays, three in Philadelphia and three in Baltimore.

Song of the Day: "Get Up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Top 9th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Alfredo Aceves pitched a perfect ninth, retiring Montero, Seager, and Smoak as the Red Sox improved to 17-19.

Bot 8th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Tom Wilhelmsen replaced Delabar on the mound for Seattle and was greeted by a double from Saltalamacchia. Ross then flied to right and Nava went down looking before Aviles made the Mariners' southpaw pay with a double to left to put the Sox up, 5-0.

Top 8th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Rich Hill replaced Beckett to start the eighth. Here's Beckett's line: 7 innings, 4H, 2BB, 9K. He was perfect through the first three innings before allowing an infield single to Ackley to lead off the fourth. Beckett threw 93 pitches, 60 for strikes.

Hill sent the Mariners down 1-2-3. Ackley flied to right, Jaso grounded to second, and Ichiro grounded to first.

Bot 7th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Seattle is on its third pitcher. Here's the line for Beavan: 4IP, 5H, 3R (all earned), 2BB, 4K. Charlie Ferbush relieved Beavan and tossed two innings of three-hit, one-run ball. Steve Delabar was able to quiet the Sox in the seventh.

Pedroia flied to right and Ortiz walked before Belabar K'd Gonzalez and Middlebrooks to get out of the inning.

Top 7th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Another relatively quick inning for Beckett. Smoak flied to right and Carp lined to Gonzalez at first before Michael Saunders singled to give the Mariners their fourth hit. Kawasaki grounded to second to end the inning.

Bot 6th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0

Sorry for the delay, the Red Sox have scored in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Ortiz got things started with his eighth home run of the season in the third inning. Ross walked and scored on Nava's RBI double in the fourth and Nava later scored on an Aviles single to put the Sox ahead, 3-0, after four.

Ortiz made one of the stranger trips on and around the bases you will ever see for the fourth run of the game. The Boston slugger led the inning off with a bunt single down the third base line. He then advanced to second when Seattle failed to turn a double play. After a wild pitch moved Ortiz to third, he came into score on a Middlebrooks single.

Beckett has been lights out today, through six innings he's allowed just three hits and struck out nine.

Note to readers: Our apologies for getting this post up and running so late, but technical difficulties prevented it from publishing. They should be resolved now, and updates will continue from here on out. Thanks for sticking with us.

Bot 2nd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Once again the Sox put two runners on but were unable to score. Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a sharp single up the middle. Cody Ross then went down swinging before Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch. Nava has now reached base in 16 of 21 plate appearances this season. Aviles fouled to first and Sweeney struck out to end the threat.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Beckett, pitching on his 32d birthday, continued to roll in the second. Former Yankee Jesus Montero began the inning by striking out looking. Kyle Seager was then robbed of a single up the middle by Mike Aviles, who made a nice diving play and a strong throw to get the Mariner's third baseman by a step. Justin Smoak almost spoiled the party with a deep fly to right, but the ball landed just foul. Smoak then became strikeout No. 1,043 for Beckett in a Sox uniform, tying him for sixth all-time with Bruce Hurst.

It's begun to rain a bit here at Fenway, but that doesn't appear to be bothering Beckett, whose fastball has been consistently around 93 miles per hour.

Bot 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

After Sweeney led off with a fly out to left, Dustin Pedroia wasted no time starting his next hitting streak, reaching on an infield single to third base. Pedrioa had been on 14-game streak before going 0 for 3 Monday night. Ichiro then made a nice sliding catch to rob David Ortiz of a bloop single. Blake Beavan walked Adrain Gonzalez, but made it out of the inning when Will Middlebrooks grounded into a fielder's choice.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Beckett set the Mariners down in order in the first. Dustin Ackley went down swinging on a cutter high and away. John Jaso lined to Cody Ross in right and Ichiro followed with a fly out to Ryan Sweeney in center. Eight pitches, seven for strikes for Beckett.

Here are Tuesday's lineups:

RED SOX (16-19)
Sweeney CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Ross RF
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Pitching: Josh Beckett (2-4, 5.97)

MARINERS (16-21)
Ackley 2B
Jaso C
Suzuki RF
Montero DH
Seager 3B
Smoak 1B
Carp LF
Saunders CF
Kawasaki SS
Pitching: Blake Beavan (1-3, 4.32)

Game time: 4:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Mariners vs. Beckett: Ackley 3-6, Carp 2-5, Figgins 8-26, Jaso 0-6, Ryan 1-4, Saunders 1-2, Smoak 0-5, Suzuki 7-30, Wells 1-2, Kawasaki 0-0, Liddi 0-0, Montero 0-0, Seager 0-0.

Red Sox vs. Beavan: Aviles 1-2, Byrd 0-0, Gonzalez 3-6, Middlebrooks 0-0, Nava 0-0, Ortiz 3-7, Pedroia 2-6, Punto 0-0, Ross 0-0, Saltalamacchia 2-3, Shoppach 0-0, Sweeney 0-6.

Stat of the Day: Daniel Nava has reached base safely in 15 of 20 plate appearances in his five games with the Red Sox this season. He has a hit in each game.

Notes: Today is Beckett's 32d birthday. He will look to rebound from a horrendous last outing in which he was booed as he left the field after being relieved in the third inning ... Dustin Pedroia had his hit streak end at 14 games last night ... Former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield will be honored with "Thanks, Wake," day at Fenway Park. Pregame ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (Check out a photo gallery of Wakefield's career highlights) ... Beavan was pushed back two days from his regular spot in the rotation because he was hit by a ball batted by Detroit's Miguel Cabrera on May 7.

Game over

Jon Lester pitched a complete game but lost the shutout in the 9th inning. He surrendered a lead-off single to Ichiro and a one-out double to Justin Smoak. Kyle Seager got the run across with a grounder to second base. The game was played in 2:25 before 37,334. Lester threw 119 pitches and allowed 8 hits, 1 run, no walks and struck out 6. It was his 8th career complete game and his second of the season.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 6, Mariners 0

Will Middlebrooks singled and Cody Ross doubled high atop the wall to put runners at second and third and one out. After Daniel Nava was walked intentionally to load the bases, Marlon Byrd hit a sacrifice fly scoring Middlebrooks.

Top 8th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Another superb inning for Lester, who is pitching the best game of his season so far.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

The Red Sox haven't been able to add to their lead over the last three innings as they go down in order again.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Lester allowed three hits in the inning, but a double-play liner by Kyle Seager helped
Lester preserve the shutout bid.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

A Daniel Nava walk was all she wrote.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Lester allowed singles to Michael Saunders and Dustin Ackley, but did not break as he got Ichiro to ground out into a force at second to end the threat.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Sox 3,4,5 hitters went down in order.

Top 5th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Lester got the M's to hit it in the air. One pop up and two fly ball outs.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 5, Mariners 0

Sox smacked two homers - a two-run shot by Daniel Nava with Cody Ross (single) aboard, and a solo homer by Kelly Shoppach,

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Lester retired 11 straight before Ichiro reached on an infield hit that bounced off Lester and the mound and which Middlebrooks couldn't make a play on.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

The Sox managed a two-out walk By Adrian Gonzalez, but Will Middlebrooks struck out to end the inning.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Lester makes it nine in a row retiring the bottom of the M's lineup.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Marlon Byrd reached on an infield hit to second base, but was thjrown out trying to steal. Kelly Shoppach reached on an infield hit, but Mike Aviles grounded out back to the pitcher to end the inning.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

Lester again throws two ground ball outs and strikes out Justin Smoak. Very sharp so far.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0

The Sox touched up Jason Vargas for a pair of runs. David ortiz, who continues to rake against lefthanded pitchers, doubled in Dustin Pedroia. Ortiz scored on Adrian Gonzalez' double to left.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0

Jon Lester struck out leadoff hitter Dustin Ackley and then retired Casper Wells and Ichiro on ground outs. Not raining right now. Game time temp was 56 degrees. Another late-arriving crowd.

Game over: Red Sox 12, Indians 1: Scott Atchison spotted the Indians a Michael Brantley double, but finished the game for Boston. The Red Sox have won three straight. They pounded Indians pitching for 12 hits. Time of game was 2:37 before 37,611, the 730th consecutive sellout. Daniel Bard was the winning pitcher going six innings and allowing one run. He's now 3-4. Justin Masterson took the loss.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 12, Indians 1: Mauro Gomez made his Red Sox debut, pinch-hitting for David Ortiz. Gomez was called up when Darnell McDonald went on the 15-day DL with an oblique strain. He struck out after hitting a couple of hard balls foul.

Top 8th: Red Sox 12, Indians 1: Matt Albers pitched a perfect inning.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 12, Indians 1:The Red Sox scored six times highlighted by a two-run double by Daniel Nava and a two-run homer by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Ortiz also drove in a run with a single after Dustin Pedroia doubled. Ortiz scored on a wild pitch. Former Sox reliever Dan Wheeler took the beating.

Top 7th: Red Sox 6, Indians 1: As we start the 7th, Bard is out. He went 6 innings, allowed 6 hits, 1 run, 4 walks and struck out 2. He threw 97 pitches. Rich Hill is pitching. Hill struck out two in an impressive 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 6, Indians 1: Daniel Nava was hit with a pitch again. He stole second and scored on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's single to left which Johnny Damon misplayed.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Indians 1: Choo reached on a bunt single and Brantley singled, but Bard got out of it.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Indians 1: Masterson has had a strange outing, good and bad. This inning was good with two K's (Ortiz and Middlebrooks).

Top 5th: Red Sox 5, Indians 1: Bard allowed a Kipnis single, but escaped harm.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 5, Indians 1: Ryan Sweeney singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Dustin Pedroia's hot liner almost took Justin Masterson's head off, but he caught it to end the inning.

Top 4th: Red Sox 5, Indians 1: Nothing comes easy for Daniel Bard. He created a second-and-third-one-out situation (a single by Santana and a double by Brantley) and got out of it, but his pitch count has soared to 75 through four.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 5, Indians 1: Will Middlebrooks belted his fourth homer, a solo shot on a 1-0 pitch from Masterson, with one out in the third.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Bard got himself into problems with his control. He walked three batters in the inning including Asdrubal Cabera with the bases loaded, but got Hafner to knock into a double play to get out of a potentially big inning.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 4, Indians 0: The top of the Sox order - Sweeney, Pedroia and Ortiz - are retired quickly by Masterson.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 4, Indians 0: Bard spots the Indians a leadoff walk to Travis Hafner but then retires the side.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 4, Indians 0: Former Red Sox righty Justin Masterson is on the mound today. He retired the first two Red Sox batters, but the next six batters reached base. He walked David Ortiz and then surrendered a double off the wall to Adrian Gonzalez. Ortiz, bothered by left heel bursitis, stopped at third. But he was knocked in by Will Middlebrooks, who lined a single to left, hit too hard to score the slow-footed Gonzalez from second base.

Never fear. The red-hot Daniel Nava, inside-outed a low fastball off the left field wall scoring Gonzalez and sending Middlebrooks to third. Cody Ross ran the count to 3-2 before Masterson hit him with a pitch to load the bases. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had the chance to inflict some real harm to Masterson's outing, and he did. Salty stroked a two-run single to right. Finally, Mike Aviles popped out to end the inning. But a nice two-out rally.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Strong start for Daniel Bard, who mows down the Tribe in order in the top of the first. It's 72 degrees at game time.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (14-19)
Sweeney CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (2-4, 4.83)

INDIANS (18-15)
Damon LF
Kipnis 2B
Cabrera SS
Hafner DH
Santana C
Choo RF
Brantley CF
Kotchman 1B
Hannahan 3B
Pitching: RHP Justin Masterson (1-2, 4.89)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Indians vs. Bard: Johnny Damon 3-8, Jose Lopez 3-6, Asdrubal Cabrera 2-2, Shin-Soo Choo 1-2, Travis Hafner 0-3, Michael Brantley 1-1, Jason Kipnis 1-1.

Red Sox vs. Masterson: Mike Aviles 4-12, David Ortiz 3-11, Dustin Pedroia 1-10, Nick Punto 3-9, Kelly Shoppach 0-5, Ryan Sweeney 1-5, Adrian Gonzalez 1-5, Jarrod Saltalamachhia 1-5, Cody Ross 0-3.

Stat of the Day: The Indians and the Red Sox each have scored 14 runs in this series, but the Sox lead the series 2-1.

Notes: Bard is 0-4 with an 8.64 ERA in his career against the Indians (all in relief) ... Masterson is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA as a visitor at Fenway Park and 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA overall against his old team ... Pedroia is riding a 13-game hitting streak at 20 of 56 (.357) ... Gonzalez has not hit a home run since April 17, a stretch of 89 at-bats.

Game over: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Alfredo Aceves closed it out to earn his seventh save. Time of game was 2:30 before 38,048. Felix Doubront got the win going six strong innings, allowing one run on three hits, two walks and five strikeouts. The Sox have won two straight and are now 14-19.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: The Sox go down in order for the second straight inning.

Top 8th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Vicente Padilla is on and he retired the Indians 1-2-3 and made a nice pickup of a bunt attempt for a hit by Jack Hannahan.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Sox go down. McAllister pitched 7 innings and allowed all four runs.

Top 7th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1:Felix Doubront pitched six strong innings allowing three hits and one run, two walks and five strikeouts. He threw 109 pitches. He was replaced by Andrew Miller who pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out two.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1:Cody Ross hit a moon shot over everything in left.

Top 6th: Red Sox 3, Indians 1: Lou Marson doubled and scored on an a one-out infield hit by Jason Kipnis.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 3, Indians 0:The middle of the Sox order — Pedroia, Ortiz and Gonzalez — go down in order.

Top 5th: Red Sox 3, Indians 0: Doubront allows a two-out walk to Shelley Duncan, but nothing more.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 3, Indians 0: Daniel Nava continues to be a spark with a lead-off single, his second hit. After Cody Ross lined out, Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a ground-rule double to right sending Nava to third. Aviles' sac fly brought in the third Boston run.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Indians 0: Felix Doubront is settling in nicely in this game. He retired the 2-3-4 hitters in order and has retired seven straight.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Indians 0: Back-to-back doubles by Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz each knocked in runs to give Boston the early lead. Mike Aviles, batting ninth, singled to center and after Ryan Sweeney lined out, both Pedroia and Ortiz hit the ball hard off Zach McAllister.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Felix Doubront walked his first batter - Lou Marson with two outs, but retired Michael Brantley.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Marlon Byrd seemed upset he wasn't in the lineup again, but Daniel Nava is the reason why. Even though Nava is playing left field, Bobby Valentine wants to keep Ryan Sweeney's bat in the lineup as teh center fielder. Nava singled with one out, but was stranded there as emergency starter Zach McAllister got Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (strikeout) to retire the side.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Travis Hafner singled with out, but he was erased trying to stretch a single into a double on a nice throw to second by Cody Ross in right.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Dustin Pedroia singled with one out, but that's all the Sox could muster. That extended his hit streak to 13 games.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: The Indians go down in order in the first as Felix Doubront, who may be fighting to stay in the rotation with Daisuke Matsuzaka coming back from his rehab assignment after one more start, striking out two batters in the first.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

A few pregame notes on a beautiful day at the ballpark:

• Kevin Youkilis played catch out to 90 feet today, his second day of such activity. But he has yet to start swinging a bat, so his activation remains at least a few weeks off.

• The pitchers are taking batting practice in shifts with the first interleague road game coming up on May 18. Daniel Bard is lined up to start that first game and he reports that he was a pretty fair hitter at Charlotte (N.C.) Christian High.

North Carolina, Bard said, recruited him as a two-way player but quickly made him a pitcher.

At the risk of sparking bad golf jokes, Josh Beckett is a career .145 hitter with three home runs and nine doubles in 221 at-bats. Not bad.

• The Red Sox traded infielder Jeff Larish to the Pirates for cash considerations. Larish was picked up earlier this month and had yet to join an affiliate.

• LHP Justin Thomas, designated by the Red Sox earlier this week, was claimed by the Yankees. He has options and can be sent to Triple A.

• David Ortiz (left heel) is in the lineup but with the understanding that he will speak up if he feels any pain.

• Went over and said hello to Johnny Damon in the Cleveland clubhouse. He's not too happy with his .171 /.190/.244 line so far in 10 games but said he feels great physically. Johnny is 270 hits away from 3,000 at age 38.

I hope he gets there, just to see the debate about his Hall of Fame credentials.

• The Indians made a bunch of moves before the game. They recalled RHP Zach McAllister, tonight's starter. They purchased the contract of infielder Jose Lopez. They placed righthander Josh Tomlin on the disabled list. Infielder Jason Donald was optioned to Triple A Columbus and outfielder Nick Weglarz was designated to make room for Lopez on the 40-man roster.

• Then there's this: The Indians were watching "Major League" in the clubhouse before batting practice. Thankfully the Red Sox were not watching "Fever Pitch."

Game over: Red Sox 7, Indians 5: Aceves allowed a run but got his sixth save in a game that lasted forever.

What a dicey ending. Santana walked, took second on defensive indifference and scored on a single by Brantley. Kotchman also singled before Hannahan walked. Pinch runner Jason Donald stole second. Damon then popped to center.

After losing 11 of 12 at home including six straight, the Red Sox used 12 hits to beat the Indians and improve Clay Buchholz to 4-1.

Scrappy McScraperson was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Adrian Gonzalez was on base five times and the Sox had six doubles.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 7, Indians 4: The Red Sox missed another good chance to score. Gonzalez led off with a double, the fifth tie he has been on base tonight. Middlebrooks walked. Gonzalez was then picked off (Yo, Adrian, where you going?). Nava walked. Then Ross lined hard to center and Salty struck out.

Alfredo Aceves in to try and close it out.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 7, Indians 4: Morales allowed a single by Hannahan. Damon then grounded to first. Gonzalez touched the bag with one out and chased Hannahan to second. His flip to Pedroia was high and Hannahan dodged the tag. Should have been two outs.

Kipnis then walked and in came Vicente Padilla carrying a severed head and grinning maniacally. OK, so he wasn't. But you can totally imagine that.

Anyway, Cabrera grounded to first. Then Hafner popped to center. Padilla has stranded all 11 runners he has inherited.

Podsednik acquired

The Red Sox obtained 36-year-old outfielder Scott Podsednik from the Phillies for cash considerations. He was hitting .203 for Triple A Lehigh Valley.

A veteran of 10 major league seasons with six teams, Podsednik has not been in the majors since 2010 when he played 39 games for the Dodgers. He is a career .279 hitter with 301 steals.

Podsednik was assigned to Triple A Pawtucket.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 7, Indians 4: Facing Tony Sipp, Punto struck out, Sweeney flied to left, Pedroia (3 for 4) singled and McDonald whiffed.

McDonald hit for Ortiz, who left the game with left heel soreness.

Franklin Morales coming in. He gets hit harder at Fenway than Yankees fans.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 7, Indians 4: Buchholz loaded the bases with one out as Damon singled, Kipnis singled and Cabrera walked. That as it for Clay after 111 pitches. Rich Hill entered and walked Hafner to force in a run. Santana then grounded to third. What could have been a double play was an E-5 as Middlebrooks dropped it. A run scored. In came Andrew Miller.

