Final, Red Sox 7 ,Blue Jays 5: Although he said he'd check to see how Koji Uehara was feeling before sending him out to shut the door for a third straight day, John Farrell always seemed pretty confident that Uehara could do it without any issues -- and he did.

He caught Maicer Izturis staring at a fastball. Then after Emilio Bonifacio put up a fight that lasted eight pitches, he got him to chase a splitter, down and away. To close it, he got Jose Reyes to bounce out to Jose Iglesias at short.

That makes in nine straight scoreless appearances for Uehara.

With the win, the Sox are 16 games over .500 for the first time since 2011.

The Red Sox opened their nine game home stand by pounding the Colorado Rockies, 11-4. Jacoby Ellsbury (3 for 5, three runs), Dustin Pedroia (3 for 5, three RBIs) and Jose Iglesias (3 for 5, two RBIs and a run) poured it on for the Sox, who came in having lost four of their past five games.

In easily his shortest outing of the season, Rockies starter Juan Nicasio was roughed up by the Sox, who tagged him for seven runs on 12 hits over a disastrous 2.1 innings.

Meanwhile, with the Sox offense clicking, Ryan Dempster was able to work comfortably through six innings, giving up just two runs on six hits while striking out four to up his record to 5-8.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (45-33)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava LF
Saltalamacchia C
Drew SS
Iglesias 3B
Pitching: RHP Ryan Dempster (4-8, 4.23).

ROCKIES (39-38)
Fowler CF
LeMahieu 2B
Gonzalez LF
Cuddyer RF
Helton 1B
Rosario C
Dickerson DH
Arenado 3B
Herrera SS
Pitching: RHP Juan Nicasio (4-3, 4.78).

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Nicasio: No history.

Rockies vs. Dempster: Helton 10-24, Gonzalez 5-9, Fowler 2-5, Herrera 0-2, Torrealba 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Since starting 20-8, the Sox are 25-25.

Notes: The Sox have lost two straight and 4 of 5. They start a nine-game homestand with a 2.5-game lead in the division. ... The Sox are 2-2 in interleague games this season, all against the Phillies. ... Ryan Dempster is 2-3 in his last five starts despite a 3.48 ERA. He is 5-4, 6.96 in 18 career appearances against the Rockies, the last coming in 2011. ... Juan Nicasio is facing the Red Sox for the first time in his career. ... Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer enters the game with a 21-game hit streak, the longest in the majors this season and the longest for the Rockies since 1999. Cuddyer is 32 of 87 (.368) in the streak. He has reached base in 40 consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors this season. ... Jose Iglesias has reached base in 26 consecutive games. ... Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in 19 of his last 22 games at 37 of 97 (.381) with 19 run scored. The hot streak has raised his batting average from .278 to .289. ... David Ortiz is 12 of his last 28. ... The Sox are 3 of their last 24 with runner in scoring position. ... Andrew Bailey's last 6 games: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 4 HR.

Song of the Day: "Good Times Bad Times" by Led Zeppelin.

Good morning. Here's a preview of today's doubleheader.

GAME 1
RED SOX (42-29)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava LF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (3-1, 5.58)

RAYS (36-33)
Joyce LF
Jennings CF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Myers RF
Scott DH
Molina C
Escobar SS
Pitching: RHP Chris Archer (1-2, 4.80)

Game time: 1:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Archer: Ellsbury 4-4, Nava 1-4, Pedroia 1-5, Salty 0-3, Carp 1-2, Drew 0-2, Iglesias 0-1, Middlebrooks 0-1, Napoli 0-2, Ortiz 0-1.

Rays vs. Aceves: Longoria 1-9, Zobrist 1-10, Rodriguez 1-9, Scott 0-9, Jennings 2-7, Joyce 1-8, Escobar 2-6, Johnson 0-6, Molina 1-5, Fuld 1-3, Lobaton 0-2, Loney 0-3.

GAME 2
Red Sox starter: LHP Felix Doubront (4-3, 4.91)

Rays starter: Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 8.03)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Odorizzi: No history

Rays vs. Doubront: Zobrist 3-13, Escobar 4-12, Johnson 3-11, Longoria 3-8, Rodriguez 3-11, Jennings 2-8, Scott 3-8, Loney 1-5, Joyce 1-2, Lobaton 0-2, Molina 0-0.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox lead MLB in runs (363), but are only 16th in runs scored in day games (102).

Notes: The Red Sox have lost three of their last four, but still lead the AL East by two games. The Rays are five games behind the Red Sox ... Rays prospect Wil Myers will make his MLB debut in Boston. The outfielder had a .354 batting average with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs in his last 23 games in Triple A ... The Rays are among the major league leaders in batting average with runners in scoring position at .294, though they've hit just .141 in those moments while losing seven of nine to the Red Sox this season ... Jim Rice, Peter Gammons, Tom Caron, and Rob Bradford, in that order, will fill in for Jerry Remy on the next four Red Sox game broadcasts on NESN.

Material from Stats Inc. included in this report.

Good morning and Happy Father's Day. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (42-28)
Ellsbury CF
Iglesias 2B
Nava LF
Ortiz DH
Gomes LF
Carp 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Middkebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (6-3, 4.12).

ORIOLES (39-30)
Markakis RF
Machado 3B
Hardy SS
Jones CF
Davis 1B
Wieters C
Valencia DH
Pearce LF
Casilla 2B
Pitching: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (4-2, 3.71).

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Gonzalez: Pedroia 2-8, Saltalamacchia 1-5, Nava 2-4, Ellsbury 1-3, Iglesias 1-3, Ortiz 0-1, Middlebrooks 0-1.

Orioles vs. Lester: Markakis 11-55, Jones 11-42, Wieters 13-34, Hardy 6-15, Davis 0-13, Valencia 1-9, Casilla 0-6, Pearce 0-4, McLouth 0-4, Teagarden 0-4, Machado 0-3.

Stat of the Day: Baltimore relievers have walked one and struck out 23 in 23.2 innings against the Red Sox this season. They have a 1.52 ERA.

Notes: The Sox lost two of the first three games of the series and are 3-3 on a road trip that ends today. ... Lester is 0-3, 6.90 in his last three starts. But the Orioles are a team he has owned. He is 14-1, 2.63 in 21 career starts against Baltimore; 7-0, 2.52 in 10 starts at Camden Yards. He did lose his last start against the O's, however. That was last Sept. 21. ... Gonzalez is a former Red Sox minor leaguer (2010-2011) who was signed by the Orioles as a free agent when they saw him pitch in the Mexican Winter League. He is 13-6, 3.43 in 29 appearances over two seasons, 2-0, 2.76 in three games (two starts) against the Sox. ... The Sox are 21-28 against the Orioles since Buck Showalter became Baltimore's manager. That includes losses in 23 of the last 33 games and 13 of the last 18. ... The Sox are 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position in each of their last four games. ... Koji Uehara has struck out the last six batters he has faced over a four game stretch. ... Iglesias has a 16-game hitting streak, matching the longest in the majors by a rookie this season. He is 25 of 57 (.439) in the streak with six extra-base hits, five RBIs, eight runs scored and six walks. ... Pedroia (3 of 19) and Ortiz (3 of 22) are slumping a bit. ... Gomes is 8 of his last 17. ... The Sox have not taken two straight from the Orioles since July 7-10, 2011 when they won four in a row. ... The Sox are a major-league best 14-6 in day games.

Song of the Day: "Father and Son" by Johnny Cash (with Fiona Apple).

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (40-26)
Ellsbury CF
Nava RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Carp LF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (2-1, 6.57).

RAYS (35-29)
Joyce RF
Zobrist 2B
Johnson LF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Scott DH
Lobaton C
Escobar SS
Pitching: RHP Chris Archer (1-1, 4.91).

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Archer: Ellsbury 3-3, Pedroia 0-3, Iglesias 0-1, Nava 0-1, Saltalamacchia 0-1.

Rays vs. Aceves: Rodriguez 1-9, Longoria 0-7, Zobrist 0-7, Scott 0-7, Jennings 2-5, Joyce 0-6, Molina 1-5, Escobar 1-4, Fuld 1-3, Johnson 0-3, Lobaton 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Rays have hit eight home runs in the series, the Red Sox none.

Notes: The rubber game of the series will feature Aceves, who was called up from Pawtucket for the start and could well be going right back afterward Aceves made a spot start against the Phillies May 27. He allowed one run over six innings ... Aceves is 4-2, 4.73 in 13 career starts, and 2-1, 2.39 in 19 career appearances (all in relief) against the Rays ... Archer is making his third start of the season. The 24-year-old faced the Red Sox last Sept. 19 and allowed three runs over five innings ... The Sox are 6-2 against the Rays this season ... Saltalamacchia is 6 of his last 11 with seven RBIs and three extra-base hits, and 15 of his last 37 with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBIs in his last nine ... Drew is 4 of his last 22 with 12 strikeouts ... Sox pitchers have allowed 16 runs on 27 hits over 22 innings in this series ... Ellsbury has reached safely in his last 15 games, has a 10-game hit streak, and has scored a run in his last nine games.

Song of the Day: "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead.