He got Choo on a liner to center. Brantley then singled in a run before Kotchman grounded to first, Gonzalez making a play deep in the hole.

The final line for Buchholz: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 7, Indians 1: 1-2-3 inning for Dan Wheeler, the pride of Rhode Island.

strong>Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 7, Indians 1 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz. That's a quality start. Postpone that trip to Pawtucket.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 7, Indians 1: Big inning there. Nava walked and scored on a double by Ross. Punto then reached on a fielder's choice. Sweeney singled in Ross and Punto went to third. That was it for Jimenez.

Pedroia's sac fly scored Punto. Ortiz reached on an infield single (yes, a infield single) and Gonzalez walked to load the bases. But Middlebrooks grounded into a force.

Middle of the 5th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Buchholz isn't cruising. But he has been effective. Kipnis grounded to first. Cabrera then lined to Pedroia. Hafner singled and Santana grounded hard, Pedroia making a nice play.

Buchholz so far: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R,1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP 80 pitches, 50 strikes.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Gonzalez had a bloop double to left. But that was it.

Middle of the 4th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz. Glory be.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Missed chance there. Nava doubled and Ross walked to lead off. Salty flied to left. Punto whiffed and Sweeney grounded to first.

Need those runs with Buchholz out there.

Middle of the 3rd: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Santana walked with two outs and went to third when Choo doubled off the wall. Brantley then popped a ball down the line and Nava made a nice running catch.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Punto singled, breaking an 0 for 19 skid. Sweeney also singled. Pedroia then doubled to right, driving in two runs.

Ortiz flied to left before Gonzalez wailed. Middlebrooks grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Running is not the kid's strong suit.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 2, Indians 1: Hannahan doubled with one out. Kipnis then singled to left with two outs. Hannahan came to the plate and beat he throw from Nava. But Salty blocked the plate and Hannahan slid around him. He never touched the plate and umpire Deryl Cousins punched him out.

Third base coach Steve Smith got ejected.

Top of the 2nd: Red Sox 2, Indians 1: Fans are lining up to take photos of the scoreboard at Fenway Park as the Sox have more runs than the other team.

Pedroia reached on an infield single. Ortiz then walked before Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to load 'em up. Will Middlebrooks did it again, lining a double down the line in left to score two runs.

Nava struck out. Ross then walked to re-load the bases. But Salty struck out. Let's see if Buchholz can get through an inning without damage here.

Middle of the 1st: Indians 1, Red Sox 0: Buchholz got two easy outs. Then Cabrera walked before singles by Hafner and Santana scored a run. When he hit Santana, Bobby V came to the mound, slapped him on the butt hard and had what looked like harsh words for him.

Buchholz then got Brantley to ground to first.

First pitch: With Jacoby Ellsbury at his side, Fred Lynn threw out the first pitch to Dustin Pedroia. In 1975 every kid in New England who owned a glove wanted to be Fred Lynn. 331/.401/.566 at age 23. MVP, Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove winner. He was the man.

Pre-game: Good evening from Fenway Park, where it's a nice spring night.

Henry Mahegan, a former Red Sox media relations assistant, is handling the public address announcements this evening. Henry is now a now a history and civics teacher at Charlestown High.

The Sox will have a few different people filling in for the late Carl Beane.

Hang out here for updates all game and please feel free to leave your comments. The reader with the most interesting comment will receive a signed golf ball from Josh Beckett!

Just kidding. But that would be awesome.

Game over:

The Red Sox have lost 8 out of their last 9 games and continued the free-fall tonight. Derek Lowe got the win for the Indians, he's now 5-1. Josh Beckett, who lasted 2-1/3 innings and allowed seven runs, got the loss, he's 2-4. Game time was 3:11. Yes, it was a sellout.

Top 9th: Indians 8, Red Sox 3

Another great job by the Red Sox bullpen which went 6-2/3 innings in relief of the embattled Josh Beckett and allowed one run. The Indians scored a run against Alfredo Aceves in the ninth. Sox starters now have a 6.06 ERA.

Bottom 8th: Indians 7, Red Sox 3

The Red Sox milked three walks - Nava, Punto, and Sweeney to load the bases. With two outs Dustin Pedroia ran the count to 3-2 against Vinnie Pestano but popped out to the first baseman to end the threat.

Top 8th: Indians 7, Red Sox 3

Franklin Morales allows a single to Brantley, his fourth hit, and hit Casey Kotchman, but got out of it.

Bottom 7th: Indians 7, Red Sox 3

Dustin Pedroia homered to right field.

Top 7th: Indians 7, Red Sox 2

The Tribe go down 1-2-3 against Scott Atchison.

Bottom 6th: Indians 7, Red Sox 2

Kelly Shoppach was hit by a Lowe pitch, but Sweeney knocked into a double-play to end the threat.

Top 6th: Indians 7, Red Sox 2

A pair of singles by Brantley and Hannahan didn't lead to anything.

Bottom 5th: Indians 7, Red Sox 2

With two outs, the Red Sox rallied for a run. Adrian Gonzalez singled off the left field wall, moved to third on Middlebrook's single and scored on Nava's double to right. Aviles flew out to right to end the threat.

Top 5th: Indians 7, Red Sox 1

Rich Hill does a nice job in the fifth.

Bottom 4th: Indians 7, Red Sox 1

Daniel Nava reached with a walk and Marlon Byrd and Kelly Shoppach singled to load the bases. But Ryan Sweeney grounded out to first to end the threat. By the way, the empties have filled in. Late-arriving crowd. Some must wonder why they bothered.

Top 4th: Indians 7, Red Sox 1

Johnny Damon reached on an infield hit, but that was it against Miller.

Bottom 3rd: Indians 7, Red Sox 1

Derek Lowe settling in. Nothing doing for Sox.

Top 3rd: Indians 7, Red Sox 1

This couldn't have gone any worse for Josh Beckett. He lasted only 2-1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and allowed two home runs. Bobby Valentine was cheered when he came out to get him. Beckett was booed when he came off the field. In the third he allowed a solo homer to Jason Kipnis and then an RBI double to Choo and a two-run double to Brantley. Pretty ugly. Andrew Miller came on in relief.

Bottom 2nd: Indians 3, Red Sox 1

Adrian Gonzalez continued his torrid hitting with a double to leftcenter to lead off the inning. After Lowe threw two more ground ball outs, Mike Aviles slipped a single up the middle to score the run.

Top 2nd: Indians 3, Red Sox 0

Oh boy. Beckett allowed three runs, two coming on a two-run homer by No. 9 hitter Jack Hannahan. Beckett struck out Carlos Santana to start the inning, but Shin-Soo Choo walked and Michael Brantley doubled him to third. Casey Kotchman's sacrifice fly got the first run in and Hannahan then struck. The crowd booed.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0

Old friend Derek Lowe, 4-1 with a 2.39 ERA for the Indians, retired the Red Sox in order in the first. The Red Sox had no interest in Lowe this offseason. Lowe told me before the game that the Indians did tremendous research breaking down is delivery over a three-year span and came up with something that has really helped Lowe remain consistent.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0

Shocking to see so many empty seats at the start of this game. Nice tribute to Carl Beane at the outset. Meanwhile, Josh Beckett retired the first two batters before Asdrubal Cabrera doubled to right. He stole third but Beckett got Travis Hafner to ground out to second base.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (12-18)
Sweeney RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Aviles SS
Byrd CF
Shoppach C
Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (2-3, 4.45)

INDIANS (17-13)
Damon LF
Kipnis 2B
Cabrera SS
Hafner DH
Santana CA
Choo RF
Brantley CF
Kotchman 1B
Hannahan 3B
Pitching: RHP Derek Lowe (4-1, 2.39)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WRKO

Red Sox vs. Lowe: Gonzalez 7-23, Ross 3-10, Punto 3-11, Ortiz 2-7, Byrd 1-6, Aviles 1-3, Pedroia 0-3, McDonald 0-2.

Indians vs. Beckett: Damon 15-57, Kotchman 7-25, Hafner 7-20, Cabrera 5-16, Choo 5-16, Sizemore 3-16, Brantley 3-10, Santana 0-7, Hannahan 1-8, Marson 2-5, Kipnis 1-3, Duncan 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Beckett has 1,038 strikeouts with the Red Sox, six away from passing Bruce Hurst for sixth place on the team's career list.

Notes: Nava was called up and Clayton Mortensen was optioned. Justin Thomas was designated to make room on the 40-man roster for Nava. ... Beckett is pitching for the first time since April 29 when he threw 126 pitches against the White Sox. ... Beckett has has a 2.93 ERA in his last four games. He has had four consecutive quality starts since getting shelled by the Tigers in his first start. ... The Sox have lost eight of their last 10 games. ... The 38-year-old Lowe will be making his seventh start of the season. He has made just one career start against the Red Sox, that coming for the Braves on June 20, 2009 at Fenway Park. He took the loss in a 3-0 game. Lowe was with the Red Sox from 1997-2004, going 70-55 with 85 saves and a 3.72 ERA in 384 games. ... The Indians are coming off an 8-1 loss at home against Chicago. They have lost two straight. ... Former Red Sox reliever Dan Wheeler has a 5.59 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP in 10 appearances for the Indians.

Song of the Day: "Flirtin' With Disaster" by Molly Hatchet.

Game over: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Down to their last three outs, the Red Sox put the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second, but failed to capitalize on the precious scoring opportunity in Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals before a Kauffman Stadium crowd of 18,339.

Darnell McDonald entered the game to pinch run for Cody Ross after he reached on a leadoff single to right off closer Jonathan Broxton. Jarrod Saltalamacchia then drew a walk. Marlon Bryd appeared to get hit by a pitch when he squared up for a bunt. Despite Bobby Valentine's protestations, plate umpire Jeff Nelson ruled Byrd did not get hit by a pitch.

Byrd wound up getting down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Ryan Sweeney came up and engaged Broxton for eight pitches, fouling off the last three, before he lined to left on the ninth pitch for the second out. Mike Aviles hit a game-ending groundout to short as the Royals closed out the three-game set, 2-1.

Bottom of 8th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 The Sox got another huge play at the plate for the second time in as many nights when Irving Falu was thrown out at home attempting to score from first base on Chris Getz's double to left.

Ross relayed to Aviles who fired to Saltalamacchia for the inning-ending putout.

Top of 8th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Sox were down to their last three outs after going down 1-2-3 against Crow with Ortiz lining to center, Gonzalez striking out, and Middlebrooks flying to right.

Bottom of 7th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Alex Gordon hit a one-out double to right, and advanced to third on Billy Butler's soft groundout to the mound, but wound up getting stranded there when Mortensen got Francouer to fly to center.

Top of 7th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 After getting the first two outs of the inning, Bruce Chen allowed a single to left to Aviles, prompting Royals manager Ned Yost to summon Aaron Crow from the bullpen. Crow got Pedroia to fly to center to end the inning.

Chen's line: 6.2 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 5 K, 0 BB, 103 pitches (68 strikes).

Bottom of 6th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Mortensen has a 1-2-3 inning, getting the first two outs on fly balls to right.

Top of 6th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Another 1-2-3 inning for Chen, who has retired the eight batters he's faced. Clayton Mortensen has relieved Lester (5.0 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K) in the bottom of the sixth.

Bottom of 5th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Lester needed only 16 pitches to retire the side on three consecutive groundouts to third. He has now thrown 108 pitches, 69 strikes, through five innings.

Top of 5th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Nothin' doin' for the Sox, who went down 1-2-3 on seven pitches. Lester will pitch the bottom of the fifth.

Bottom of 4th: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 Alcides Escobar ripped an RBI double to center to score Irving Falu, who reached on a leadoff double to left and advanced on Getz's sacrifice bunt, with the go-ahead run.

Lester got Dyson to ground to short, hit Gordon with a pitch, and then struck out Butler (swinging) with his 92d pitch of the game.

Top of 4th: Royals 3, Red Sox 3: The Sox appeared poised to break the tie when Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled down the line to right and Byrd reached after getting hit by a pitch.

Both wound up stranded when Sweeney struck out swinging and Aviles grounded to second.

Bottom of 3d: Royals 3, Red Sox 3: Lester benefitted from some great defense when he started out the inning by giving up a sharply struck single to center by Billy Butler, then got Francoeur to ground to third for the force on Butler at second.

Lester got Giavotella and Brayan Pena to fly to right, with Sweeney making a nice sliding grab for the inning-ending out. Through three innings, Lester has thrown 70 pitches. The bullpen will be going to work shortly.

Top of 3d: Royals 3, Red Sox 3: The Red Sox tied it after loading the bases against Chen, who led off the inning by giving up back-to-back singles to Byrd and Ryan Sweeney. After Aviles flew to left, Dustin Pedroia reached on a flare to right that fell just inside the line, loading the bases for David Ortiz.

Chen struck out Ortiz for the second time in the game, leaving the bases juiced for Adrian Gonzalez, who cleared them with his double to right that tied it, 3-3.

Bottom of 2d: Royals 3, Red Sox 0: An uneventful innning for Lester, as he gave up a leadoff single to Chris Getz, then got Alcides Escobar to ground to third for the force on Getz at second, struck out Dyson (looking), and induced Gordon to hit a pop foul to Aviles.

Top of 2d: Royals 3, Red Sox 0: Chen did not allow the Red Sox to respond, retiring the side 1-2-3, sandwiching a pair of strikeouts of Middlebrooks and Saltamacchia between Ross's groundout to the mound. Chen now has retired the last six batters he's faced, throwing 33 pitches (24 for strikes).

Bottom of 1st: Royals 3, Red Sox 0: After getting out the first two batters he faced, Jon Lester scuffled to get the third out, giving up three runs on two hits and one walk. After Billy Butler walked and Jeff Francoeur singled to left, Sox center fielder Marlon Byrd misplayed Johnny Giavotella's fly ball, allowing Butler to score KC's first run.

With two out and men on the corners, catcher Brayan Pena hit a fly to left that Cody Ross appeared to snag for the final out. After taking 2-1/2 steps, the ball came out of Ross's glove, allowing Pena to get a two-run double. Sox manager Bobby Valentine argued with third base umpire Chris Guccione that Ross had caught the ball, but his plea fell upon deaf ears.

Lester got out of the inning after getting Irving Falu to ground to third.

Top of 1st: Red Sox 0, Royals 0: After Mike Aviles hit a leadoff single to left off Bruce Chen, the Red Sox wound up stranding him when Chen retired the next three batters.

Pregame Greetings from Kauffman Stadium where the Red Sox (12-17) will attempt to rebound from a 6-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals (10-19) Tuesday night. LHP Jon Lester (1-2, 4.62 ERA) will take the mound for the Sox and oppose winless LHP Bruce Chen (0-4, 4.98 ERA). Sad news reached the clubhouse before the game about the death of Carl Beane. The 59-year-old public address announcer at Fenway Park suffered a heart attack and was killed in a one-car accident Wednesday near Sturbridge, Mass. He will be missed by Red Sox Nation.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (12-17)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Byrd CF
Sweeney RF
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (1-2, 4.62)

ROYALS (10-19)
Dyson CF
Gordon LF
Butler 1B
Francoeur RF
Giavotella DH
Pena C
Falu 3B
Getz 2B
Escobar SS
Pitching: LHP Bruce Chen (0-4, 4.98)

Game time: 8:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Royals vs. Lester: Butler 3-12, Gordon 0-9, Francoeur 0-7, Hosmer 2-4, Getz 0-5, Pena 2-5, Escobar 0-3, Moustakas 1-2, Quintero 0-2.

Red Sox vs. Chen: Ortiz 4-18, Punto 4-9, Pedroia 3-4, Byrd 2-4, McDonald 2-3, Shoppach 0-3, Gonzalez 1-3, Salty 0-3, Sweeney 0-2, Ross 1-1.

Stat of the Day: Lester has thrown 994.2 innings for the Red Sox. He would be the 41st in franchise history to reach 1,000, the 10th lefthander.

Notes: The Sox have lost six of their last seven games and seven of the last nine. ... Lester is 5-1, 1.30 in seven career starts against Kansas City, 1-0, 1.59 in two starts last season. ... Chen has allowed 12 runs on 15 hits in 9.1 innings in his last two starts. He is 3-6, 5.98 in 16 career appearances against the Sox. He has allowed 21 earned runs in his last 23 innings against the Sox. ... The Sox have scored 10-plus runs eight times, the most in the majors. They also lead the majors with 82 doubles. ... Ortiz is hitting .372/.433/.673 with 20 extra-base hits.

Song of the Day: "Controversy" by Prince.

Game over: Royals 6, Red Sox 4: Royals designated hitter Billy Butler hit a three-run homer in the eighth off reliever Matt Albers to pin a 6-4 loss on the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday night before a crowd of 20,524.

It was Kansas City's 10th win of the season and third at home -- all coming in May -- and avenged an 11-6 loss to the Red Sox Monday night in the first game of this three-game set.

Daniel Bard (2-4, 4.83 ERA) absorbed the loss after going seven innings and allowing five runs on six this and four walks while striking out one.

Bottom of 8th, one out, Royals 6, Red Sox 4: Bard was done for the night after walking the first two batters he faced. He turned it over to Matt Albers, who entered the game having thrown 9.2 scoreless innings in his last seven outings. Royals' DH Billy Butler shattered that streak when he clobbered a three-run homer 402 feet over the fence in left, scoring Dyson and Gordon, both of whom walked.

After Albers got the next two batters to fly to center, he turned it over to LHP Andrew Miller, who struck out Mike Moustakas to end the inning.

Jonathan Broxton relieved Mijares (2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K) in the top of the ninth.

Top of 8th, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: Mijares again held it down for Royals, sandwiching a pair of strikeouts around a successful pickoff attempt of Marlon Byrd (single) at second.

Bottom of 7th, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: The Royals threatened when Bard allowed the first two batters -- Jeff Francouer (single to right) and Mike Moustakas (single to left) -- to reach base. Chris Getz's sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. Gonzalez prevented the tying run from scoring when he fielded Alcides Escobar's bunt and threw out Francouer at the plate.

Bard got out of the inning by striking out pinch hitter Brayan Pena, his first punchout of the game.

Top of 7th, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: Mijares did a laudable job of keeping the Royals in it, getting two quick outs against Ortiz (pop fly to left) and Ross (strikeout, swinging) before allowing Gonzalez to reach on a single to center. Punto grounded to third for the inning-ending force out on Gonzalez at second.

Bottom of 6th, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: Bard responded with a 1-2-3 inning of his own, getting out of the inning on a 4-6-3 double play, giving him 13 groundball outs for the game. He has now thrown 75 pitches (49 strikes) through six innings. LHP Jose Mijares has relieved Kelvin Herrera (1.2 IP, 2 K) in the top of the seventh.

Top of 6th, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: Herrera holds down Sox with 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom of 5th, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: After issuing a lead-off walk to Chris Getz, Bard retired the next three batters on Gonzalez's diving stab and flip to Bard after Alcides Escobar's checked-swing ground ball, Humberto Quintero's pop up to short, and Jarrod Dyson's ground out to third. The top of the Royals' order is now 0 for 7 against Bard with five groundball outs. Bard has now thrown 66 pitches through five innings,

Top of 5th, one out, Red Sox 4, Royals 3: Danny Duffy's night was done after he gave up a one-out double to Adrian Gonzalez and walked Nick Punto, prompting Ned Yost to summon Kelvin Herrera from the bullpen. Duffy allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and five walks in 4.1 innings, throwing 102 pitches (56 strikes).

Herrera appeared to induce pinch hitter Ryan Sweeney, batting for Darnell McDonald, to ground into an inning-ending double play, but second baseman Chris Getz was charged with a throwing error to first, enabling Sweeney to reach base and Gonzalez to score the go-ahead run from third. Herrera struck out Byrd to end the inning.

Bottom of 4th, Royals 3, Red Sox 3: Bard held down the Royals with another 1-2-3 inning. Through four innings, Bard has thrown 54 pitches, 35 for strikes, and retired the last six batters he's faced.

Top of 4th, Royals 3, Red Sox 3: The Sox tied it up on Dustin Pedroia's single to center, which scored Mike Aviles from second after Aviles reached on a two-out double to left that sailed over Alex Gordon's head. David Ortiz came up and ended the inning with a pop foul to third. Through four innings, the Sox have stranded six runners.

Bottom of 3d, Royals 3, Red Sox 2: A much-needed 1-2-3 inning for Bard, who needed only five pitches to do the trick, as opposed to the 29 he threw in the disastrous second inning.

Top of 3d, Royals 3, Red Sox 2: The Red Sox left the tying run at third when Cody Ross drew a walk, advanced to second on a walk to Adrian Gonzalez and reached third after Nick Punto grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Ross was left stranded, however, when Darnell McDonald popped to second to end the inning.

Bottom of 2d, Royals 3, Red Sox 2: Bard scuffled at the outset when Eric Hosmer singled to left and Jeff Francouer drew a walk. Mike Moustakas grounded to first and beat out a 3-6-1 double play, getting a safe call from first base ump Jeff Nelson. As he was pitching to Chris Getz, Bard was charged with a balk, allowing Hosmer to score and Moustakas to advance to second.

Another balk call on Bard enabled Moustakas to go to third. The last Red Sox to have two balks in an inning was John Dopson June 13, 1989 vs. Detroit (Dopson wound up having four overall in the game). Moustakas wound up scoring the tying run, 2-2, on Getz's RBI single to left. Humberto Quintero drove in Getz with the go-ahead run with a single up the middle. Kelly Shoppach picked off Quintero, who was caught stealing second, to get Bard out of the inning.

Update: 9:10 p.m. (EST) Report from the Red Sox clubhouse: Middlebrooks left the game with left hamstring tightness.

Top of 2d, Red Sox 2, Royals 0: Kelly Shoppach drove in Boston's first run with his RBI single to center, enabling Will Middlebrooks, who reached on a scorched one-out double to right, to score and advanced on Marlon Byrd's single to right, to score from third. Middlebrooks looked stiff when he rounded third on Byrd's hit, prompting manager Bobby Valentine and the team's trainers came out for a visit.

Duffy walked Mike Aviles to load the bases for Dustin Pedroia, who drew a walk that pushed across Byrd to make it 2-0. David Ortiz flied to center to end the inning.

Nick Punto entered the game in the bottom of the second as a defensive replacement for Will Middlebrooks (hamstring).

Bottom of 1st, Red Sox 0, Royals 0: RHP Daniel Bard got off to a smooth start, retiring the side in 1-2-3 fashion on 12 pitches (8 strikes).

Top of 1st, Red Sox 0, Royals 0: Royals LHP Danny Duffy stranded the only base runner, David Ortiz (double to right), when he struck out Cody Ross (swinging).

Pregame Welcome to Kauffman Stadium, where the Red Sox (12-16) will attempt to win their ninth game in their last 11 on the road when they face the Kansas City Royals (9-19). Righthander Daniel Bard, who is winless in nine career games against the Royals (0-2, 2.61 ERA), will go to the mound for the Sox and be opposed by LHP Danny Duffy (2-2, 3.57).

As always, please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Game over: Red Sox 11, Royals 5 The Red Sox snapped a five-game losing streak with an 11-5 victory over the Royals before a Kauffman Stadium crowd of 19,502.

The Red Sox erupted for 16 hits and four homers, including a pair by rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who sparked a four-run outburst in the first inning with his 3-run homer and a two-run homer in a game-breaking four-run outburst in the eighth.

Felix Doubront (2-1, 5.29) picked up his second win of the season after going 6.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out two. Vicente Padilla earned his first save of the season after inheriting loaded bases from Doubront with one out in the seventh and inducing Royals' DH Billy Butler to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Top of 9th, Red Sox 11, Royals 5: The Sox put two runners aboard in the ninth, but were unable to push them across after David Ortiz (3-for-4,3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 HR) struck out swinging against Aaron Crow. Nick Punto pinch-ran for Pedroia, who walked, and remained in the game at second in the bottom of the inning.

Top of 8th, Red Sox 11, Royals 5: The Sox broke this one open with 4 runs on 2 hits, including a 2-run homer by Will Middlebrooks, giving the rookie two for the game and three on the season. After Pedroia walked and Ortiz drew an intentional walk, Cody Ross doubled to center, scoring Pedroia. Ortiz, who was close to catching Pedroia on the basepaths, scored after a fielding error was charged to Royals' center fielder Jarrod Dyson. It was all academic, however, when Middlebrooks clanged a two-run homer off the left field foul pole.

Bottom of 7th, Red Sox 7, Royals 5: Doubront gives up three hits to load the bases for Alex Gordon after 104 pitches. After getting ahead of Gordon, 0-2, Doubront walked the Royals' left fielder, scoring Brayan Pena, who reached on a lead-off single to center. RHP Vicente Padilla has relieved Doubront (6 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 111 pitches, 69 strikes), inheriting loaded bases and designated hitter Billy Butler at the plate. Padilla got out of the inning unscathed when he induced Butler to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

Top of 7th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4: With two men on and two out, Alex Gordon robbed Kelly Shoppach of a run-scoring hit (extra bases, probably) with his diving grab of Shoppach's soft fly to left. Kelvin Herrera relieved Nate Adcock, who departed after giving up a single to Gonzalez and a double to Middlebrooks.

Bottom of 6th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4:,/b> Huge 1-2-3 inning for Doubront, who recorded his first two strikeouts of the game fanning Eric Hosmer and Jeff Francouer. He induced Mike Moustakas to fly to left to end the inning. Through six innings, Doubront has thrown 87 pitches (55 strikes).

Top of 6th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4: With one out, Pedroia doubled to left. Adcock intentionally walked Ortiz before getting Cody Ross to ground to third for an inning-ending GIDP.

Bottom of 5th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4: Another strong inning from Doubront. After getting out the first two batters he faced, marking eight in a row he had retired, Gordon singled to center to prevent Doubront from retiring the side in 1-2-3 fashion. But Doubront induced DH Billy Butler to ground to Aviles for the force out on Gordon at second. Through five innings, Doubront has allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks while throwing 79 pitches (47 for strikes). If he can give the Sox two more innings, his outing will have "yeoman's effort'' written all over it.

Top of 5th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4: The Red Sox had two batters reach base, but were unable to push either across. Darnell McDonald (base hit) was first to get aboard, but wound up getting caught stealing in a 2-3-4-6 rundown between first and second. After Marlon Bryd reached on a two-out single to center, Adcock stranded him when he froze Shoppach with a called third strike to end the inning.

Bottom of 4th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4: Doubront, needing to go deep in the game, got some relief with a 1-2-3 inning. He has now thrown 68 pitches through four innings.

Top of 4th, Red Sox 7, Royals 4: Breaking News: Kelly Shoppach reached base on a lead-off triple to left. It was the first of Shoppach's career. This after he showcased his speed recording his first career steal (in his first career attempt) last month at Fenway. Shoppach's three-bagger chased Sanchez (3+ IP, 6 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR), who was relieved by RHP Nate Adcock. Pedroia drilled a two-run homer (his fourth of the season) off Adcock, sending it 397-feet to the Pepsi Party Porch in right to give the Sox some breathing room.

Bottom of 3d, Red Sox 5, Royals 4: Alex Gordon's broke-bat infield hit and Will Middlebrook's two-base throwing error to first, enabled Jarrod Dyson (bunt single) to score from second, pulling the Royals within two runs.Eric Hosmer's sacrifice fly to second enabled Gordon to score from third, cutting Boston's lead to one run.

Top of 3d, Red Sox 5, Royals 2: David Ortiz continued to savage left-handed pitching, taking Sanchez deep to the Pepsi Party Porch in right field at Kauffman Stadium for his seventh homer of the year, giving the Sox a 5-2 lead. Ortiz entered the game hitting .400 vs. lefties and is now hitting .434 (16 of 37) with 4 homers against southpaws. He's hitting a gaudy .347 in his last 210 at-bats vs. lefties, going back to the beginning of last season.

Update, 9:04 Here's an update on Daisuke Matsuzaka's rehab start in Pawtucket Monday night vs. Rochester at McCoy Stadium. Matsuzaka went 4.2 innings, allowed two hits, no runs and walked three with striking out four batters. He threw 87 pitches and 49 strikes. It was his third rehab start after coming off Tommy John surgery.

Bottom of 2d, Red Sox 4, Royals 2: After Doubront issued a lead-off walk to Jeff Francouer, Mike Moustakas doubled to center on a hit that eluded Marlon Bryd's outstretched glove and caromed off the padding. Brayan Pena's RBI ground out to second scored Francouer from third and Chris Getz's sacrifice fly to center (which seemed to play havoc on Bryd). Doubront incuded Alcides Escobar to ground to short to end the inning.

Top of 2d, Red Sox 4, Royals 0: After giving four runs on three hits, including a 3-run homer by Middlebrooks, in tthe first inning, Sanchez seemed to settle down, getting two out before giving up a single to center by Mike Aviles. Sanchez minimized any potential damage when he got Pedroia to fly to center.

Bottom of 1st, Red Sox 4, Royals 0: Felix Doubront, who suffered his first loss of the season after lasting just four innings in his last outing May 1 against Oakland, seemed to be cruising along after he retired the first two batters, but prompted an emergency mound visit when he came off the mound awkwardly after issuing a walk to Billy Butler. Doubront, aware of the tired arms in Boston's bullpen, stayed in the game and got out of the inning by inducing Eric Hosmer to hit a pop foul to Middlebrooks.

Top of 1st, Red Sox 4, Royals 0: The Red Sox, winners of 7 of their last 10 road games, jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after Will Middlebrooks belted a 3-run homer off Royals lefthanded starter Jonathan Sanchez. It was the second homer of the season in as many days for the Sox rookie third baseman after he clobbered a grand slam in Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Orioles in 17 innings. Adrian Gonzalez, who went 0-for-8 Sunday, didn't waste time getting off the schneid when he hit an RBI single, scoring Dustin Pedroia (walk) to give Boston its first run of the game.

Pregame: Welcome to sunny Kauffman Stadium where the Red Sox will attempt to rebound from Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in 17 innings. Lefthander Felix Doubront (1-1, 5.19 ERA) will take the mound for the Red Sox and oppose LHP Jonathan Sanchez (1-1, 5.24 ERA).

As always, please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

By Julian Benbow, Globe staff

It took 39 innings all together, but the Orioles completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox for the first time since 1994 with a 17-inning 9-6 win.

By the end of it, both managers were scraping the barrel for pitchers.

Chris Davis, the Orioles designated hitter who did everything but hit Sunday (0 for 8 with five strikeouts), ultimately earned the win, tossing the final two innings.

Darnell McDonald, who came in as a pinch runner for David Ortiz, took the loss for the Sox after giving up a three-run home run to Adam Jones in the 17th.

He then grounded into the double-play that finally ended the game after six hours, seven minutes.

The Orioles took the lead in the AL East, while the Sox sunk deeper into the bottom of the division.

Will Middlebrooks’s fifth inning grand slam tied the game at 5 and gave the Sox new life.

He became the first Red Sox to hit a grand slam as his first home run since Daniel Nava in 2010.

Clay Buchholz struggled, lasting just 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and getting tagged for three home runs.

JJ Hardy took Buchholz deep twice, and Robert Andino tacked on a three-run homer in the fourth to give Baltimore a 5-1 lead. The Orioles hit seven home runs in the series.

Good morning. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (11-15)
Aviles SS
Sweeney RF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (3-1, 8.69)

ORIOLES (18-9)
Flaherty, LF
Hardy, SS
Markakis, RF
Jones, CF
Wieters, C
Davis, DH
Reynolds, 3B
Johnson, 1B
Andino, 2B
Pitching: RHP Tommy Hunter (2-1, 4.26)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Orioles vs. Buchholz: Markakis 3-24, Jones 3-10, Wieters 6-14, Andino 0-7, Reynolds 1-6, Davis 0-2.

Red Sox vs. Hunter: Ortiz 5-16, Pedroia 4-10, Gonzalez 3-7, Sweeney 2-8, Aviles 1-6, Ross 0-2, Punto 0-2, Saltalamacchia 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Buchholz has received 10.86 runs per nine innings in his five starts, the most run support in baseball. That's how you win three games with an 8.69 ERA.

Notes: The Sox have lost four straight and five of six and look to avoid being swept. They are 1-4 on a homestand that ends today. ... The Orioles have won four straight and 10 of 12. ... The Sox have lost nine of their last 10 games at Fenway Park. ... Buchholz is 5-3, 3.26 in 10 career appearances against the Orioles, 0-1, 5.40 in one start last season. ... Buchholz has allowed at least five earned runs in each of his five starts. He has a WHIP of 1.89. ... Hunter has allowed three earned runs in his last 13 innings. He will be pitching on six days' rest. ... Hunter is 2-1, 6.54 in six career starts against the Sox. ... The Sox have not been swept by the O’s at Fenway Park in a series of at least 3 games since June 10-12, 1994 when they were swept in a three-game series.

Song of the Day: "What's The Matter Here?" by 10,000 Maniacs.

By Julian Benbow, Globe staff

Jones smacked an 0-and-2 fastball so hard it landed in the parking lot across Lansdowne Street. The two-run homer was his only hit of the afternoon, but hit gave him seven on the season, tying him with Matt Weiters for the team lead.

Reynolds’s blast, a three-run shot, merely landed in the Monster seats. After winning seven of eight games to get back to .500, the Sox have dropped four straight.

Red Sox starter Aaron Cook, making his Boston debut, lasted only 2.2 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits with a wild pitch.

At one point, it looked like Cook’s first start for the Sox would come to a short and strange ending. In the second inning, with Chris Davis on third, Cook delivered a fastball low to Reynolds that got under Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s glove. Saltalamacchia chased down the ball and Cook raced to cover the plate, but when he got there he crashed into Davis, who appeared to spike him in the leg.

After getting looked over by the trainers, he walked to the dugout with manager Bobby Valentine and Clayton Mortensen took the mound and made a few warm up tosses. But a few moments later Cook returned. He got out of the second inning, but he was shelled in the third.

At the same time, Orioles starter Jason Hammel had a stranglehold on the Sox lineup, going 6.2 innings, giving up just four hits and two seventh-inning runs. At one point, he retired eight straight Sox.

Adrian Gonzalez, who had been in an 0-for-18 slump, went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. He and Dustin Pedroia (2 for 4 with a double) were the only Sox with multiple hits.

Game over: Orioles 6, Red Sox 4 The Red Sox suffered a 6-4 loss in extra innings in the opener of a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,223.

Chris Davis hit an RBI single to right off Franklin Morales (0-1, 6.00 ERA) that broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the 13th. Mark Reynolds followed with a run-scoring sacrifice fly off Scott Atchison that tacked on an insurance run.

Top of 13th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 4 Morales faltered in the 13th when DH Matt Wieters hit a one-out single to left. Wilson Betemit drew a walk to put two men aboard for Chris Davis, who hit an RBI single to right that scored Wieters with the go-ahead run. Scott Atchison relieved Morales and gave up an RBI sacrifice fly to Mark Reynolds, which pushed across Betemit with an insurance run.

Bottom of 12: Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Adrian Gonzalez reached on a one-out single to right, but was stranded after Dustin Pedroia flew to center and David Ortiz grounded to first. On to the 13th inning.

Top of 12th: Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Franklin Morales relieved Alfredo Aceves (2.2 IP, 2 H, 6 K) with two out in the top of the 12th. Morales, the fifth Sox reliever out of the pen, faced Nick Markakis (0-for-5) and got him to fly to left to end the inning

Bottom of 11th: Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Gotta tip your cap to Baltimore's bullpen, which has strung together six scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and one walk. Troy Patten, the fourth reliever out of the O's pen, retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion, sending it to the 12th.

Top of 11th: Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Aceves dominated the Orioles again, striking out the side after allowing a two-out single to Chris Davis, who laced a hanging changeup to right field. Troy Patton will enter the game in relief of Ayala (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 HBP). Due up for the Sox in the bottom of the 11th: Ryan Sweeney, Kelly Shoppach, Mike Aviles.

Bottom of 10th:, Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: The Sox put two base runners aboard when Dustin Pedroia was hit by a pitch and Cody Ross drew a two-out walk. Both, however, wound up getting stranded when Darnell McDonald flew to center.

Top of 10th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: For a guy who admittedly doesn't like pitching out of the back end of the bullpen, Alfredo Aceves is looking more and more like a closer. Aceves struck out the side after relieving Matt Albers (2.0 IP, 1 BB). Due up for the Sox: Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz.

Bottom of 9th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Ryan Sweeney, pinch-hitting for Marlon Byrd, led off the inning with a sharply-struck single to center off Luis Ayala. Kelly Shoppach advanced Sweeney to second with a perfectly-executed sacrifice bunt, but Sweeney wound up getting stranded there when Mike Aviles grounded to third and Will Middlebrooks grounded to second, sending it into extra innings, where Alfredo Aceves entered in the 10th for the Sox.

Top of 9th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 3: Matt Albers gave the Sox a chance in the bottom of the ninth for either a walk-off win or a chance in extras with another scoreless inning of relief after he retired the side in 1-2-3 fashion. Luis Ayala entered the bottom of the ninth in relief of Pedro Strop (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB).

Bottom of 8th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: The Sox looked to have Orioles reliever Pedro Strop (pronounced St-ROPE) on the ropes when he issued a lead-off walk to David Ortiz. Cody Ross then hit a hard line shot to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who made a spectacular diving stab, then, from his knees, doubled off Ortiz at first. Strop got Darnell McDonald to ground out, leaving the Sox down to their last three outs.

Top of 8th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Nice clean inning of relief for Albers, whose only blemish was a two-out walk he issued to Wilson Betemit. Albers, however, got Chris Davis to ground to second to end the inning, leaving the Sox down to their last six outs to break the tie.