Good morning. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (37-25)
Ellsbury CF
Nava RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Carp LF
Drew SS
Iglesias 3B
Pitching: RHP Ryan Dempster (3-6, 4.39)

ANGELS (27-34)
Trout CF
Hamilton RF
Pujols DH
Trumbo 1B
Kendrick 2B
Callaspo 3B
Aybar SS
Iannetta C
Shuck LF
Pitching: RHP Joe Blanton (1-9, 5.53)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Notes: In his last 50 games against the Angels prior to this series, David Ortiz has hit .326 (60/184) with 17 homers and 47 RBI ... Daniel Nava ranks third among major-league switch-hitters with an .871 OPS (minimum 3.1 PA per team game), and he is second with 38 RBI (Carlos Beltran -- 40). ... Mark Trumbo is hitting .342 (27/79) in the seventh inning and later this season, fourth in the American League (minimum 75 PA). In five lifetime games at Fenway Park, Trumbo is hitting .316 (6/19) with three homers and eight RBI.

Notes provided by Stats Inc.

Game over: Red Sox 7, Angels 2: The Sox snapped their nine-game losing streak to the Angels by winning this one. Tazawa allowed a leadoff hit but pitched an otherwise flawless final inning. Big storyline after the game will be to assess what happens to Buchholz, who left the game with neck tightness. Is it serious? Will it cause him to miss his next start? Updates will be posted to Extra Bases later.

Bottom of the 8th: Red Sox 7, Angels 2: Gomes pops out, Pedroia grounds out but Ortiz reaches second on a fielding error -- though it was a tough play. The ball was high and long down the left field line, and right under the lights, to boot. The inning ends, though, with Napoli striking out swinging. It appears Breslow -- 1.1 scoreless innings -- will be done and Tazawa will come in to close this out.

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 7, Angels 2: Buchholz is taken out of the game in the middle of the inning, showered by cheers from the crowd. His final line: 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 K and 1 BB. He threw 104 pitches, 77 for strikes, and obviously is in line for the win, should the Sox hang on. Breslow secures the final out.

Bottom of the 6th: Red Sox 7, Angels 2: Wilson, who allowed three earned runs on eight hits in five innings, is done for the night. Jerome Williams in to pitch. Iglesias continues his career-long hitting streak to 12 games as he leads off with a single -- and makes it to second a few minutes later as Trumbo misses a catch at first (error). Victorino works a full count, but swings and misses for a strikeout. Gomes pops out to the infield and Pedroia, with a full count, singles on a line drive to score Iglesias. And then Ortiz -- who else? -- blows this one open by sending a ball (0-1 pitch) to right field for his second homer in the past three games. His 12th of the season. Napoli grounds ou tto end the inning.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 4, Angels 2:Buchholz surrendered a leadoff double to Hamilton and was tagged for a run when Hamilton scored on a sac fly. He also experienced a scary moment as a ball hit his arm. After an injury delay though, and Buchholz shaking it off insisting to trainers he was fine, the pitcher finishes strong. He uses a 91 mph fastball to strike out Hawe to end the inning.

Bottom of the 5th: Red Sox 4, Angels 1: Ortiz grounds out. Napoli singles then advances to second on a throwing error. Nava flies out before Ross has a bloop hit to center field whihc scores Napoli. Drew strikes out for the third time tonight to end the inning.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 3, Angels 1: Buchholz, too, produces a 1-2-3 inning. Victorino catches another fly ball in center -- this one much easier.

Bottom of the 4th: Red Sox 3, Angels 1: A 10-pitch, 1-2-3 inning (Victorino, Gomes and Pedroia retired) for Wilson -- his shortest yet.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 3, Angels 1: Fresh off the DL, Victorino doesn't seem to be having trouble running. He tracks down Kendrick's long fly ball in center field, using great speed to make the catch. Buccholz strikes out Hawe and ends the inning with a remarkably athletic play. He misplays a Callaspo chopper to the infield, bobbling it while falling to the ground, but has the wherewithal to tag the runner before he hit the bag -- while he's still on the ground.

Bottom of the 3rd: Red Sox 3, Angels 1: The crowd gives a nice ovation to Bill Lee, shown on the big screen between innings. Nava singles and advances to second on a David Ross. Drew works the count against Wilson and as his pitch count nears 70 there appears to be movement in the Angels bullpen. One pitch from Wilson is awfully close to Drew's head, but the eight-pitch at bat ends with Drew caught looking at a slider. Nava is stranded on second as Iglesias flies out to center.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 3, Angels 1: Conger leads off with a double and advances to third on a groundout by Aybar, who worked a 10-pitch at bat. A Trout line drive skips over Napoli's reach and scores Conger. Hamilton lines out. The crowd cheers as Pujols -- who has worked a full count -- seemingly strikes out, but the home plate ump says the ball is tipped. Pujols ends up walking. Trumbo sends one deep to center field but it is caught, and the inning is over.

Bottom of the 2nd: Red Sox 3, Angels 0: Back-to-back groundouts from Iglesias and Victorino begin the inning, but these Sox haven't gone away quietly today. Gomes singles, Pedroia walks and Ortiz drills an RBI double to left field to give the Sox another run. Ortiz hit the first pitch he saw. Inning ends with a Napoli strikeout but something to keep an eye on: Wilson is already at 56 pitches through just two innings. The Angels used four relievers in the earlier game today.