Bottom of 7th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 3: After Adrian Gonzalez (shocker of shockers) beat out a groundball to third for a base hit single, Pedroia hit a two-out fly to right to end the inning. A troubling trend: Only two of the last 11 Sox batters rhave eached base. Matt Albers entered the top of the eighth in relief of Rich Hill.

Top of 7th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 4: Padilla entered in relief of Lester and proceeded to load the bases after giving up a lead-off double to Mark Reynolds, a fielder's choice (in which Adrian Gonzalez fielded a grounder and made an ill-advised attempt to throw out the lead runner at third) and a walk to Robert Andino. Padilla got J.J. Hardy to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, but departed the game after allowing Reynolds to come across with the tying run. It snapped the bullpen's streak of 11 consecutive scoreless innings over the last three games. Padilla handed it over to lefty Rich Hill, who got Nick Markakis to fly out to left to end the inning.

Bottom of 6th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 3: Lindstrom held down the fort for the Orioles and kept them in the game after he retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion. Vicente Padilla entered the game in the top of the seventh for Lester (6 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 99 pitches).

Top of 6th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 3: Lester continued to cruise in the sixth, allowing a two-out walk to Wilson Betemit before getting Chris Davis to ground out to second to end the inning. Through six, Lester has thrown 99 pitches. Wei-Yin Chen (5 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 100 pitches) was done for the night when Matt Lindstrom relieved him in the bottom of the sixth.

Bottom of 5th, Red Sox 4, Orioles 3: Dustin Pedroia hit a go-ahead RBI single to center, scoring Will Middlebrooks, who hit a lead-off double to left, then advanced to third on Adrian Gonzalez's fly to left. Chen minimized the damage, though, striking out David Ortiz and Cody Ross, whose bat went helicoptering into the stands behind the visitors' dugout on his swing at strike three. No one was injured, but one lucky fan went home with a neat souvenir.

Top of 5th, Red Sox 3, Orioles 3: Lester cruised in the top of the fifth, retiring the Orioles in 1-2-3 fashion on nine pitches. He has now thrown 87 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Bottom of 4th, Red Sox 3, Orioles 3: Sox failed to muster a threat when Kelly Shoppach drew a one-out walk, but was forced out on Mike Aviles grounder to second. Aviles then squashed any hopes of taking a lead when he was thrown out attempting to steal second. End of inning.

Top of 4th, Red Sox 3, Orioles 3: Lester began to labor in the fourth, allowing a pair of game-tying runs when he walked the first batter he faced, then gave up an RBI triple to Matt Wieters, scoring Adam Jones, who drew the lead-off walk. Wilson Betemit followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Wieters with the tying run. Lester got out of the inning when he induced Chris Davis to fly to left and Ronny Paulino to hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

Bottom of 3d, Red Sox 3, Orioles 1: The Sox scored two runs on two hits off Chen, who gave up a lead-off single to Adrian Gonzalez and a double to left to Dustin Pedroia. David Ortiz's groundout enabled Gonzalez to score to make it 2-1. Cody Ross's SAC fly to left scored Pedroia to give the Sox a 3-1 lead.

Top of 3d, Red Sox 1, Orioles 1: Mark Reynolds greeted Lester with a lead-off solo homer that cleared the Green Monster seats, enabling the Orioles to tie the game, 1-1.

Bottom of 2d, Red Sox 1, Orioles 0: Cody Ross, who reached on a triple to straightaway center, scored with two out on Ronny Paulino's passed ball with Mike Aviles at the plate. The Orioles. ranked last in the league in fielding, commited another error in the second, giving them three for the game.
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Top of 2d, Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: A 1-2-3 inning for Lester. He's thrown 30 pitches through two innings. Lester looking pretty sharp, so far.

Bottom of 1st, Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: After back-to-back fielding errors by second baseman Robert Andino (remember him?) and third baseman Mark Reynolds enabled the Sox to put two men aboard with two out, the Orioles got out of the inning when David Ortiz grounded out to short against an overshifted infield.

Top of 1st, Red Sox 0, Orioles 0: Nice inning for Jon Lester, who needed only 13 pitches (nine for strikes) to get through the top of the first after allowing one batter to reach when J.J. Hardy singled off the wall

Pregame Welcome to a damp Fenway Park where the Red Sox are set to host the Orioles.Jon Lester (1-2, 4.65 ERA) will attempt to extend his winning streak against Baltimore to 15-0 when he opposes LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-0, 2.22).

Please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Game over:

Lefty Brian Fuentes spotted the Red Sox a one-out infield single by Mike Aviles and a run-producing double by Dustin Pedroia, but managed to hold it right there. He retired Adrian Gonzalez on a grounder to end the game. It was Fuentes' 200th save. Brandon McCarthy (2-3) got the win and Daniel Bard (2-3) took the loss. The game was played in 3:22 minutes, before 37,434.

Top 9th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

Clay Mortenson has been the most impressive part of this game for Boston. Throwing strikes and getting ahead on the count. Mortensen went three innings, struck out six and allowed one hit and retired the last nine batters he faced.

Bottom 8th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

David Ortiz doubled to the rightfield corner on a drive that Josh Reddick should have caught. But the Sox offense stalled once again.

Top 8th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

Another strong inning for Clay Mortensen with a pair of strikeouts.

Bottom 7th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

Marlon Byrd's sacrifice fly scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia with Boston's only run. Will Middlebrooks doubled to right after Salty singled. After Byrd's hit, the Sox loaded the bases on two more walks - one by Ryan Sweeney which spelled the end of McCarthy's night and one by Pedroia against reliever Ryan Cook. The team needed Adrian Gonzalez to come up with a big hit, and he couldn't as he struck out to end the inning.

Bottom 6th: A's 4, Red Sox 0

Red Sox can't seem to muster anything against McCarthy. David Ortiz' two-out double high atop the left field wall, was only the third hit for the Red Sox. Ortiz was stranded when Ross popped out.

Top 6th: A's 4, Red Sox 0

The Red Sox are playing like the F's against the A's tonight. A misplayed ball in left on Seth Smith's RBI double by Cody Ross (not called an error) led to all sorts of trouble for Daniel Bard. Reddick had singled to lead off the inning, but with one out Smith doubled him in. Smith came in on Ka'aihue's single to right. After Suzuki was hit in the left hand. Inge then doubled in the fourth A's run. With Bard's pitch total exceeding 100, Bobby Valentine came to get him. In came Matt Albers who pitched very wlel in preventing further damage. He struck out Sogard and then retired Crisp on a tapper back to the mound.

Bottom 5th: A's 1, Red Sox 0

Sox left runners in scoring position after Saltlamacchia reached on an error by the right fielder and Will Middlebrooks reached with his first major league hit, a nubber he beat out to third base. After Byrd and Aviles made outs (though Aviles looked safe on a ground ball), Sweeney popped to center to end the threat.

Top 5th:A's 1, Red Sox 0

Bard has a strong inning, retiring Eric Sogard with a fly out and then the top of the order where Coco Crisp struck out swinging and Cliff Pennington grounded out top Bard.

Bottom 4th: A's 1, Red Sox 0

Brandon McCarthy, who is 7-0 vs. AL-East teams in his last 12 starts against them, dominated the Sox in the fourth with a strikeout (Adrian Gonzalez) and a pair of ground ball outs (Ortiz and Ross).

Top 4th: A's 1, Red Sox 0

Seth Smith knocked in Yoenis Cespedes with a single after Cespedes doubled off the wall with one out. Bard also allowed a single to Suzuki, but managed to strand two runners.

Bottom 3rd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

The top of the Sox order - Aviles, Sweeney and Pedroia - are quickly set down.

Top 3rd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

Bard walked Brandon Inge to start the third, but retired the side in order. Bard continues to show a good slider and an emerging changeup.

Bottom 2nd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

In his first plate appearance, Will Middlebrooks, batting 8th in the Sox order, drew a four-pitch walk from A's starter Brandon McCarthy with two outs. Middlebrooks then stole his first major league base, beating Suzuki's throw to second base with Marlon Byrd up.Byrd, however, struck out to end the inning.

Top 2nd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

Bard walked Ka'aihue after two outs, but got Kurt Suzuki to ground out to shortstop.

Bottom 1st: Athletics 0, Red Sox 0:

Ryan Sweeney had his 12th double with one out. Pedroia flied to left, Crisp catching it in the corner. Gonzalez walked before Ortiz grounded into the shift.

He's 0 for 5 in May after his ridiculous April. Maybe that's because it feels like November.

OK, Nick will handle it from here.

Top 1st: Athletics 0, Red Sox 0: Bard allowed a one-out single to left by Pennington, Then he started a 1-6-3 double play on Reddick.

Sox are wearing their 1936 uniforms. The socks are pretty sweet. If I were commissioner there would be mandatory showing of socks. And an AL East team in Las Vegas.

Pre-game: Hello from chilly Fenway Park, where the Red Sox will try and take the series from Oakland.

Daniel Bard, off his best start of the season, will face Brandon McCarthy. It's also the MLB debut for Will Middlebrooks.

Nick Cafardo will join you soon. I'll have the updates until then.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (11-12)
Aviles SS
Sweeney RF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (2-2, 3.72)

ATHLETICS (12-13)
Crisp LF
Pennington SS
Reddick RF
Cespedes CF
Smith DH
Ka'aihue 1B
Suzuki C
Inge 3B
Sogard 2B
Pitching: RHP Brandon McCarthy (1-3, 3.23)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Athletics vs. Bard: Pennington 2-6, Crisp 0-4, Suzuki 0-4, Barton 0-2, Inge 0-1, Smith 0-1.

Red Sox vs. McCarthy: Ortiz 3-10, Youkilis 1-11, Sweeney 2-9, Shoppach 3-6, Pedroia 2-6, Aviles 0-3, Punto 0-3.

Stat of the Day: McCarthy is 7-0, 3.50 in 12 starts against AL East teams since the start of the 2009 season.

Notes: The Sox have dropped two of three after winning six straight. ... Bard is 0-0, 0.64 over 14 innings in 14 career appearances against Oakland. ... McCarthy is 1-3, 6.29 in seven career appearances against the Red Sox, the last in 2009. ... Middlebrooks was hitting .333/.380/.677 with Pawtucket this season. He has nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 24 games. ... The Red Sox also called up RHP Clayton Mortensen, who was obtained from the Rockies for Marco Scutaro. He has 24 games of big league experience with the Cardinals and Rockies, posting a 5.12 ERA. He was 2-2, 0.90 in six relief appearances for Pawtucket. ... The teams will wear 1936 throwback uniforms tonight. Before that season, the Philadelphia A's sold Jimmie Foxx to Boston.

Song of the Day: "New Kid In Town by The Eagles.

Game over: A's 5, Red Sox 3 The Red Sox dropped back below .500 (11-12) after dropping a 5-3 loss to the Oakland A's Monday night at Fenway Park before a crowd of 37,225.

Righthander Jarrod Parker (1-0, 1.38 ERA) picked up his first Major League victory of his career -- and first ever against the Red Sox -- after he allowed just one run on four hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings. Parker outlasted Sox lefty starter Felix Doubront (1-1, 5.19), who gave up five runs on six hits and two walks while recording a career-high eight strikeouts.

Red Sox pitchers combined for a season-high 15 strikeouts against the A's.

The Sox made it interesting when they loaded the bases with one out against A's closer Grant Balfour, who wound up getting chased from the game by Mike Aviles's 2-RBI single to center, which scored Cody Ross (lead-off double to left) and Marlon Byrd (single to left) to pull the Sox within 5-3.

Jordan Norberto relieved Balfour with one out and two men aboard and struck out Lars Anderson on three pitches. It brought up Dustin Pedroia, who had an opportunity to win it with one swing, but grounded out to second for a game-ending force out on Aviles.

Top of 9th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Matt Albers stayed in the game and recorded the 14th strikeout of the game by a Sox pitcher to get out of the inning after Cliff Pennington led off with a single to right, advanced on a groundball out by Weeks, and stole third. It was the fourth time the A's had stolen third on the night. Albers got Brandon Inge to ground to second and Reddick to strike out to send it to the bottom of the ninth, where the Sox faced. A's closer Grant Balfour.

Bottom of 8th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Ryan Cook started the eighth in relief of Brian Fuentes and got out of the inning unscathed after he walked Adrian Gonzalez with two outs and then struck out David Ortiz, who was caught looking at an 84 slider. After a torrid April, the first day of May was not kind to Big Papi (0 for 4).

Top of 8th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Hill got the first two outs of the innings when he got Suzuki to hit a warning-track fly to center and struck out Ka'aihue (looking, 92 fastball) before turning it over Matt Albers, who struck out Recker (looking, 93 sinker). Fine night's work for Hill (1.2 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts).

Bottom of 7th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: After Cody Ross doubled to left, Parker tried to put the clamps on the Sox, retiring the next two he faced before he walked Punto, thus ending his night after 6 2/3 innings. LHP Brian Fuentes relieved Parker (1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1 wild pitch, 1 hit batter, 98 pitches) with two out and two men on. Fuentes got out of the inning when he induced Aviles to hit a sharply-struck grounder to third for the force out on Ross.

Top of 7th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Nice inning for Rich Hill. The Pride of Milton, Mass. retired three of the first four batters he faced, giving up a wall-ball double to Josh Reddick, before stranding him at second with back-to-back strikeouts of Cespedes (swinging, 75 curveball) and Gomes (looking, 94 fastball). It put a jolt in the sleepy Fenway crowd.

Bottom of 6th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Nothin' doin' for the Sox as Parker throws a clean 1-2-3 inning. Rich Hill entered the game in the seventh in relief of Scott Atchison (2 IP, 2 hits, 1 strikeout). Hill, a native of Milton, Mass., made his first Fenway appearance since June 9, 2011, when he injured his left elbow and had to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Top of 6th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: After inducing Suzuki to ground out to third, Atchison gave up back-to-back singles to Ka'aihue and Recker to put two men aboard for Pennington, who flew to left. With LHP Rich Hill warming up in the Sox bullpen, Atchison got out of the inning when he got Jemile Weeks to ground to third.

Bottom of 5th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Parker seemed to struggle when Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a single to center and went to second after Nick Punto drew a walk. Parker got out of the inning when he caught Aviles looking at a 95 fastball and fought back from a 3-0 count to get Ryan Sweeney to fly to left.

Top of 5th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Clean 1-2-3 inning for Atchison, who needed only 13 pitches to do the job, striking out Josh Reddick, inducing Yoenis Cespedes to pop to second and Jonny Gomes to bunt it back toward the mound.

Bottom of 4th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Dustin Pedroia got one back for the Sox in the bottom of the 4th. Pedroia reached on a lead-off single to right -- marking only the second hit Parker had given up in the game -- advanced to second on a wild pitch, and went to third on Adrian Gonzalez's ground out to first and scored on David Ortiz's ground ball out to second.

Scott Atchinson entered the game in the top of fifth in relief of Doubront, who went a season-low four innings and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks and 2 wild pitches while striking out 8. He threw 94 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Top of 4th, A's 5, Red Sox 0: Doubront labored as he allowed four runs to score and his pitch count to swell to 94 pitches. After he struck out leadoff batter Jonny Gomes, Doubront gave up a single to Suzuki and a walk to Ka'aihue. He established a new career mark for strikeouts in a game when he fanned Anthony Recker for his eighth punchout of the game. But Cliff Pennington followed with an RBI double to give the A's a 2-0 lead. Jemile Weeks hit a 2-RBI single to right, scoring Ka'aihue and Pennington to make it 4-0. Weeks, who advanced to second on the throw to home, stole third and scored on a wild pitch by Doubront.

Bottom of 3d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: Parker seemed fully engaged in this pitcher's duel with Doubront, needing only six pitches in a 1-2-3 third after getting Nick Punto to ground out to third and Mike Aviles and Ryan Sweeney to fly to left.

Top of 3d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: A 1-2-3 inning for Doubront, who recorded his sixth strikeout of the game with a 94-fastball that froze Josh Reddick. Despite giving up a run in the first, and running his pitch count to 62 pitches, Doubront kept the Sox in the game.

Bottom of 2d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: Parker continued to impress as he retired three of the four batters he faced in the inning, and six of the first eight overall, recording a pair of strikeouts during that stretch. Cody Ross got the first hit -- a single to left -- off Parker but wound up getting stranded when Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out and Marlon Byrd flew to center.

Top of 2d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: After Kila Ka'aihue led off with a ground-rule double to right and stole third (for his first stolen base of the season), Doubront struck out Anthony Recker (86 changeup), got Cliff Pennington to fly to left and struck out Jemile Weeks. Through two innings, Doubront rang up five strikeouts while throwing 50 pitches, including 30 in the first inning.

Bottom of 1st, A's 1, Red Sox 0: The Red Sox were unable to muster any kind of response against rookie RHP Jarrod Parker, who was making his second start for the A's and first of his career vs. Boston. Parker allowed only one runner to reach when he hit Ryan Sweeney with a pitch. Parker stranded Sweeney when he struck out Dustin Pedroia and got Adrian Gonzalez to ground out to first.

Top of 1st, A's 1, Red Sox 0: Yoenis Cespedes gave the A's a 1-0 lead with one out in the top of the 1st when he hit an RBI single to center off Felix Doubront. With Josh Reddick (walk, stolen base) at third and Cespedes at first, Doubront stranded the A's baserunners with back-to-back strikeouts of Jonny Gomes (swinging at a 94 fastball) and Kurt Suzuki (looking at an 87 changeup).

Pregame: Welcome to a soggy Fenway Park where the Red Sox (11-11) will attempt to climb above the .500 mark for the first time this season against the Oakland A's (11-13). It took the Sox 40 games last year before they reached the .500 mark (20-20). LHP Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.09 ERA) will draw his fifth starting assignment of the season for the Sox. Doubront, who recorded no decisions in his first three starts, picked up his first win of the season in a 10-3 romp of the Chicago White Sox April 26. He will be opposed by RHP Jarrod Parker (0-0, 1.42), who will be making his first career appearance against the Red Sox after being called up from Triple A Sacramento April 25.

As always, please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Game over:

Alfredo Aceves was brought in to preserve the five-run lead. He struck out Yoenis Cespedes and Seth Smith, but Anthony Recker doubled off the wall with two outs. But Barton popped out to end the game. Game time: 3:23.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 11, A's 6

Dustin Pedroia doubled to left field and Adrian Gonzalez was walked intentionally by reliever Jim Miller. Lars Anderson, who is playing left, popped out to left field to end the inning.

Top 8th: Red Sox 11, A's 6

Crowd announced at 37,359 to continue sellout streak. Lots of empty seats all night. The A's loaded the bases off Scott Atchison, but Franklin Morales came on to induce a 4-3 double-play on a nice play and throw by Dustin Pedroia.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 11, A's 6

Byrd knocked into a double-play after Shoppach walked following three consecutive strikeouts.