Top of the 2nd: Red Sox 2, Angels 0: Boston gets revenge on Mike Trumbo, who punished the Red Sox with a two-out hit in the seventh which kept the inning alive (and began the unraveling of Franklin Morales). Here, in Game 2, Buchholz strikes out Trumbo to begin the second. Kendrick singles, but Buccholz rebounds by striking out Hawpe on a 92 mph fastball. Callaspo flies out to end the inning.

Bottom of the 1st: Red Sox 2, Angels 0: Welcome back to the lineup, Shane Victorino. Fresh off the disabled list, the center fielder leads off with a single to left field. The Red Sox stranded 14 runners on base in the first game today, going 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position overall. They're off to a much better start. Jonny Gomes doubles off the left field wall to send Victorino home, then Pedroia doubles to score Gomes. Ortiz flies out and Napoli strikes out but Nava walks to keep the inning alive. David Ross walks, too, and Wilson's pitch count is already at 27. With bases loaded, Drew strikes out to end the inning.

Top of the 1st: Angels 0, Red Sox 0:A 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz, retiring Trout (pop out), Hamilton (groundout) and Pujols (pop out) with just eight pitches, six of them strikes. Doesn't get much better than that.

Pregame: Emily Kaplan back at Fenway Park for the night cap of Saturday's doubleheader between the Angels and Red Sox. Los Angeles won the first game, 9-5. This should be good pitching matchup as Clay Buchholz (8-0, 1.62 ERA) looks to remain perfect while C.J. Wilson (4-4, 3.93) makes his first career appearance at Fenway Park. Big news, of course, is that Shane Victorino is activated from the disabled list. Look for him to play center field tonight. Stay tuned for updates.

Note: Due to technical difficulties, we were not able to update the live blog during this afternoon. The problem has been solved and we will update Game 2 of the doubleheader as it unfolds. Here is the rundown of what happened in game one:

Game over: Angels 9, Red Sox 5: Well, the Sox made it interesting -- though not many fans were left at Fenway Park to see it. Pedroia and Ortiz post back-to-back groundouts to begin the inning. With two outs, Napoli and Saltalamacchia post back-to-back singles to give the Red Sox -- who have struggled with runners in scoring position all day -- some life. And then Mike Carp, who hit a home run earlier, singles on a line drive to center field, sending Napoli home. Drew doubles off the Green Monster for two more runs and Iglesias singles -- and steals second -- to keep the inning alive.

Ernesto Frieri replaces Garrett Richards on the mound, but the inning ends with Ellsbury striking out. Time of game: Four hours, even. The teams will get back at it soon for the nightcap.

Top of the 9th: Angels 9, Red Sox 2:Clayton Mortenson, who came in to relieve Morales, is tagged for two more runs (one earned). Fenway is emptying out. Not many will be on hand as the Sox attempt for last licks.

Top of the 7th: Angles 7, Red Sox 2: And it all unravels for the Red Sox, largely because of Franklin Morales. The oft-injured reliever intentionally walked Pujols to get runners on first and second with two outs. The move does not payoff as Trumbo doubles. Franklin's day ends by walking his final three batters, the last two with bases loaded (on a combined eight pitches). His final line is .2 IP, 4 ER, 4 BB and 0 K.

Bottom of the 6th: Angels 3, Red Sox 2:Hanson's day is done after 114 pitches (four walks, four strikeouts, one home run to Mike Carp). Iglesias leads off with a walk but Ellsbury grounds into a force out. Though Nava singles, Pedroia grounds into a double play to end the inning.

Top of the 5th: Angels 3, Red Sox 2: Doubront is having a bit of trouble locating his fastball. He walks Shuck to lead off the inning.

Bottom of the 4th: Angels 3, Red Sox 2: The Red Sox get on the board after Carp, down 1-2 in the count, sends one over the right field wall. His fifth homer of the year. Drew and Iglesias both pop out. Ellsbury draws a walk, steals second, then scores on a Nava line drive to right field. Hamilton fumbles the play and Nava advances to second on the error. Nava advances to third on a wild pitch, Pedroia walks and there’s activity in the Los Angeles bullpen. But Ortiz grounds out to end the inning.

Top of the 4th: Angels 3, Red Sox 0: Doubront retires the Angels in order. He only throw 10 pitches and struck out Iannetta on an 82 mile per hour changeup.

Bottom of the 3rd: Angels 3, Red Sox 0: More RISP for the Sox as Nava and Pedroia lead with back-to-back singles. Big cheers as Thursday night’s star David Ortiz steps up to plate. He strikes out. Then Napoli strikes out. Saltalamacchia takes his first pitch and doesn’t do much to it -- a soft pop out to third base to end the inning. Sox now 0-for-8 with RISP.