Top 7th: Red Sox 11, A's 6

Buchholz allowed six earned against the worst lineup in the AL. A two-run single by Coco Crisp and a three-run homer by Josh Reddick was all she wrote as Bobby Valentine removed him after the Reddick homer with a five-run lead. This got a little dicey as Junichi Tazawa, who is likely to be sent back to Pawtucket when Aaron Cook is activated, allowed a single, hit a batter and then watched as Nick Punto dropped a pop-up to reload the bases. That brought in Vicente Padilla, who went 2-0 to Barton before striking him out to end the inning.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 11, A's 1

Gonzalez, Ross and Ortiz go down without a fuss.

Top 6th: Red Sox 11, A's 1

Buchholz threw his second DP ball of the game after a Reddick single

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 11, A's 1

Ortiz hit his second homer of the night with an assist from Josh Reddick, who batted the ball over the fence as his momentum carried him into the Sox bullpen. Ortiz is now 13-for-28 with three homers vs. lefties. Marlon Byrd doubled off the wall scoring Darnell McDonald who had reached on an infield single. Mike Aviles then smashed a three-run homer to out this one prettty much in the "W" column for the Red Sox.

Top 5th: Red Sox 6, A's 1

Buchholz allowed two baserunners - a walk to Inge and he hit Pennington, but then got the next two batters.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 6, A's 1

Red Sox go down quietly.

Top 4th: Red Sox 6, A's 1

This looks more like the 2010 Clay Buchholz. He retires the A's in order. The A's, of course, have the worst offense in the AL.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 6, A's 1

Darnell McDonald belted a two-run homer to leftcenter with David Ortiz (walk) aboard.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 4, A's 1

Josh Reddick knocked into an inning-ending double-play after Coco Crisp reached on an infield hit.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 4, A's 1

David Ortiz homered on a lined shot to right field. It was the first hit by a left-hander off Milone this season. Darnell McDonald reached with a ground-rule double with one out and scored on Marlon Byrd's single to right. After Nick Punto, who replaced Kevin Youkilis,grounded out, Mike Aviles knocked in the run with a single. Dustin Pedroia then singled and Aviles scored on Jemile Weeks' throwing error after fielding Adrian Gonzalez' grounder hit into the shift.

Top 2nd: A's 1, Red Sox 0

The A;s scored a run on a rundown, Buchholz allowed a single and walk before newly acquired Brandon Inge lined out to center. But Cliff Pennington singled to left with Daric Barton getting caught in a rundown allowing Kurt Suzuki to score.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, A's 0

The Sox stranded Dustin Pedroia at second after he reached on an error and stole second base. vs. lefty Tom Milone, who has not allowed a hit to left-handed hitter this season.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, A's 0

Clay Buchholz retired the first two batters before walking Josh Reddick and then getting Yoeneis Cespedes to line out to center.

The Red Sox snapped their six-game winning streak Sunday in Chicago, but the schedule continues to be in their favor as they return home to Fenway Park this evening. Here are tonight's lineups:

Red Sox:
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Ortiz DH
Shoppach C
McDonald LF
Byrd CF
Punto 3B
Note: Lineup updated at 6:25 p.m. (Punto replaced Youkilis)
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (2-1, 8.87 ERA)

Athletics:
Weeks 2B
Crisp LF
Reddick RF
Cespedes CF
Smith DH
Suzuki C
Barton 1B
Inge 3B
Pennington SS

Pitching:LHP Tommy Milone (3-1, 2.00 ERA)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Stat of the Day: Clay Buchholz has a 7.84 ERA in five career starts against the A's. It's his highest ERA against any team.

Notes: The Red Sox have been outscored 46-17 during their last five games at home, all losses. ... David Ortiz is hitting .531 (17-for-32) at home this season. ... The Red Sox lead baseball with a .307 average, .534 slugging percentage, and .898 OPS at home this season. ... 25 of Boston’s next 39 games through June 10 come at home, including 18 home contests in May.

Game over: White Sox 4, Red Sox 1: The win streak ends at six as the Red Sox are held to three hits. That's two runs in the last 18 innings.

Floyd (2-3) was the winner and Beckett (2-3) the loser.

Top of the 9th: White Sox 4, Red Sox 1: Hill put two runners on and Tazawa allowed an RBI single by Viciedo.

It's going to take a big rally to extend the win streak.

Middle of the 8th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 1: Anderson pinch hit for Byrd and flied to left. salty pinch hit for Shoppach and struck out on three pitches. Aviles walked. McDonald pinch hit for Sweeney against lefty Matt Thornton and struck out.

Rich Hill out of the Red Sox 'pen.

Top of the 8th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 1: Beckett got two outs before loading the bases and leaving for Atchison, who needed one pitch to get Rios to fly to right.

Beckett had a decent day: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 1 HR, 126 pitches, 85 strikes.

The 126 pitches matched a career high for Beckett. He last did it in 2004 for the Marlins.

Middle of the 7th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 1: Good at-bat for Punto, who saw seven pitches but grounded to first to end the inning

Top of the 7th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 1: Now the shutout is over, too. Ortiz doubled, sending Pedroia to third. Then Ross singled to right. Floyd is done and righthander Addison Reed is in for Nick Punto with two outs and two on.

Top of the 7th: White 3 Sox, Red Sox 0: Pedroia singled to center. There will be no no-hitter today. Chris Bosio of the Mariners was the last to do it to the Red Sox, in 1993.

Top of the 7th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Beckett has retired seven in a row, four by strikeout.

Pedroia will single to center in this inning. Right? Right? Something has to happen.

Middle of the 6th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Hmm, this is getting serious now as Floyd takes a no-hitter into the seventh. Byrd (6-3), Shoppach (F-9) and Aviles (5-3) went in order. Nothing even close to a hit yet.

Floyd is at 90 pitces.

Top of the 6th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Perfect inning for Beckett, who has pitched really well since the first inning.

Middle of the 5th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Pete here, taking over for Nick as he heads for the NESN booth. The perfect game is over as Ross walked on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. But the no-hitter continues as Punto struck out looking.

Red Sox have one run on four hits in their last 14 innings.

Bottom 4th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Beckett got two quick outs and then allowed a single to Viciedo before striking out Escobar.

Top 4th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Can't get much better than Floyd at this point. He's retired every batter through four innings.

Bottom 3rd: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: De Aza struck out and after Lillibridge singled to right, Alex Rios flew out to left field. After a stolen base and a single by Dunn, Beckett got pierzynski to fly out.

Top 3rd: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: With Kevin Youkilis scratched with lower back stiffness, Nick Punto got the call. He struck out to start the third. Marlon Byrd also fanned as Floyd is showing a late-life fastball.

Bottom 2nd: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Beckett settled down after his rough first inning, retiring the White Sox.

Top 2nd: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Following Jake Peavy's brilliant performance in a 1-0 loss Saturday night, Floyd is dominating Sox hitters so far. The first six have gone down.

Bottom 1st: White Sox 3, Red Sox 0: Josh Beckett was roughed up for three runs, two of them on a towering homer down the right field line by Adam Dunn with Alex Rios aboard. Rios knocked in the first run when Alejandro De Aza led off with a single to right field and was advanced to second base on Brent Lillibridge's sac bunt.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0: Gavin Floyd retired the top of the Sox order.

Game over: Red Sox 1, White Sox 0: The win streak extends to six games as Lester and three relievers combine on the shutout. What a game.

Abraham and Cafardo, 1-0.

Middle of the 9th: Red Sox 1, White Sox 0: We go to the bottom of the 9th. Peavy (9 4 1 1 1 7) was tremendous.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 1, White Sox 0: Franklin Morales allowed a single and Vicente Padilla a walk. But that was it. Aceves warming for the 9th.

Sox bullpen on the trip: 14.2 IP, 1 ER.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 1, White Sox 0: Lester is done after 122 pitches. He allowed 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 5 in his best start of the season. Morales is in.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 1, White 0: No changes here in Chicago. The Red Sox have four hits and the White Sox have three. Great duel with Lester and Peavy.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 1, White Sox 0

Paul Konerko's one-out double was wasted as Lester retired the next two batters including a strikeout of left fielder Dayan Viciedo.

Top 4th: Red Sox 1, White Sox 0

Ryan Sweeney blooped a double to right that Alex Rios couldn't reach. After Dustin Pedroia scorched a low liner caught by third baseman Brent Morel, Adrian Gonzalez, Peavy's former San Diego teammate, hit a high fastball into rightcenter for a basehit, scoring Sweeney with the first run of the game. It ended Peavy's 17-inning scoreless streak.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

Jon Lester has found that cutter. He threw three ground balls and has retired seven straight.

Top 3d: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

A major development: Marlon Byrd's walks against peavy with two outs. But Peavy strikes out Aviles to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

A 1-2-3 inning for Lester with a couple of Ks. Always seems to have a hiccup and then settles down.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

Peavy's got great movement. He's retired the first six batters.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

Jon Lester put two batters on with two outs. He walked Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko doubled to left where Cody Ross bobbled the ball. Alex Rios flew out to right field to end the threat.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

There's a Jake Peavy revival going on in Chicago and he showed why as he retired the Red Sox in order in the first.

Game over:

Matt Albers takes care of things in the ninth. Sox win fifth straight.

Top 9th: Red Sox 10, White Sox 3

By my count, Shoppach lost three bats and struck out four times. Darnell McDonald homered.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Daniel Bard's line: 7 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2ER, 1 BB, 6 K's. He threw 96 pitches. Matt Albers has come on. Albers takes care of ChiSox.

Top 8th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Red Sox put two more runners on base, but fail to tack on.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Bard has his second straight 1-2-3 inning.

Top 7th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

RBI singles by Cody Ross and Kelly Shoppach give the Sox a little more insurance.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 7, White Sox 3

Bard knocked the White Sox down in order.

Top 6th: Red Sox 7, White Sox 3

The Red Sox said, "Danks, John." Danks walked a pair and threw a wild pitch while also allowing an RBI single to Cody Ross and a bases loaded double by Darnell McDonald, scoring three more. Marlon Byrd also singled in a run and that was all for Danks.

Bottom 5th: White Sox 3, Red Sox 2

In his quest for 500 homers, Paul Konerko hits No. 401 vs. Bard to give the Pale Hose the lead.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, White Sox 2

Red Sox are letting Danks settle in.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, White Sox 2

Bard has settled down. The White Sox are set down.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, White Sox 2

Red Sox are all bundled up as if they've never been in cold before. They went down in order.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, White Sox 2

A passed ball by Kelly Shoppach on a high.rising fastball by Daniel Bard with Alex Rios at the plate, scored Alexi Ramirez with the tying run. Ramirez reached on a throwing error by Kevin Youkilis. Paul Konerko reached on a bloop hit to center. After a fielder's choice by Pierzynski, the passed ball occurred. Rios reached on an error by Bard, who couldn't handle his tapper back to the mound. Viciedo then popped out to end the inning.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

Mike Aviles singled to center and Dustin Pedroia walked, but Adrian Gonzalez lined out to center. Kevin Youkilis took a called third strike to end the rally.

Bottom of 2nd: Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

Bard gave up a hit and steal to Brent Morel, but the White Sox couldn't score.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

John Danks said he wanted to reduce walks. He's right. He needs to. Kevin Youkilis walked to lead off the second, and Big Papi, now 10-for-23 vs. lefties, hit a sizzling line drive homer to right field, 402 feet.

Bottom 1st: White Sox 1, Red Sox 0

A.J. Pierzynski doubled in Alejandro De Aza, who led off with a double against Sox starter Daniel Bard. Bard also walked Adan Dunn.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0

Absolutely frigid, windy night here. Game time temperature was 39 degrees. The Red Sox went down in order in the first against lefty John Danks.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (8-10)
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Ross RF
Shoppach C
McDonald LF
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (1-2, 4.63)

WHITE SOX (10-9)
De Aza CF
Ramirez SS
Dunn DH
Konerko 1B
Pierzynski C
Rios RF
Viciedo LF
Morel 3B
Beckham 2B
Pitching: LHP John Danks (2-2, 5.11)

Game time: 8:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

White Sox vs. Bard: Konerko 1-4, Beckham 0-3, Pierzynski 1-3, Ramirez 2-2, Rios 0-3, Dunn 0-1, Fukodome 0-1, Lillibridge 0-1.

Red Sox vs. Danks: Punto 4-24, Shoppach 3-17, Byrd 2-15, Pedroia 2-12, Youkilis 3-12, Ortiz 2-11, Aviles 3-9, Salty 2-8, McDonald 0-4, Anderson 0-1

Stat of the Day: The Sox are hitting 52 of 150 (.347) over the first four games of their trip, scoring 34 runs. They have 21 extra-base hits, nine of them home runs.

Notes: The Sox have won four straight and start the day 3.5 games out of first place. ... The White Sox have dropped three straight. ... The Sox are second in the majors with 104 runs, three shy of Texas. ... Bard is 1-0, 2.08 against the Cubs in eight career relief appearances. ... Danks is 3-4, 4.14 in seven starts against the Sox. He last faced them in 2010, allowing three earned runs in 13 innings in two starts. ... Sweeney (13 of 32) and Aviles (11 of 33) each have eight-game hitting streaks. ... The Sox have outscored the Twins and White Sox 34-16 on the trip. ... Ortiz is hitting .420/.474/.667 on the season. He has reached safely in 17 of the 18 games and is 22 of 46 in the last 12 games with 14 RBIs.

Song of the Day: "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Game Over:

Junichi Tazawa finished off the White Sox to preserve the seven-run lead. With his three-inning effort, he earned his first save with four strikeouts over his outing.The Sox beat Phil Humber after his perfect game.

Top 9th: Red Sox 10, White Sox 3

Ryan Sweeney knocked in Mike Aviles with an RBI single. Aviles had doubled.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Alex Rios reached on an error by Kevin Youkilis, but Tazawa got out of the jam.

Top 8th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Sox go down in order. Tazawa back out for the eighth.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

A pair of hits by Dunn and Konerko off Junichi Tazawa didn't lead to anything.

Top 7th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Pedroia, Gonzalez and Ortiz are retired.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Doubront allowed a one-out single to Viciedo, but that was all. Doubront is done. He went 6 innings, allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks and struck out 2. he threw 110 pitches, a career high.

Top 6th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Marlon Byrd reached on an infield single, but was erased on a DP by Aviles.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Doubront retires the side.

Top 5th: Red Sox 9, White Sox 3

Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered for the second time with Kevin Youkilis aboard. Youkilis had stroked a two-out single.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 7, White Sox 3

Dayan Viciedo homered.

Top 4th: Red Sox 7, White Sox 2

Nothing doing for Red Sox

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 7, White Sox 2

AJ Pierzynski drove in Chicago's second run against Doubront after Alexi Ramirez walked and Adan Dunn was hit with a pitch.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 7, White Sox 1

Kevin Youkilis belted a grand slam to right field scoring Ryan Sweeney, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz. It was Youkilis' second career grand slam. Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed with a solo homer, marking the first time Red Sox hitters went back to back.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

Doubront settles down to retire the bottom of the White Sox order.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

The Red Sox went down in order against Humber.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

Felix Doubront got two quick outs and then lost his command when he walked Adam Dunn. After uncorking a wild pitch, Paul Konerko, who hit his 400th homer Wednesday in Oakland, doubled him in. Doubront also walked A.J. Pierzynski, but got Alex Rios to ground out.

Top 1st: Red Sox 2, White Sox 0

The first batter after Phil Humber's perfect game - Mike Aviles - walked. After Ryan Sweeney struck out after Aviles stole second base, Dustin Pedroia singled down the third base line. Adrian Gonzalez doubled in one run and David Ortiz singled to left to drive in the second run.

Game over:

Sox win, 7-6. Alfredo Aceves continued to overthrow his fastball and put two runners on with a walk to Plouffe and a single by Burroughs. He hit No. 9 hitter Alexi Casilla with a pitch, setting the stage for leadoff man Denard Span with the bases loaded, two outs. Aceves struck out Span with an offspeed pitch. It was Aceves's fourth save.

Top 9th: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

Sox offense has been shut down since the fifth inning and it will leave Alfredo Acvees with a one-run lead to protect.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

Strong inning for Franklin Morales, who retired the middle of the Twins order.

Top 8th: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

Gonzalez, Ortiz, and Youkils strike out against lefty Glenn Perkins.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

Vicente Padilla is in. He mowed down the Twins in order.

Top 7th: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

Ryan Sweeney singled with one out but Pedroia grounded into a DP to end the inning.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

Scary bullpen. Not that Clay Buchholz was any great shakes, but the Sox' pen was horrifying. Scott Atchison allowed a two-run single to Joe Mauer in relief of Buchholz, who was charged with five runs and 10 hits over 5-1/3 innings. With two lefties coming up, Valentine opted for Justin Thomas, who was greeted with a blistering double to right by Justin Morneau, scoring a run. Thomas then hit first baseman Chris Parmelee in the head. Parmelee was on the ground for a few minutes before being helped off the field. Next, Matt Albers came on and he allowed a single to center to Trevor Plouffe, bringing the Twins to within one run. Albers got out of it when he got Sean Burroughs to knock into a 6-3 DP.

Top 6th: Red Sox 7, Twins 1

The bottom of the Red Sox order was retired 1-2-3. .

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 7, Twins 1

Buchholz's first 1-2-3 inning.

Top 5th: Red Sox 7, Twins 1

Dustin Pedroia tripled over Plouffe's head in right and came in on Adrian Gonzalez's opposite-field single to left field.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 6, Twins 1

No clean innings for Buchholz. Two more runners, but the Twins can't seem to get the big hit when they need it.

Top 4th:Red Sox 6, Twins 1

Marlon Byrd reached on a single to second base with one out, but Hendrick retired Mike Aviles and Ryan Sweeney.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 6, Twins 1

Buchholz allowed a couple of singles, but no damage.

Top 3d: Red Sox 6, Twins 1

Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled in a pair of runs and was then caught between first and second in a rundown to end the inning. Pedroia reached on an infield hit to open the frame and Adrian Gonzalez drew a walk. After the next two batters made outs, Salty struck.

Bottom 2d: Boston 4, Twins 1

It's not easy for Buchholz. He allowed a run when Ben Revere doubled and rode home on No. 9 hitter Alexi Casilla's single to left. Buchholz got out of further damage. working slowly, at slightly under 30 seconds between pitches.

Top 2d: Boston 4, Twins 0

Mike Aviles stroked a three-run homer on a 1-0 pitch from Liam Hendriks, his fourth. The inning started when David Ortiz walked and Kevin Youkilis singled. After Jarrod Saltalamacchia took a called third strike, Cody Ross hit a sharp single to left, scoring the newly-mobile Ortiz. After Marlon Byrd lined hard to center, Aviles struck.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Twins 0

Clay Buchholz put three men on in the first as he began his fourth start in a shaky manner once again. Buchholz, 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA, walked Jamey Carroll and allowed a hard-hit single to right by Joe Mauer. After Justin Morneau reached on a fielder's choice, Buchholz had to escape runners at the corners and two outs. But he walked Chris Parmelee to load the bases. But Buchholz got Trevor Plouffe to pop to Dustin Pedroia to end the inning.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Twins 0

A two-out single by Dustin Pedroia was all Boston could muster against righthanded starter Liam Hendriks. Adrian Gonzalez grounded hard to shortstop to cap a 15-pitch at-bat to end the inning.