Top of the 3rd: Angels 3, Red Sox 0: The great Mike Trout doubles off the Green Monster to begin the third. This is his fourth trip here -- he hit .429 at Fenway in his past three appearances. Josh Hamilton walks bringing Albert Pujols to the plate with runners on first and second with no outs. Make that runners on second as third as Trout and Hamilton pull off a double steal. Pujols smacks one just foul of the left field wall, but settles for a sac fly to center. Trumbo grounds out, but sends home Hamilton. Kendrick f lies out to end the inning. Pitch count for Doubront: 55 (36 strikes).

Bottom of 2nd: Angels 1, Red Sox 0: Jarrod Saltalamacchia leads off with a walk -- the catcher’s first walk in the past nine games. Mike Carp flies out to center but Stephen Drew also walks giving Boston runners in scoring position again (they were 0-for-2 in the first). Saltalamacchia reaches third on a Jose Iglesias fly out but stays there as Ellsbury grounds out. Boston is 12-20 when opponents score first this season and 0-for-5 with RISP today. Tommy Hanson isn’t doing too great. Just 20 of his 41 pitches are for strikes and of his 21 fastballs, only nine are strikes.

Top of the 2nd: Angels 1, Red Sox 0: A two out, RBI single by Erick Aybar puts the Angles on the board. Doubront rebounds by striking out J.B. Shuck (third strike he was caught looking on a 91 mph fastball). Doubront had an up and down start to the season (he was taken out of the rotation after a poor start on May 3). He showed signs of turning it around over his past three starts, going 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA, striking out 17 and limiting opponents to a .242 average in that span. See if he can build off that or regresses to his early season struggles.

Bottom of the 1st: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: A leadoff single by Jacoby Ellsbury (and subsequent steal) doesn’t amount to anything as he’s picked off at third on a fielder’s choice. Dustin Pedroia doubles to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, but the inning ends with David Ortiz -- a spectator at last night’s Bruins game -- striking out and Mike Napoli grounding out. Ellsbury also has a hitting streak -- seven games now. He’s hitting .551 in that stretch.

Top of the 1st: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: Felix Doubront (4-2, 4.88 ERA) with a 15-pitch first inning (10 were strikes). He consistently hit 90-91 miles per hour on his fastball and coaxed the great Mike Trout into a groundout to begin the inning.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (36-24)
Ellsbury CF
Gomes LF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava RF
Ross C
Iglesias SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (6-2, 3.53).

RANGERS (36-22)
Andrus SS
Murphy LF
Berkman 1B
Beltre 3B
Cruz RF
Pierzynski C
Baker DH
Gentry CF
Profar 2B
Pitching: LHP Derek Holland (5-2, 2.81).

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Holland: Ellsbury 5-15, Pedroia 2-17, Ortiz 3-11, Napoli 3-9, Gomes 1-7, Ciriaco 3-7, Carp 1-4, Drew 1-3, Saltalamacchia 0-3.

Rangers vs. Lester: Andrus 5-22, Beltre 7-22, Cruz 10-19, Pierzynski 4-16, Murphy 3-11, Baker 6-8, Berkman 1-6, Gentry 1-3, Soto 1-3.

Stat of the Day: Pedroia has played 60 games without an error, the longest such streak by a Red Sox second baseman to start a season.

Notes: The teams with the two best records in the American League split the first two games of the series ... Ellsbury returns to the lineup after a five-game absence ... Lester has been a little off in his last three starts (19.1 IP, 23 H, 13 ER) and could use a rebound game. He is 3-3, 4.57 in 11 career starts against the Rangers. That includes facing the Rangers in Texas on May 4. He allowed three runs in five innings in that game ... Holland bamboozled the Red Sox on May 3 in Texas. His line: 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K. He is 5-1, 2.41 in six career starts against the Sox ... The Sox are 1-4 against Texas this year, and have losses in 10 of their last 13 meetings and 29 of the last 42 ... Iglesias has hit safely in nine straight games at 13 of 33 with four extra-base hits and five RBIs ... Daniel Nava has hit .364/.375/.591 in five games at leadoff, with six runs ... Pedroia has hit in nine straight at 11 of 35. That actually dropped his batting average from .333 to.330.

Song of the Day: "Vacation" by the Go-Go's.

With a four-run eighth inning, the Red Sox rallied to take their second straight game from the Cleveland Indians 7-4.

After smashing a three-run homer in Friday night's win, Mike Carp came on to pinch hit and roped an RBI double to left. Then Dustin Pedroia (2 for 4) followed up with an run-scoring double of his own to put the Sox ahead.

On an afternoon when rainy conditions made things difficult in the field, the Sox caught a break. After David Ortiz was intentionally walked, Daniel Nava popped one up to shallow left but both shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and left fiedler Michael Brantley lost it. It dropped in allowing Pedroia and Ortiz to score, giving the Sox insurance.

Jon Lester struck out eight in seven innings, but didn't factor into the decision. Junichi Tazawa (4-2) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless eighth, and Andrew Bailey earned his sixth save, pitching pitched a clean ninth.

Final: Red Sox 8, Indians 1: After absorbing a 12-3 beatdown in the first game of this four-game series against the Indians, the Red Sox bounced back in a huge way Friday night before a rain-soaked Fenway Park crowd of 34,074.

After a rain delay of some 44 minutes, the Sox took the field and got seven strong innings from John Lackey and a four-run eruption in the seventh inning that broke the game wide open.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 8, Indians 1: Vinnie Pestano entered the game in the frame in relief of Matt Albers and retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion.

Alfredo Aceves, the recalcitrant reliever who was banished to Pawtucket then summoned Friday to bolster the bullpen, was summoned to start the ninth to close it out for the Sox.

Top 8th: Red Sox 8, Indians 1: Yeoman's effort by Lackey, who submitted his fourth quality start of the season. Lackey handed it over to Koji Uehara, who gave up a lead-off double to Michael Brantley, but stranded him at third to keep the Indians in check.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 8, Indians 1: Jose Iglesias, called up from Triple-A Pawtucket Friday after the Sox placed third baseman Will Middlebrooks (low back strain on the 15-day disabled list, came through with a single to left that loaded the bases for Jacoby Ellsbury.

Ellsbury, who had hit .500 (2-for-4) this season with the bases loaded, came up and delivered a clutch 2-RBI single to right off left reliever Rich Hill, who entered the game after Justin Masterson gave up a lead-off double to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Hill then hit pinch-hitter Johnny Gomes on the leg before striking out Stephen Drew (swinging) with a 72 slider.

Iglesias set the table for Ellsbury, whose two-run hit gave him 5 RBIs for the season with the bases loaded.

After Daniel Nava popped to third base for the second out of the inning, Indians manager Terry Francona drew a rousing cheer (for the second time in as many pitching changes) when he went out to summon Matt Albers from the bullpen.

Dustin Pedroia greeted Albers with a hard-hit, 2-RBI single to right that drove in Iglesias and Ellsbury for a seven-run lead.

Uehara entered the game in the top of the eighth in relief of Lackey (7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K).

Top 7th: Red Sox 4, Indians 1: John Lackey departed to a thunderous ovation after he struck out Mark Reynolds with an 86 cutter to retire the side. It was Lackey's eighth strikeout of the game after throwing a season-high 109 pitches.

It was probably Lackey's last inning of the night, especially when Koji Uehara began warming up for the Sox in the bottom of the seventh.

Bottom 6th, Red Sox 4, Indians 1: Sox pushed across an insurance run on Mike Napoli's bases-loaded fielder's choice that scored Daniel Nava, who reached after getting hit by a pitch. David Ortiz, who loaded the bases with his bloop single to shallow left, was forced out at second and Dustin Pedroia, who singled to left, wound up getting thrown out at home by Nick Swisher for the inning-ending 6-4, 3-2 double play.

Top 6th, Red Sox 3, Indians 1: Lackey showcased his ability to field his position when he made the first putout of the inning -- from his knees, no less -- when he chased down Michael Bourn's infield dribbler and threw him out at first.

After walking Jason Kipnis, snapping his string of eight consecutive retired batters, Lackey got Asdrubal Cabrera to line out to first and then struck out Nick Swisher (swinging) with a 93 fastball that illicited a show of emotion from Lackey, who pumped his fist as he left the mound.

Top 5th: Red Sox 3, Indians 1: Lackey continues to cruise, despite having to contend with inclement conditions. He sandwiched a pair of strikeouts of Mark Reynolds (93 fastball) and Drew Stubbs (86 cutter) around a Michael Brantley ground out to short to make quick work of the Indians.

Lackey has five strikeouts through the first five innings.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 3, Indians 1: No heavy lifting for Masterson in this 1-2-3 inning as he retired David Ortiz (ground out to first), Mike Napoli (strikeout looking), and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (ground out to third) in order.

Masterson threw 66 pitches, 40 strikes, through the first four innings, nearly matching his Boston counterpart, Lackey, who threw 65 pitches (42 strikes) over that same stretch.

Top 4th: Red Sox 3, Indians 1: Quick inning for Lackey, who needed only 10 pitches to retire the side in order.

Bottom 3d: Red Sox 3, Indians 1: Masterson kept the Sox in check after giving up a one-out single to right by Daniel Nava. Dustin Pedroia came up and helped Masterson's cause by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 3d: Red Sox 3, Indians 1: Mark Reynolds, who reached on a lead-off single to left, got one back for the Indians when he went to second on Michael Brantley's base hit and then stole third, drawing an errant throw from Saltalamacchia, who air mailed it into left field. Score Salty with an error and the Indians with an unearned first run.

Lackey, who labored in the inning after throwing 27 pitches, wound up getting Asdrubal Cabrera to ground out to first to end the inning.