Game over:

Matt Albers finishes off the Twins in the ninth, after giving up a Sean Burroughs double to right. The game was played in 3:03. WP-Beckett (2-2), Loser Nick Blackburn (0-2).

Top 9th: Red Sox 11, Twins 2

Mike Aviles with four hits tonight to pace Boston's 18-hit attack. He finished a triple short of the cycle.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 11, Twins 2

Scott Atchison mows down the Twins.

Top 8th: Red Sox 11, Twins 2

Hmmm. Wonder if Bobby Valentine thinks this 9-run lead is safe? Lars Anderson with a single to left pinch hitting for Adrian Gonzalez. After David Ortiz walked, Valentine had Nick Punto pinch hit for Kevin Youkilis. He also walked to load the bases. Darnell McDonald pinch hit for Cody Ross. McDonald drove in a run with a ground ball to third. Punto took out the second baseman to prevent a DP, allowing a run to score.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 10, Twins 2

Beckett is out after six. He threw 100 pitches, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. One NL scout's assessment: "Settled in with better mechanics and release point. Got good sink and cut and mix of effective curveball and changeup kept hitters off balance. Has pitched and focussed well on both sides of the platre. was sneaky fast and got some late swings." Scott Atchison came on and retired the side.

Top 7th: Red Sox 10, Twins 2

Sox went down 1-2-3 in the 7th as Twins pitching is finally excelling.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 10, Twins 2

Beckett strikes out the side.

Top 6th: Red Sox 10, Twins 2

Sox go down in order for the first time.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 10, Twins 2

Josh Willingham doubled in Denard Span, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Rain has stopped.

Top 5th: Red Sox 10, Twins 1

Boston got a big break playing Lee County rival Minnesota this week. The Sox keep pummeling Twins pitching. Four hits in the inning produced three more runs. Aviles, with his third hit, a double, drove in Marlon Byrd, who is 2 for 3. Dustin Pedroia drove in Aviles with a double off the right-field wall. and Adrian Gonzalez doubled to left center, his third hit and second RBI.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 7, Twins 1

Beckett looks to have settled down nicely, Marlon Byrd makes a nice running catch in center after a long run.

Top 4th: Red Sox 7, Twins 1

Mike Aviles hit a solo homer to left to start the inning. After a double by Ryan Sweeney, Adrian Gonzalez knocked him in with a single. Some light rain has started.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 5, Twins 1

Joe Mauer singled and Josh Willingham doubled, but Beckett escapes.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 5, Twins 1

David Ortiz, the AL's leading hitter, launched a 429-foot blast to right field with Adrian Gonzalez on board. It was Ortiz's third homer and he's already knocked in three of the five runs.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 3, Twins 1

Beckett had a 1-2-3 inning to bounce back from his rough first.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 3, Twins 1

The Red Sox wasted a leadoff double to right by Kelly Shoppach, who is 9 for 17 vs. Nick Blackburn. The next three Sox went down in order.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 3, Twins 1

Josh Beckett struggled with command, walking three batters, including Justin Morneau with the bases loaded after allowing a leadoff single to Denard Span. Beckett bowed his neck and struck out Ryan Doumit. Beckett went 3-0 on Danny Valencia and shouted something at home plate umpire Adrian Johnson on a close pitch. When he retired Valencia on a grounder to third he walked off the mound and again gestured toward Johnson and then got into it with third base umpire Fieldin Culbreth. Beckett could have easily been thrown out of the game, but was spared.

Top 1st: Red Sox 3, Twins 0

The Twins have proven to be good medicine for the Red Sox so far. The Sox unloaded for five hits and three runs. The Sox took a 2-0 lead when they pummeled righty Nick Blackburn. Mike Aviles led off with a double to left center followed by an RBI single by Ryan Sweeney, who entered the game hitting .400. After Dustin Pedroia grounded into a fielder's choice erasing Sweeney at second base, Adrian Gonzalez singled to right and David Ortiz singled to left scoring the second run. Following a single to right by Kevin Youkilis to load the bases, Cody Ross drove in the third run with a grounder to first base. Marlon Byrd ended the inning with a ground ball to third.

Game over: Red Sox 6, Twins 5: Aceves allowed a one-out single but got his third save. Two shutout innings for the Red Sox bullpen. Imagine that.

Back with more from the clubhouse later.

Middle of the 9th: Red Sox 6, Twins 5: Ross homered again. Aceves in to try and close it out

Top of the 9th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5: After Lester went seven innings and 112 pitches, Morales came out of the bullpen to start the bottom of the eighth inning. He got ahead of Jamey Carroll but left a fastball up and over the plate that was lined down the right field line.

Right fielder Ryan Sweeney misplayed a bounce and was charged with a two-base error as Carroll went to third.

With the infield in, Joe Mauer grounded to first. Carroll stayed at third. Bobby Valentine then called in Bard.

It was the first relief appearance of the season for Bard, whose start was skipped when the Red Sox were rained out on Sunday. But it was not an unfamiliar situation for the former set-up man.

On a full-count pitch, Josh Willingham lined to third as Carroll dove back to the bag. The dangerous Justin Morneau was next and Valentine had him intentionally walked to get to Ryan Doumit, who had never before faced Bard.

Doumit swung at the first pitch and popped to shortstop.

Middle of the 8th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5: The Sox went in order against Jared Burton and Brian Duensing. Franklin Morales will come in for the bottom of the inning.

Bottom 7th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5

Lester retires the side in order. probably his last inning as Franklin Morales is ready.

Top 7th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5

Cody Ross launched a two-run homer to the second deck in left field (406 feet) to tie it up. Salty had singled to right.

Bottom 6th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3

Lester has a strong inning and seems to have found consistency in his delivery.

Top 6th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3

The Twins turned a tremendous double-play on a hard grounder by David Ortiz up the middle on which Jamey Carroll made a nice diving stop, flipped to second baseman Trevor Plouffe while on the ground. Plouffe made a nifty turn to edge Ortiz by a step at first. The Sox seemed to be in business when Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia began the inning with singles, but Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to second base.

Bottom 5th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3

Lester allowed another run. he walked No. 9 hitter Trevor Plouffe and allowed a single to leadoff man Denard Span to start the fifth. Jamey Carroll knocked into a double-play scoring the fifth run.

Top 5th: Twins 4, Red Sox 3

Ross, Byrd and Aviles go down in order.

Bottom 4th: Twins 4, Red Sox 3

The roof caved in on Lester. He put two hitters on base with one out - Mauer with a single and Willingham with a walk - but he froze Justin Morneau with a 93 mph fastball. Ryan Doumit stroked a lined single to left scoring a pair of runs. Doumit went to third on a throwing error by Mike Aviles. Danny Valencia hit a 417-foot two-run blast to centerfield to break an 0-for-11 on a 1-2 pitch to put the Twins ahead.

Top 4th: Red Sox 3, Twins 0

David Ortiz singled to rightcenter, but after Span made a nice running diving catch to rob Kevin Youkilis, Salty hit into a double-play to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 3, Twins 0

Two K's for Lester in a strong inning.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 3, Twins 0

The Sox wasted a Ryan Sweeney double with one out. Sweeney was cut down on Dustin Pedroia's grounder to shortstop trying to go to third.

Bottom 2d: Red Sox 3, Twins 0

Lester gets another 6-4-3 double-play grounder (Danny Valencia) to end the inning.

Top 2d: Red Sox 3, Twins 0

Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer with Kevin Youkilis aboard on an 0-2 pitch to extend Boston's lead. Ortiz singled down the third base line and was erased on Youkilis's fielder's choice at second base. Salty, who has swung the bat way better than his .206 average, then struck with the homer. In his first plate appearance with the Red Sox, Marlon Byrd grounded out to second base. He's now 3-for-44 on the season.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 1, Twins 0

Denard Span walked and was erased on a Jamey Carroll double-play grounder. Joe Mauer singled, but the red-hot Josh Willingham struck out.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Twins 0

Adrian Gonzalez' opposite-field sacrifice fly scored Mike Aviles with Boston's first run. Aviles led off the game with a single to left and advanced to third on a one-out single by Dustin Pedroia. After Gonzalez drove in the run, Pedroia was thrown out trying to steal.

Game over: Yankees 15, Red Sox 9: The Red Sox absorbed a tough loss, squandering a 9-0 lead and a solid pitching effort by Felix Doubront, who remained winless after throwing six strong innings of four-hit baseball, allowing one run on a Mark Teixeira solo homer in the seventh.

After Doubront departed, the Yankees teed off the Sox bullpen, erupting for seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings, sparked by Nick Swisher's grand slam in the 7th and Teixeira's second homer of the game, a 3-run shot, that pulled the Yankees within 9-8.

The Yankees took the lead and ran away with it with another seven-run outburst, Swisher delivering the crushing blow with his 2-RBI double to center that gave New York a 10-9 lead.

Bottom of 8th: Yankees 15, Red Sox 9: Hard to believe the Sox at one point led this game, 9-0, after five innings, but have since had their bats silenced, which was the case in the eighth when Boone Logan came in and retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion.

Top of 8th: Yankees 15, Red Sox 9: Nick Swisher, who hit a grand slam in his previous at-bat in the seventh, stroked a 2-RBI double off the wall in center off Alfredo Aceves to score Eduardo Nunez (single to left) and Jeter (walk), giving the Yankees a one-run lead. After Cano drew an intentional walk, Aceves walked A-Rod (unintentionally) to load the bases for Teixeira, who hit a ground-rule double into the seats in right for two more runs to make it 12-9. After he issued an intentional walk to Granderson, Aceves was gone (0 IP, 5 R, 2 H, 4 BB). but Justin Thomas hardly fared any better, giving up an RBI double to pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez and then a single Nunez as the Yankees batted around the order.

Junichi Tazawa came into the game, the third reliever Valentine deployed in the inning, and after giving up an RBI single to Jeter wound up getting the Sox out of the inning by inducing Swisher to fly to center.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 9, Yankees 8: Jarrod Saltalamacchia was stranded at second after hitting a ground-rule double into the right field seats. Nothing doin' for the Sox as Rafael Soriano retired the next three batters he faced. Alfredo Aceves was summoned to pitch for Morales in the top of the eighth.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 9, Yankees 8: With Vicente Padilla in the game in relief of Doubront, the Yankees loaded the bases when Russell Martin singled to center, Eduardo Nunez hit a soft grounder to third and Jeter walked to tee it up for Swisher to unloaded with a grand slam, the fifth of his career, to pull the Yanks within four runs. After Padilla gave up a double to Cano, Sox manager Bobby Valentine emerged from the dugout to a chorus of boos, to summon Matt Albers, who didn't fare any better when he gave up a three-run blast to Teixeira, enabling the Yankees to pull within one run. It was Teixeira's second homer in as many at-bats (this one coming from the left-side of the plate) and marked his 34th multi-homer game of his career, the last coming Sept. 28, 2011, at Tampa Bay.

Franklin Morales came to get Albers and stopped the bleeding when he struck out Andrew Jones (who struck out to lead off the inning) and got Martin to hit a ground ball to second for the 4-6 force out on Curtis Granderson at second.

Middle of 6th: Red Sox 9, Yankees 1: Mark Teixeira spoiled Doubront's bid for a shutout with his two-out solo homer into the Green Monster seats. To that point, Doubront had thrown 5.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits while matching his career-high with seven strikeouts. He had retired 13 of the 17 batters he faced before giving up Teixeira's homer.

Update, 6:18 p.m: Vicente Padilla entered the top of the seventh in relief of Doubront (6.0 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR), who threw 99 pitches (59 strikes).

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 9, Yankees 0: Cody Ross homered for the third time this season, bopping a two-run shot off the roof of the TV camera deck in center that scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia who hit a lead-off double off the garage door in center. The Sox have now belted 12 hits, including six extra-base hits: five doubles (Sweeney, Gonzalez, Ortiz, McDonald, Saltamacchia) and one home run (Ross).

Middle of 5th: Red Sox 7, Yankees 0: Doubront got two quick outs again, before Eduardo Nunez walked and Jeter singled to right. Doubront got out of the inning by getting Swisher to ground to second.

Bottom of 4th: Red Sox 7, Yankees 0: After David Ortiz drew a two-out walk, Nate Spears was summoned to pinch-hit for Kevin Youkilis, who had been hit by a pitch in his previous at-bat. No word on whether the move was injury-related. Youkilis, though, came out to play the field in the top of the fourth before Spears pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the inning. Spears struck out swinging, but remained in the game at third.

Update, 5:50 p.m.Youkilis left the game with a left quad contusion.
Update, 5:51 p.m.ESPNChicago reports Marlon Byrd has confirmed he has been traded by Cubs to Red Sox. Deal to be announced after Yankees-Red Sox game.

Middle of 4th: Red Sox 7, Yankees 0: Doubront worked a nasty 85 changeup and an even nastier cutter to get Teixeira and Granderson (both looking) to end the inning. Doubrount has now thrown 64 pitches (37 for strikes) and has retired nine of the last 11 batters he has faced, striking out four.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 7, Yankees 0: David Ortiz chased Clay Rapada from the game with his single to center. David Phelps entered the game for Rapada (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R) and proceeded to load the bases when he hit Kevin Youkilis with a pitch and allowed Jarrod Saltalamacchia to reach on a single to right. After Cody Ross struck out for the first out in the inning, McDonald lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ortiz from third. Aviles tacked on an RBI single to right, scoring Youkilis from third, before Phelps induced Sweeney to ground to second for the force out on Aviles to end the inning.

Top of 3d: Red Sox 5, Yankees 0: Doubront continued to impress, getting a pair of grounball outs from Eduardo Nunez and Derek Jeter before he allowed Nick Swisher to reach on a single to left. Doubront, who had a better start than his Yankee counterpart, wound up getting Cano to fly to center to end the inning. Doubront recorded five groundball outs and a pair of strikeouts through his first three innings, while allowing two hits and two walks.

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 5, Yankees 0: Sox tacked on another run after Cody Ross stroked a single to center and then went to third on Darnell McDonald's wall-ball double. Mike Aviles rapped an RBI single to left, scoring Ross and prompting Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild to make a mound visit to Freddy Garcia. Little good it did, though, when Ryan Sweeney lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to right, scoring McDonald from third. Garcia was done when Dustin Pedroia chased him with an RBI single to right, scoring Aviles from second and prompting Yankees manager Joe Girardi to summon Clay Rapada from the bullpen. Rapada got the Yanks out of the inning when he induced Adrian Gonzalez to fly to center.

Middle of 2d: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Doubront looked impressive in the inning, getting two quick outs on Mark Teixeira ground out to second and on a called third strike to Curtis Granderson (92 m.p.h. fastball). After issuing a walk to Andruw Jones, Doubront came back and stranded Jones by striking out Russell Martin (swinging, 93 fastball).

Bottom of 1st: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Adrian Gonzalez ripped a two-out ground-rule double that hopped into the seats in the right. Gonzalez's RBI double, his third of the season, scored Ryan Sweeney, who reached on a double to left. David Ortiz then drove in Gonzalez with an RBI double to left, giving the Sox an early two-run lead. Sweeney's double tied him with Ortiz for the team lead (7), but Big Papi wrested it away with his team-leading eighth double of the season.

Top of 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0: Sox LHP Felix Doubront got some outstanding glove work from his defense, shortstop Mike Aviles in particular. After Derek Jeter hit a lead-off single to right, Aviles doubled up the Yankees' captain at second when Nick Swisher hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Then, after Robinson Cano walked, Doubront got out of the inning when Alex Rodriguez grounded to Aviles for the inning-ending out.

Top of 1st, no out: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0: First pitch at 4:08 p.m., game time temperature was reported at 78 degrees and winds from the South-Southwest at 20 m.p.h.

Pregame: The Red Sox (4-9) will look to get over their hangover from the festivities surrounding the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. The Sox will attempt to rebound a 6-2 loss Friday and snap a four-game losing streak when they host the Yankees (8-6) Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park by sending LHP Felix Duoubront (0-0, 5.40 ERA) to the mound to face Freddy Garcia (0-1, 6.97).

As always, please feel free to share your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Game over: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Eppley allowed a single before Mariano Rivera dispatched of the sad sack Sox from there.

Sox are now 4-9 and losers of four straight. They have dropped 29 of 40 going back to last year. Yikes.

Middle of the 9th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Tazawa retired the side in order. When he's been your best player, it's a long day. Cody Eppley now pitching for the Yankees.

Top of the 9th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Dave Robertson allowed a single by Gonzalez. But that was it for the Sox. He fanned Pedroia and Youkilis.

Middle of the 8th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Swisher led off with a double against Atchison. But Thomas and Tazawa held the Yankees down.

Top of the 8th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: 1-2-3 inning for Wade. Spears pinch hit for Repko and struck out on three pitches. Pinch hitting one AAAA player for another against the Yankees in the 7th inning down by four runs. Such is the state of the Red Sox roster.

Middle of the 7th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Buchholz walked Granderson and was relieved by Atchison, who retired the side in order from there. Final line for Buchholz: 6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 HR, 103 pitches. Pretty awful.

Cory Wade replacing Nova.

Top of the 7th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Ortiz singled with one out before Youkilis was hit by a pitch. But Salty grounded into a double play and was booed. Sox now 1 for 10 with RISP.

Middle of the 6th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: The beat-down of Buchholz continues as Martin slams one off the Sports Authority billboard with authority. That's five homers for the Yankees.

Top of the 6th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 2: Ross doubled to center. Repko had a good at-bat then lined a 3-2 pitch to second. Aviles flied to right but Swisher lost the ball in the sun and it fell in for an RBI double.

(In my view, such plays should be ruled errors. It's the job of the outfielder to catch a ball in the sun. Messing up a play you should make is an error.)

Anyway, Sweeney lined to left and Pedroia flied deep to center. Sox are 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and that one was a gift.

Middle of the 5th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1: A-Rod cleared everything in left. That's now four home runs allowed by Buchholz and they were all rockets. The Sox have allowed 22 home runs in 13 games. That's the most in the majors.

Top of the 5th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: The Sox went in order against Nova, who has allowed four hits.

Middle of the 4th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: Chavez homered again, again to center.

Top of the 4th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1: The Sox wasted a one-out double by Sweeney as Pedroia flied to center and Gonzalez struck out.

Middle of the 3rd: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1: Cano had an infield single before Teixeira flied to center and Swisher walked. But Ibanez, who runs like he played for the Highlanders in 1912, grounded into the 3-6-1 double play.

Top of the 3rd: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1: Ortiz homered to left but had to stay at second before it was reviewed and then approved. Youkilis followed with a double to right. Salty grounded to first, pushing Youk to third. But Ross struck out and Repko grounded to third.

Middle of the 2nd: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0: Another poor outing for Buchholz so far as Swisher (left field) and Chavez (right center) had solo homers.

Jeter had a single in the inning and took third on a single by Granderson. But A-Rod grounded into a force.

For Jeter, it was his 3,111st hit. That passes Dave Winfield for 18th place all-time/

Top of the 2nd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Outside of a Pedroia single, the Sox went in order. Gonzalez chased Granderson back to the wall with a drive to center for the third out.

Middle of the 1st inning: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Jeter popped the ball up behind second base. Pedoria was under it but dropped it. A wild pitch moved Jeter to second and he scored on A-Rod's single. Buchholz then got Cano to fly deep to center and Teixeira to ground to first. Sloppy inning for the Sox.

Pre-game: Gooooooood afternoon from Fenway Park. This game may not be half as fun as that ceremony, but let's see what happens as Buchholz faces Nova and the teams wear throwback uniforms without numbers.

We'll have updates here all game, so hang out and get your baseball fix. As always, feel free to leave your comments.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

In a pageant that had the sellout crowd cheering throughout, the Red Sox celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first game at Fenway Park in 1912 by bringing 213 players out onto the field to take their positions.

Hall of Fame left fielder Jim Rice was first, taking his place in front of the Green Monster. Another Hall of Famer, Carl Yastrzemski, was last. Carlton Fisk, Pedro Martinez, Jim Lonborg, Nomar Garciaparra, Reggie Smith, Luis Tiant, Bill Lee, Rico Petrocelli, Mike Lowell and Dennis Eckersley were among those on hand.

At the end, 92-year-old Johnny Pesky and 93-year-old Bobby Doerr were introduced to the crowd. In wheelchairs, they were pushed to their respective positions on either side of second base by Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield. David Ortiz accompanied them.

Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona received the loudest cheers, getting a standing ovation from the crowd and chants of "Tito, Tito." Francona initially declined to attend the event, then said he would earlier this week believing he owed it to the fans.

The Boston Pops, conducted by John Williams and Keith Lockhart, performed "Fanfare for Fenway" and the national anthem before a flyover by vintage planes.

Martinez and Kevin Millar led a toast to Fenway Park that the entire crowd participated in.

Boston Mayor John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park in 1912. Two of his great-grandchildren, Caroline Kennedy and Thomas Fitzgerald, threw out first pitches along with the current mayor, Thomas Menino.

As befitting the style in 1912, the pitches were thrown from the stands. Fisk, Rice and Yastrzemski caught them.

Here are the updates as they happened:

Good afternoon from Fenway Park and the 100th anniversary of the first game here in 1912.

We'll have updates throughout the ceremony, which is expected to take about 50 minutes or so.

Game over: Rangers 6, Red Sox 3

The Red Sox had one base runner (Cody Ross) on board against Texas closer Joe Nathan when Adrian Beltre threw Kevin Youkilis's ground ball wide of first. With runners in scoring position, pinch-hitter Ryan Sweeney singled to left, scoring Ross. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who may be the most snakebitten player on the team, again hit the ball right on the money, but right at first baseman Travis Snyder, who doubled off Sweeney.

Top 9th: Rangers 6, Red Sox 2

Matt Albers keeps it a four-run game as we enter Red Sox' last ups.

Bottom 8th: Rangers 6, Red Sox 2

The top of the Sox' order goes down against reliever Alexi Ogando.

Top 8th: Rangers 6, Red Sox 2

Franklin Morales who had been very consistent out of the Sox pen, imploded. After one out, he allowed a single to Josh Hamilton, who advanced to second on a passed ball by Kelly Shoppach. After Adrian Beltre was walked intentionally, Morales walked Nelson Cruz. But Morales hit Craig Gentry with a pitch, forcing in a run. Red Sox killer Mike Napoli then doubled off the wall, scoring a pair. Valentine then made a curious move by having Morales walk lefthanded hitter Mitch Moreland intentionally to load the bases. He brought Matt Albers on hoping for a DP and that's what he got..

Bottom 7th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Kelly Shoppach doubled with one out, but the Red Sox couldn't even move the runner over. McDonald grounded to shortstop and Nick Punto, pinch-hitting for Jason Repko, struck out.

Top 7th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Beckett has struck out seven and retired the last 12 batters. He's thrown 110 pitches and is likely done with Vicente Padilla and Franklin Morales warming in the bullpen.

Bottom 6th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Sox went down 1-2-3 as Holland froze Ortiz on a called third strike to end the inning. The Sox have not had a hit since Mike Aviles's single in the third and he was erased when he was picked off.

Top 6th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Beckett has retired nine straight batters.

Bottom 5th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Sox got two walks (Shoppach and Aviles) but nada on the scoreboard. David Murphy made a nice diving catch in left to rob Darnell McDonald.

Top 5th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Beckett retires Andrus, Hamilton, and Beltre in order.

Bottom 4th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

Ross, Ortiz, and Youkilis go down in order.

Top 4th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2

David Murphy singled and Mike Napoli homered, giving the Rangers their first lead. Napoli has four homers on the season.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Rangers 1

Mike Aviles singled to lead off the inning, but was picked off by Derek Holland. Adrian Gonzalez struck out for the second time to end the inning.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Rangers 1

The Rangers had runners at the corners with two outs, but Beckett struck out Nelson Cruz with a 90 m.p.h. cutter to escape the jam. With one out, Ian Kinsler walked and Elvis Andrus singled to the wall, but Darnell McDonald retrieved the ball quickly and nailed Andrus trying to stretch a single into a double. Josh Hamitlon's infield single got Texas' first run in. After Adrian Beltre singled, Cruz fanned.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Rangers 0

David Ortiz now 7 for 14 vs. lefthanders after a hustle double to left vs. Derek Holland. Kevin Youkilis homered to the light standard in left-center, a nice start after a 4-K night Tuesday.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rangers 0

Mike Napoli singled with two outs, but that was all vs. Beckett.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rangers 0

Cody Ross was elevated to cleanup but he took a called third strike from lefty Derek Holland, stranding Mike Aviles at third. Aviles walked and stole second (hist first theft of the season) but both Adrian Gonzalez and Ross whiffed.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rangers 0

Josh Hamilton lined a single over Kevin Youkilis's head with two outs, but Josh Beckett got Adrian Beltre to ground to shortstop, and Hamilton was forced at second base. Beckett was throwing his fastball at 92 m.p.h.

By Julian Benbow, Globe staff

Early in the afternoon, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said that in his two starts this season, Jon Lester had thrown the ball as well any pitcher in the league but he had nothing to show for it.

Maybe he jinxed him.

Lester gave up seven runs on eight hits, including a long home run in the second-inning to Texas first baseman Mike Napoli, in a 18-3 loss to the Rangers at Fenway.

He matched the shortest outing of his career, when he went just two innings and gave up nine runs on eight hits in a 16-2 loss to Toronto two years ago at the Fens.

Coming into his Fenway debut, it seemed like all Lester needed was run support. He was winless but his ERA was 2.40 (four earned runs in 15 innings pitched).

The Sox gave him a quick lift when Dustin Pedroia blasted a two-run homer in the first inning.

But Lester gave it all back and then some in the second.

Napoli tied it with his two-run blast, then things went haywire for Lester. Three singles and a pair of walks later, he was in a 4-2 hole. He came back out for the third inning but gave up a leadoff single to Nelson Cruz and back-to-back walks to Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba before Valentine decided to put an end to his night.

Napoli added a two-run homer in the ninth inning, capping 3-for-5, four-RBI day. Josh Hamilon went 3 for 5 with a three-run homer in the eight-run eighth inning for the Rangers and matched a career-high with five RBIs.

The Rangers hit five home runs as a team.

For the Sox, it’s the second loss in as many days after scoring a combined 31 runs in three straight wins at home.

Game Over: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

The Sox got a one-out walk by Dustin Pedroia, who was James Shields' last batter before Fernando Rodney came into the game. Rodney got Adrian Gonzalez to ground out on a 3-2 pitch. The Sox sent the runner, Pedroia, who made it to second base. David Ortiz was walked intentionally. Cody Ross, with four career walkoff hits, came up with two on and two out. He saw five straight fastballs (all out of the strikezone) and took one for a called third strike to end the game.

Top 9th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Bobby Valentine was asked about where's Matt Albers? Well, here he is in the ninth. Alberrs allowed a single to No. 9 hitter Sean Rodriguez but got out of the inning and a two-out single to Carlos Pena. We have a 1-0 game heading into the bottom of the ninth..

Bottom 8th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

The bottom of the Sox order went down again against Shields, who has been stellar.

Top 8th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Second base umpire Todd Tichenor made an interesting call. when Matt Joyce's soft liner to shortstop was purposely dropped by Mike Aviles so he could attempt to turn the double-play with Ben Zobrist on first base. The umpire ruled an out, but Aviles never caught the ball. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia threw Zobrist out trying to steal. Jeff Keppinger struck out and was out 2-3 on the putout.

Bottom 7th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

A one-out single by Cody Ross was erased by a strikeout/caught stealing with Ryan Sweeney up.

Top 7th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0

Bard has eclipsed the 100-pitch mark on a warm day. The Red Sox have double-barrel action in the bullpen. With two outs, Bard walked No. 9 hitter Sean Rodriguez and allowed a single to leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings. He then walked Carlos Pena to laod the bases. This prompted pitching coach Bob McClure out of the dugout. Bard was up to 107 pitches with Longoria due up. Bard quickly fell behind 2-0. he walked Longoria on four pitches which signaled the end for Bard, who had been upset that Valentine took him out too soon in Toronto. Valentine may have waited too long today. Lefty Justin Thomas came on to pitch to Luke Scott. Thomas went 3-2 to Scott, who lined to right to leave the bases loaded.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

A Dustin Pedroia two-out single was about it for Sox. Both teams have only three hits in what has turned into a wonderful pitchers duel..

Top 6th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Luke Scott, the player Red Sox fans love to hate, singled to center, but he was eventually doubled up on Matt Joyce's 4-6-3 double-play grounder to end the inning.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

The Sox managed a walk vs. Shields, but nothing else.

Top 5th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Bard continues to pitch well in jams. After securing the first two outs, Desmond Jennings doubled and he walked Carlos Pena. the reliever in him, wiggled out when he struck out Evan Longoria.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0Top 4th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

An Adrian Gonzalez single off the wall was waisted as Oriz hit into a 4-6-3 double-play.

Bard walked Ben Zobrist with one out and Matt Joyce reached on an infield single on a great diving stop, but his toss to second was too late. Jeff Keppinger then grounded into a 1-6-3 DP on which Mike Aviles made a nice turn.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Red Sox down 1-2-3.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Desmond Jennings drew a walk and stole second base, but Bard struck out Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

The Red Sox got a runner to third base when Cody Ross reached on an infield hit, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out. But the Sox couldn't get him in.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Bard put two on when hit Ben Zobrist with a pitch with one out and walked Jeff Keppinger with two outs, but he retired Jose Molina on a flyball out to wiggle out of the jam.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

They should start all games at 11 a.m. Nice feel here today. James Shields certainly has a nice feel for his pitches as the Sox go down 1-2-3. Adrian Gonzalez struck out to end the inning.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Daniel Bard breezes through the first, 1-2-3. Speaking of breeze, winds are calm at 6 mph. It's 79 degrees.

Game over: Red Sox 6, Rays 4 The Red Sox made it three in a row versus the Rays in their season-opening home stand with a 6-4 victory before a Fenway Park crowd of 38.024.

David Ortiz led the way offensively for the Sox, going 3-for-4 with 1 run scored and a pair of doubles, the latter for a run-scoring double to center that scored Kevin Youkilis (walk) with the go-ahead run to break a 4-4 tie.

Cody Ross homered for the second time this season to give the Sox an early 3-0 lead in the second and Mike Aviles also homered for the second time in as many games batting out of the leadoff position to give the Red Sox a 6-4 cushion with his leadoff solo shot in the seventh off Tampa starter Matt Moore (6.1 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 2 HRs).

Vicente Padilla picked up the victory for the Red Sox (4-5) with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Alfredo Aceves picked up his second save in his third opportunity this season.

Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 6, Rays 4: Fernando Rodney entered the game in relief of Joel Peralta (0.2 IP) and retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion. Alfredo Aceves replaced Franklin Morales (1.0 IP, 2 H) to start the ninth.

Bottom of 7th, 1 out, Red Sox 6, Rays 4: Mike Aviles, who found himself batting leadoff for the second game in a row, homered for the second game in a row, hitting a leadoff solo shot to dead center off Moore, who departed the game two batters later. Moore turned it over to Joel Peralta, who got out of the inning by getting Youkilis to fly out to right and Ortiz to hit a broken-bat groundball to first. Moore's line: 6.1 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 2 HRs. Franklin Morales has replaced Padilla (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K) in the top of the eighth.

Middle of 7th: Red Sox 5, Rays 4: Despite getting hit on the foot by a Ben Zobrist comebacker to the mound, Padilla showed some toughness staying in the game and getting out of the inning by striking out Luke Scott, Fenway's Public Enemy No. 1, with an 87 changeup.

Bottom of 6th, Red Sox 5, Rays 4: Big Papi continues to be the Big Pun against the Rays. Ortiz spanked a first-pitch fastball from Moore to center field, good for an RBI double (his second of the game) that scored Kevin Youkilis (who walked) with the go-ahead run to make it 5-4. With one out, Moore intentionally walked Ross, got McDonald to ground out to first, and intentionally walked Shoppach to load the bases for Repko, who hit a 3-2 fly ball to right to end the inning.

Top of 6th, Red Sox 4, Rays 4: Luke Scott, that noted trasher of Fenway Park, tarnished Doubront's day, effectively ending it when he tied it, 4-4, with his leadoff solo homer over the Sox bullpen. Scott Atchison relieved Doubront (5+ IP, 4 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR), who threw 96 pitches (59 strikes). After giving up a hit, a walk and striking out Chris Gimenez on (on a fouled bunt), Atchison (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) turned it over to Vicente Padilla with one out. Padilla struck out Desmond Jennings and got Carlos Pena to fly to right to end the inning.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 4, Rays 3: Sox failed to muster a response when Moore retired side in 1-2-3 order.

Top of 5th, Red Sox 4, Rays 3: After his apparent homer around Pesky Pole in right was ruled a foul (upon further video review), Carlos Pena hit a 2-RBI double to center past the diving Jason Repko to halve the Red Sox lead, 4-2. Evan Longoria followed with a ground-rule double (the third in the game for the Rays) to right, scoring Pena from second to pull the Rays within 1 run. But Doubront prevented the Rays from tying it when he got Keppinger to fly to center and whiffed Ben Zobrist (looking at a 95 fastball) on his 91st pitch of the game. It was Doubront's seventh strikeout of the game, surpassing his previous career-high (6) established in his first start of the season April 9 at Toronto.

Bottom of 4th: Red Sox 4, Rays 0: Kelly Shoppach, that noted Rays killer, added to his former teammates' misery when he hit an RBI double to left that scored David Ortiz, who reached on a basehit. Ross attempted to take home when a throw to third got away from Evan Longoria. But Longoria atoned when he threw Ross out at the plate to end the inning.

Middle of fourth: Red Sox 3, Rays 0: After Jeff Keppinger led off with a flare to right that hopped into the stands in right for a ground-rule double, Doubront settled down and got Ben Zobrist to line out to third, Luke Scott to fan on an 85 changeup and Keppinger in a 6-5-2-5 rundown between third and home to end the inning.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 3, Rays 0: Nothing doin' for Sox in bottom of 3d, especially after Moore's 1-2-3 inning.

Middle of 3d, Red Sox 3, Rays 0: Desmond Jennings hit a ground-rule double that eluded Ross's outstretched glove and hopped into the Red Sox bullpen. It would've likely scored Matt Joyce, who reached on a leadoff single to right. But Joyce was ordered back to third. Doubront came back and fanned Pena for the second time in as many at-bats (this time swinging at his nasty 77-m.p.h. curveball) and induced Evan Longoria (now 0-for-10 for the series) to ground to third to end the inning.

Bottom of 2d, Red Sox 3, Rays 0: The beat goes on. Cody Ross crushed an 0-1 offering (a 94-m.p.h. fastball, up in the zone) from Matt Moore over the wall in left for a 3-run homer that scored Kevin Youkilis (leadoff single to left) and David Ortiz (double to right) to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead with no out in the bottom of the second. It was Ross's second homer of the season. Moore got out of the inning by retiring the next three batters he faced.Tampa pitching has now allowed six homers in the last nine innings vs. the Red Sox.

Top of 2d, Red Sox 0, Rays 0: An interesting duel between lefties seemed to take shape as Doubront retired the Rays in 1-2-3 order. Through two innings, Doubront has allowed just one walk and recorded three strikeouts, throwing 30 pitches (17 for strikes).

Bottom of 1st, Red Sox 0, Rays 0: LHP Matt Moore matched Doubront's start, doing so in 1-2-3 fashion. He struck out leadoff hitter Mike Aviles (swinging) and induced Dustin Pedroia to pop to short and Adrian Gonzalez to fly to center. Moore threw eight pitches, six for strikes.

Top of 1st, Red Sox 0, Rays 0: Not a bad start for Doubront. The kid retired three off the first four batters he faced, striking out the first two. He threw only 19 pitches in the process.

Pregame

Greetings from Fenway Park, where the Sox will look to make it three in a row against the Rays after scoring a 13-5 come-from-behind victory Saturday. It came on the heels of a 12-2 trouncing of the Rays on Opening Day Friday. The Red Sox will send LHP Felix Doubront (0.0, 3.60 ERA) to oppose LHP Matt Moore (0-0, 2.70).

Thanks for following along and, as always, feel free to post your comments here.

Game over: Red Sox 13, Rays 5: That's it from Fenway Park, where 38,024 turned out to watch the Red Sox rally from a 4-0 first-inning deficit to bludgeon the Rays, 13-5. On a day center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a subluxation of his right shoulder, the Sox erupted for 15 hits, including five home runs, as Jarrod Saltalamacchia, David Ortiz, Mike Aviles and Cody Ross all homered for the first time this season.

It helped make a winner of Clay Buchholz (7.0 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR) for the first time this season.

It marked the first time the Sox strung together back-to-back wins since sweeping a doubleheader from the Oakland A's Aug. 27, 2011.

Bottom of 8th, Red Sox 13, Rays 5: Sox left no doubt about this one, erupting for five runs on four hits against Dane De La Rosa. The inning was highlighted by
David Ortiz's bases-clearing 3-run double to left and Cody Ross's irst homer of the season, a towering two-run shot to left that made it 13-5.Alfredo Aceves entered the game in the ninth.

Middle of 8th, Red Sox 8 Rays 5: It's Sweet Caroline time, as Morales sits down the Rays in 1-2-3 fashion. Over his last 3.2 IP, Morales has 0 R, 1 H, 4 K, 0 BB. Buchholz's line: 7 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.