Bottom 2d: Red Sox 3, Indians 0: Left fielder Mike Carp belted a three-run homer to the Sox bullpen, driving a 1-and-1 slider from Masterson deep to right field. Carp snapped an 0-for-21 slump with his third homer of the season.

Carp pushed across David Ortiz, who drew a lead-off walk, went to second on Mike Napoli's single to center. Ortiz tagged up and went to third on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's flyball out to right, setting the stage for Carp to clear the bases.

Top 2d: Indians 0, Red Sox 0: Nice glove work by Dustin Pedroia, who made a diving stab of Jason Giambi's sharply-struck groundball up the middle. Pedroia made the stop, then flipped the ball to short stop Stephen Drew for the force out at second on Carlos Santana, who drew a one-out walk. Drew turned the 4-6-3 double play on Giambi at first to end the inning.

Bottom 1st: Indians 0, Red Sox 0: Justin Masterson (why can the Sox get guys like him?) was equally as efficient as he retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion, striking out lead-off hitter Jacoby Ellsbury before inducing both Daniel Nava and Dustin Pedroia to hit ground outs to first base.

Top 1st: Indians 0, Red Sox 0: After a 44-minute delay of the scheduled 7:10 p.m. start, Lackey was first out of the Red Sox dugout to take the field at 7:54 p.m. Lackey worked quickly and efficiently in poor conditions, retiring the top of the Indians order in 1-2-3 fashion with a pair of strikeouts.

Pregame: Greetings from a rain-soaked Fenway Park where Friday night's game between the Red Sox and the visiting Indians has been delayed until 7:50 p.m. The Sox will send RHP John Lackey (2-4, 3.31 ERA) to the mound to oppose RHP Justin Masterson (7-2, 2.83 ERA). We're up in the press box at Fenway, trying to dry out after a soaking walk from the media lot to the park, hoping you stay warm and dry.

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

Final: Cleveland 12, Red Sox 3 That's it from Fenway Park, where the Indians made Terry Francona's return as an opposing manager a triumphant one in a 12-3 romp over the Red Sox before a crowd of 35,254.

Bottom 7th: Indians 12, Red Sox 3: Scott Barnes entered the game in relief of Cody Allen and retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion. The skies opened up. The Bruins lost in New York in Game 4. And the Sox were hopelessly out of this one. Not a good night in Beantown.

Junichi Tazawa was summoned in the eighth to relieve Craig Breslow.

Top 7th: Indians 12, Red Sox 3: Craig Breslow helps turn a 1-6-3 double play to help his cause after hit puts runners on the corners with a one-out walk to Carlos Santana, who drew his fourth walk in as many at-bats, and a single to left by Mark Reynolds (3-for-3 with a walk and 3 RBIs).

Bottom 6th: Indians 12, Red Sox 3: Indians righty reliever Cord Allen retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion, striking out the first two batters he faced: Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

A loud boo erupted in the stands at 9:46 p.m., but it wasn't aimed at the Red Sox. It was a reaction to the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the Rangers in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.

Alex Wilson (1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 K) gave way to Craig Breslow in the top of the 7th.

Top 6th: Indians 12, Red Sox 3: After Carlos Santana drew his third walk in his third consecutive at-bat, it spelled the end of Clayton Mortensen's night, who handed the baton to Alex Wilson with none out and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth.

The Indians broke out the whuppin' stick on Wilson, who gave up an RBI single to Mark Reynolds (giving him 3 RBIs for the game) and a two-run double to left by catcher Yan Gomes that gave the Indians a six-run lead.

Drew Stubbs rifled a two-run triple over the head of Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, making it 11-3 before Michael Bourn ripped an RBI single to right, scoring Stubbs to make it 12-3.

Wilson struck out Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera to extricate himself from the messy sixth.

Cody Allen relieved Zach McAllister in the bottom of the sixth. McAllister went five innings, allowed three runs on five hits (including a three-run homer) and three walks while striking out five batters. He threw 96 pitches, 61 strikes.

Bottom 5th: Indians 6, Red Sox 3: McAllister struggled in this frame, walking Daniel Nava after recording a punchout of lead-off hitter Jacoby Ellsbury, then throwing a wild pitch to David Ortiz to put Nava on second.

McAllister, whose pitch count rose to 96 pitches after five innings, ended the inning when he induced Ortiz to ground to third. Seemed to be McAllister's last out of the night with all the action going on in Cleveland's bullpen.

Top 5th: Indians 6, Red Sox 3: Michael Bourn hit an RBI single to right, scoring Mike Aviles, who hit an infield single that ricocheted off Mortensen and stole second.

The biggest cheer of the inning came when the Bruins scored their third goal of the night to break a 2-2 tie in the third period in Game 4 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals vs. the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Bottom 4th: Indians 5, Red Sox 3: Very economical inning for Mr. McAllister. Three up. Three down. Though four innings, McAllister has thrown 78 pitches, 51 strikes.