Bottom of 7th, Red Sox 8, Rays 5: Mike Aviles, batting in the lead-off position for injured center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (subluxed right shoulder, 15-day DL), homered for the first time this season. Aviles hit a lead-off solo homer, taking reliever Burke Badenhop deep to the top of the wall in left on an 0-1 pitch, to give the Sox a 6-5 lead. LHP J.P. Howell entered the game with one out in the seventh to relieve Badenhop and loaded the bases when he gave up a double to Gonzalez, walked Youkilis and allowed a single to left by Ortiz. Cody Ross then doubled off the wall to left, scoring Gonzalez and Youkilis to give the Sox an 8-5 cushion. The Sox have scored eight runs on 11 hits, seven for extra-bases and four for homers. Franklin Morales will pitch the 8th for Buchholz.

Middle of 7th, Rays 5, Red Sox 5: Buchholz holds 'em down again in 1-2-3 fashion. He has now retired 12 of the last 13 batters he's faced, twice striking out Evan Longoria in that stretch.

Bottom of 6th, Rays 5, Red Sox 5: Badenhop has a 1-2-3 inning, recording strikeouts of Ryan Sweeney and Darnell McDonald. This one looking like it could go the way of the Bruins-Caps NHL playoff game at TD Garden -- extras.

Middle of 6th, Rays 5, Red Sox 5: Buchholz retired the side in 1-2-3 fashion, needing only nine pitches to do the job. Burke Badenhop will pitch for the Rays in the sixth. Hellickson's line: 5 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 3 HR, 99 pitches (59 strikes).

Bottom of 5th, Rays 5, Red Sox 5: David Ortiz homered for the first time this season -- and for the first time in 13 career at-bats vs. Jeremy Hellickson -- taking a 3-2 delivery from the Rays' righthander deep to Sox bullpen in right for a two-run shot that scored Kevin Youkilis (single to left) and tied it, 5-5. Ortiz is now 2-for-3 with 1 run scored, 2 RBI and 1 HR. Hellickson has allowed three home runs in the game, a career high.

Middle of 5th, Rays 5, Red Sox 3: Buchholz seemed to settle down as the Rays stranded a baserunner after Matt Joyce's sharply-struck grounder eluded Dustin Pedroia. Through five innings, Buchholz has thrown 88 pitches, 55 for strikes, and averaged 13 pitches over the last three innings.

Bottom of 5th, Rays 5, Red Sox 3: Red Sox threatened to blow the game open when they loaded the bases. David Ortiz led off with a single to right and went to third on Ryan Sweeney's one-out double to left off Hellickson, putting men in scoring position. After Saltalamacchia, who hit a 2-run homer in his first plate appearance, hit a fly ball to left, McDonald drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Aviles, who ran the count full after starting out 3-0 and lofted an inning-ending fly to right. Manager Bobby Valentine came sprinting out of the dugout to argue with first base umpire Brian Gorman that Hellickson had balked when he dropped the ball while towing the rubber before his 3-0 delivery to Aviles, but it fell upon deaf ears. Replays showed it was indeed a balk, which would have pushed across another run for the Sox.

Middle of 4th, Rays 5, Red Sox 3: Tampa stranded a runner when Jose Molina led off with a single to right and advanced on Sean Rodriguez's sacrifice bunt to third. Buchholz got out of the inning by inducing Desmond Jennings to fly to right and punching out Pena on a checked-swing strikeout. Buchholz has now thrown 74 pitches, 47 for strikes.

Bottom of 3d, Rays 5, Red Sox 3: After Mike Aviles led off by flying to center, Dustin Pedroia hammered a 1-1 Hellickson offering to the Monster Seats in left, cutting Tampa's lead to 5-3. It was Pedroia's second homer of the season. The Sox, however, were unable to build upon that spark when Adrian Gonzalez ground out to short and Kevin Youkilis ground out to third.

Middle of 3d, Rays 5, Red Sox 2: Buccholz seemed to have difficulty locating his fastball. Not a good thing against the Rays' potent lineup. After getting Evan Longoria to hit a deep fly ball to the warning track in center, Buchholz issued his third walk of the game when Matt Joyce drew a base on balls. Zobrist flew to right, but Scott made Buccholz pay when he doubled off the wall in left to score Joyce, making it 5-2. Buchholz has now thrown 61 pitches, 37 for strikes, through three innings and allowed five runs on four hits, inlcuding one homer, to go along with three walks, two strikeouts and one balk.

Bottom of second, Rays 4, Red Sox 2: Jarrod Saltalamacchia got two back for the Red Sox when he crushed a 2-run homer (his first of the season), driving it all the way to the blacked-out seats in center field off Jeremy Hellickson. Saltalamacchia's homer scored Ryan Sweeney, who drew a two-out walk. Darnell McDonald flew out to right to end the inning.

Middle of second, Rays 4, Red Sox 0: Buchholz continued to scuffle, only this time it didn't cost him any runs. After striking out Jose Molina to lead off the inning, Sean Rodriguez singled to left, then advanced to second on a balk, but Buchholz got out of the inning when he got Desmond Jennings to fly to center and Carlos Pena to ground to second.

Middle of first, Rays 4, Red Sox 0: Rough inning for Clay Buchholz, who gave up four runs on two hits, including a three-run homer by Luke Scott. Scott's first homer of the season scored Carlos Pena, whose RBI single to right gave the Rays a 1-0 lead, and Ben Zobrist, who drew one of two walks Buchholz issued during the inning. Buccholz had not allowed more than three earned runs in eight previous starts against the Rays. His first inning blew that out of the water.

First inning, two out, Rays 4, Red Sox 0: Luke Scott, the detractor of Fenway Park, did not make any new friends in the Fens when he drilled a 3-2 pitch beyond the Pesky Pole in right for a 3-run homer.

First inning, two out, Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Carlos Pena gave the Rays a 1-0 lead when he hit a double off the short wall in right, scoring Desmond Jennings, who drew a lead-off walk from Clay Buchholz.

Final: Red Sox 12, Rays 2: Certainly a successful home opener for the Sox, who mash the Rays, 12-2, behind Josh Beckett (eight great innings) and Kelly Shoppach (3 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBIs). A crowd of 37,032 enjoyed the game and temperate weather to boot.

Back later with more from the clubhouse.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 12, Rays 1: Stop the fight!

The Red Sox sent 14 men to the plate and scored eight runs. Joel Peralta started the inning and didn't get an out. McDonald doubled, Ross walked, Aviles walked and Shoppach pounded a two-run double to left.

In came unfortunate Josh Lueke.

Sweeney dumped a two-run single into center. Pedroia followed with an infield single. Gonzales then floated a single to left to load the bases. Youkilis had a two-run single to center. Ortiz followed with an RBI double. McDonald then walked, making it 10 batters in a row to reach.

Ross flied to deep center to drive in a run. Aviles singled to reload the bases but Shoppach and Sweeney popped out.

The Sox have 12 runs on 16 hits. Not bad. Mark Melancon in to finish up.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: Beckett retired the side in order again. He has been brilliant. He also got that strikeout to extend his streak, whiffing Pena.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: Gonzalez singled. But other than that, Davis struck out the side. The shadows between the plate and the mound is killing the hitters.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: Beckett had a seven-pitch inning, allowing a single by Molina. Fenway-hating Luke Scott pinch hit and hit the ball well, but McDonald tracked it down in front of the wall. Take that.

Beckett has thrown 81 pitches. Complete game, perhaps. Meanwhile, Beckett has at least one strikeout in all 280 games he has pitched. But none through seven innings today

Ellsbury update: Red Sox announce only that he has a "right shoulder injury" and will be evaluated further.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: Aviles reached on an error by Brignac with two outs. Shoppach singled him to third. Shoppach then stole the first base of his career on the first attempt of his career. Oh, that Bobby V.

Shoppach sort of fell then got up and fell again and landed on the base. It was all for naught when Sweeney popped to short.

Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: Beckett allowed a single by Joyce in what was otherwise a clean inning that took nine pitches. The shadow between the mound and the plate is working for him. So is his location. Beckett hasn't had a big fastball today but he's putting all his off-speed stuff right where he wants to.

He is at 74 pitches. Really impressive day for him so far.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: 1-2-3 inning for the second Rays reliever, Wade Davis.

Middle of the 5th: Rays 4, Red Sox 1: 1-2-3 inning for Beckett, who has retired 12 of the last 13 batters he has faced and is at an economical 65 pitches through five innings. Reports of his demise appear premature. Those pesky facts.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1: Shoppach had a one-out double off the wall in right center and scored on a single by Ellsbury. With Ellsbury running, Pedroia grounded right at second base. Brignac started the double play. Ellsbury was injured sliding into the bag and was slow getting up. It appeared that Brignac fell on Ellsbury's right shoulder.

Ellsbury has been taken out of the game. Ross is in center and Sweeney in right. No word on the injury as of yet. We'll keep you posted.

Middle of the 4th: Red Sox 3, Rays 1: Beckett worked around a one-out walk by Zobrist. He is at 58 pitches. Burke Badenhop now pitching for the Rays.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 3, Rays 1: Shoppach was hit by a 2-and-2 fastball. Ellsbury then hit the softest double you’ll ever see, a little flare over third base than kissed the grass near the foul line and rolled just far enough.

Pedroia walked on five pitches to load the bases. Gonzalez, down two strikes right away, knocked a 96-m.p.h. fastball into left field to drive in the first Fenway run of the season for the Sox. That's seven RBIs in seven games for Gonzo.

Youkilis, also behind in the count, delivered a sacrifice fly to right field. Ortiz was next. Price got ahead of him and got Ortiz to take a half-swing at a fastball on the outside corner. Ortiz made contact and hit a dribbler to the left side that was good enough for an RBI infield single.

Price’s 38th pitch of the inning was hit hard by Ross but turned into a inning-ending double play.

Middle of the 3rd: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Nice tidy eight-pitch inning for Beckett as he retires the side in order As Bob Ryan just pointed out, his ERA has plunged from 13.50 to 9.39.

Top of the 3rd: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Youkilis singled (to culminate an eight-pitch at-bat). Ortiz then walked on the eighth pitch he saw. First and second, nobody out and the Sox were in business, right?

Wrong. McDonald struck out looking on three pitches and Ross on four. Aviles then grounded to second. Price has thrown 45 pitches in two innings, however. The Sox are doing a much better job of grinding out at-bats today then they did Wednesday in Toronto against Ricky Romero.

Middle of the 2nd: Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Zobrist, who has one hit in 20 career at-bats against Beckett, swung at a two-strike curveball leading off the second inning and grounded up up the middle for a single.

With Keppinger up, Zobrist was running on the second pitch. As he took off, Keppinger lined a fastball down the third-base line. The ball rolled into the corner in left and Zobrist scored without a play.

Beckett limited the damage. Vogt grounded to second and, with the infield in, Molina grounded to shortstop. Brignac then grounded to shortstop to end the inning.

Top of the 2nd: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: The Sox went in order, but Price needed 19 pitches to do it as Ellsbury (5-3), Pedroia (F-8) and Gonzalez (K) worked good at-bats.

strong>Middle of the 1st: Rays 0, Red Sox coming up: Jennings lined to left. Pena then doubled off the wall, delighting the patrons from Haverhill. Longoria flied to left and Joyce flied to center. Seventeen pitches for Beckett, nine of them strikes.

Ready to go: The Sox take the field, Beckett is warming up and we're just about ready to go.

Play ball: Johnny Pesky just said "Play Ball!" with the whole team behind him.

First pitch: Here they are, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield in their jersey tops out from behind the flag. They're each throwing out a pitch. Dwight Evans is catching one and Jim Rice the other.

Big hugs for Wake and Tek from Youkilis and Ortiz and the other veterans. Nice moment for them.

Honoring America: There was a rousing anthem from the Boston Pops and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.

Cheers and boos: There was a mixed reception for Bobby Valentine. Dustin Pedroia and Big Papi got the loudest cheers. Josh Beckett got a lot of boos, more than Bobby V.

Huge cheers, of course, for 92-year-old Johnny Pesky.

Introducing the Sox: Big cheers for Carl Crawford, who's here taking a break from his rehab. He's in good spirits. The bench guys are getting introduced now.

Ceremonies begin: Loud boos for Luke Scott. Hopefully he didn't ask to see Fenway's birth certificate.

The Rays were introduced and now come the Sox.

Pre-game: Good afternoon from Fenway Park and the home opener. It's a beautiful day and the old ballpark looks pretty darn good for 100 years old.

There's a red carpet leading from the Red Sox dugout to the field. The photographers are ready to go and the fans are settling into their seats. There are freshly painted "Fenway 100" logos along the baselines.

I'm here in the press box sitting next to the great Bob Ryan. Dan Shaughnessy, Nick Cafardo, Michael Whitmer, Michael Vega and Chad Finn are on hand, too. Throw in the photographers and we have our own starting nine and a few extras for the bench.

Hang out here all afternoon for updates. We'll keep you posted.

Game over: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 1: The Red Sox made it interesting when Romero walked the first two batters. he got Adrian Gonzalez on a long fly ball to center field, but both runners advanced to scoring position. Pedroia made a daring move tagging up from first to get to second base. Jays manager John Farrell took Romero out and brought in his closer Sergio Santos, who blew the save in Game 1 of this series. Not this time. He struck out Kevin Youkilis. David Ortiz grounded out to second base. The Sox ended the trip, 1-5.

Bottom 8th: Jays 3, Red Sox 1: The Jays scored an insurance run and it was helped by a botched pickoff play. With two outs, Rajai Davis walked and was picked off first by Lester, but Adrian Gonzalez' throw was a little wide and Davis was able to avoid Mike Aviles' tag. Yunel Escobar singled him in.

Top 8th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: The Red Sox have run into tough pitching on this road trip, starting with Justin Verlander and ending with Ricky Romero, who has retired 17 straight.

Bottom 7th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Three fly ball outs. Other than a tough third inning, he's been perfect. Thirteen straight retired by Lester.

Top 7th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: This has turned out every bit as good as the matchup would indicate. Romero and Lester matching each other. Both guys are dealing and working quickly. Romero has retired 14 straight.

Bottom 6th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: It would be a shame if Lester lost or didn't get a decision in his second straight game. He's pitched well enough again today. He's retired 10 straight batters and right now the Jays can't touch him. Bautista took a called third strike to end the inning.

Top 6th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Romero retired the top of the Sox order quickly. Gonzalez drove the ball to rightcenter, but Bautista caught up to it. Romero has certainly found himself again.

Bottom 5th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Lester struck out two at the bottom of the Jays order en route to another 1-2-3 inning.

Top 5th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Brett Lawrie makes a great diving grab of a Cody Ross liner which seemed to be headed for a single to left. Eight consecutive Sox batters have been retired.

Bottom 4th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Lester retires the side in order. Brett Lawrie nearly hustled his grounder to third into an infield hit, as he was less than a half-step of beating it out.

Top 4th: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Youkilis, Ortiz and McDonald retired in order by Romero, who has retired five straight.

Bottom 3rd: Jays 2, Red Sox 1: Both Romero and Lester seemed to hit a wall in the third inning after breezing through the first two. Rajai Davis was only 2-for-14 career vs. Lester, but his triple to the rightfield corner scored Eric Thames to tie the game after Thames had singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Yunel Escobar's sacrifice fly scored Davis with the go-ahead run. Kelly Johnson then walked with two outs and advanced on Kelly Shoppach's passed ball. Lester finally retired Jose Bautista on a weak grounder to first.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 1, Jays 0: Jacoby Ellsbury finally did something productive with a lined single to the opposite field scoring Mike Aviles. The Sox put the first batters on when Cody Ross and Mike Aviles singled. Bobby Valentine had Kelly Shoppach try to move the runners along with a bunt, but catcher J.P. Arencibia threw Ross out at third. Ellsbury was 2-for-21 before his base hit. The Sox stranded two runners, however, as Dustin Pedroia struck out and Adrian Gonzalez grounded out.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Jays 0: Lester went to 3-2 with Edwin Encarnacion before striking him out. Ben Francisco and Brett Lawrie grounded out. Lester has matched Romero - six up, six down.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Jays 0: Romero has been very efficient. Two ground balls and a foul ball out to third. He's retired six straight.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Jays 0: Jon Lester mowed down the Jays in the bottom of the inning.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Jays 0: The Ricky Romero-Jon Lester matchup is underway. Jacoby Ellsbury looks horrible at the plate. As we've said, pitchers are throwing him a steady diet of breaking balls after his MVP-like season. Ellsbury was fishing for an off-speed pitch as he struck out to open the game. He's now hitting under .100. Pedroia, who is playing with a sore shoulder, sent one to the deepest part of center field for the first out and Adrian Gonzales flew out to deep left. Romero was 2-2 with a 6.56 ERA in four starts vs. Boston last season and is 4-6 with a 7.12 ERA overall. He did beat the Sox last Sept. 14 when everyone was beating them.

Game over: Jays 7, Red Sox 3: It's over here in Toronto. The Red Sox lose again to drop to 1-4. A very anemic offense tonight until the ninth when the Sox scored twice. The Sox did their damage after two outs. Punto singled, Ellsbury walked, and Pedroia singled to load the bases against Casey Janssen. Gonzalez stroked a ground-rule double just inside the line in right field to knock in a pair of runs. But Ortiz struck out with two runners on to end it.

Bottom 8th: Jays 7, Red Sox 1: Bowden struck out two batters and allowed an infield hit in his second inning of relief.

Top 8th: Jays 7, Red Sox 1: Two more hits (Pedroia and Youkilis), no more runs.

Bottom 7th: Jays 7, Red Sox 1: Encarnacion homered against Michael Bowden with two outs.

Top 7th: Jays 6, Red Sox 1: The Sox had two baserunners but could do nothing to get them in.

Bottom 6th: Jays 6, Red Sox 1: One thing that was evident as Bard started getting his pitch count into the 90s, his velocity had decreased by 2-3 miles per hour. Encarnacion walked and stole second base to start the inning and Lawrie reached on an infield hit to put runners at the corners. Valentine yanked him and Bard didn't seem happy. Lefty Justin Thomas came on. After a stolen base, Thomas walked lefthanded hitting Eric Thames to load the bases. Arencibia singled to score a pair of runs and Rasmus hit a sac fly.

Top 6th: Jays 3, Red Sox 1: The Sox broke through with a run when Ellsbury walked and went to third on Pedroia's double to leftcenter. Ellsbury scored on Adrian Gonzalez' sac fly. On the play, Pedroia hustled to third with one out, just barely beating the throws (which would have nailed him had Lawrie held on to the ball). Drabek exited after he walked Ortiz, and righty Jason Frasor came on to pitch. The Sox could have and should have had more, but Youkilis grounded into a double play to end the rally.

Bottom 5th: Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Bard continues to own Bautista (0 for 9, 4 strikeouts) in the regular season and dominating him in two starts vs. the Jays in spring training. Bard retired the Jays in order and has retired the last seven batters.

Top 5th: Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Sox squander a Cody Ross one-out double to left center.

Bottom 4th: Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Strong inning for Bard who retired the No. 8 and 9 hitters and struck out Escobar.

Top 4th: Jays 3, Red Sox 0<:/strong> Drabek has retired eight straight after the middle of the Sox order - Gonzalez, Ortiz, and Youkilis - went down.