Defensive change for Sox: Pedro Ciriaco replaced Will Middlebrooks at third base in the top of the fifth. Middlebrooks struggled at the plate, going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts.
Update: 9:14 p.m. The Sox announced Middlebrooks left the game with low back spasms.

Top 4th: Indians 5, Red Sox 3: Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single to left scored Michael Bourn, who reached on a lead-off double off the wall that greeted reliever Clayton Mortensen.

Mortensen got Michael Brantley to fly to center, walked Carlos Santana, then induced Mark Reynolds to ground to short for the inning-ending force out on Santana at second.

Bottom 3d: Indians 4, Red Sox 3: With one mighty swat of his bat, Sox DH David Ortiz pulled the Sox within one run after belting a three-run homer to the bleachers in right. Ortiz clobbered a first-pitch fastball from Zach McAllister for his eighth homer of the season.

Big Papi might have tied it had Jacoby Ellsbury not been thrown out at the plate by center fielder Michael Bourn after Dustin Pedroia laced a single up the middle with two men on. Ortiz made McAllister pay, though.

Clayton Mortensen was summoned to relieve Ryan Dempster (3 IP, 4 runs, 5 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts) in the top of the fourth.

Top 3d: Indians 4, Red Sox 0: Mark Reynolds came to the plate with the bases loaded and ripped an 2-RBI single to left off Ryan Dempster, giving the Indians a three-run lead.

Carlos Santana, who reached on the second of three walks Dempster issued in the inning, made it 4-0 when he scored on Mike Aviles' hard grounder to short that wound up erasing Yan Gomes at second on the force out. Dempster got out of the jam when he struck out Drew Stubbs (looking, 81 splitter). Clayton Mortensen was up in the pen warming up as Dempster walked toward the dugout after throwing 85 pitches through the first three innings.

Bottom 2d: Indians 1, Red Sox 0: Sox threaten when Mike Napoli reaches on a lead-off single to left, goes to second when Jarrod Saltalamacchia draws a walk, and reaches third on Stephen Drew's sacrifice fly to center, putting men on the corners with two outs.

Sox unable to push across tying run, however, when Mike Carp grounds to short.

Top 2d: Indians 1, Red Sox 0: With two men aboard, No. 9 hitter Drew Stubbs hit a stubby pop fly to shallow right that eluded the outstretched glove of diving second baseman Dustin Pedroia. It dropped for an RBI double that scored first baseman Carlos Santana, who reached on a leadoff bunt single that did a tight-rope walk down the third base line.

Dempster, who threw 45 pitches (29 strikes) through the first two innings, minimized the damage when he got Michael Bourn to ground to first to end the inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Nice video tribute for the former Sox players on Cleveland's roster -- Matt Albers, Mike Aviles, Rich Hill, all of whom received some warm applause. But real ovation broke out -- along with chant's of ``Tito! Tito!'' -- when former Boston manager Terry Francona was shown on the board. It was the highlight of an inning in which the Red Sox only mustered a (well-struck) one-out double to right by Daniel Nava.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0: Ryan Dempster allows a single up the middle by Jason Kipnis after recording a game-opening strikeout of Michael Bourn. Kipnis wound up getting stranded at first when Dempster induced Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley to fly to left. Sox left fielder Mike Carp made the last out look a little dicey when the 20-mile-per-hour winds played a trick on him as he made the inning-ending catch.

Pregame Greetings from Fenway Park where the Red Sox will welcome the return of former manager Terry Francona, now manager of the Cleveland Indians. Francona held forth with the media before the game in the visiting dugout (has got to be a weird feeling for Tito, no?). He will send RHP Zach McAllister (3-3, 2.65 ERA) to the mound to oppose RHP Ryan Dempster (2-4, 4.27), who will be looking for his first victory since May 2 in the opener of this four-game series against the Tribe.

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

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (27-17)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Saltalamacchia C
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (6-0, 2.72).

WHITE SOX (19-23)
De Aza CF
Ramirez SS
Rios RF
Konerko 1B
Dunn DH
Viciedo LF
Keppinger 3B
Flowers C
Greene 2B
Pitching: RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-3, 4.27).

Game time: 8:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Axelrod: Ciriaco 3-3, Ellsbury 0-3, Middlebrooks 0-3, Ortiz 1-3, Salty 0-3, Napoli 0-1, Pedroia 1-1.

White Sox vs. Lester: Rios 9-38, Konerko 10-23, Ramirez 5-22, Wells 0-10, Dunn 1-6, De Aza 2-7, Viciedo 3-8, Flowers 1-3, Keppinger 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are averaging 5.47 runs in 21 road games.

Notes: The Red Sox have won five straight and are 5-1 on a road trip that has three games left. ... The Red Sox were 6-2 against the White Sox last season and are 5-2 at U.S. Cellular Field the last two seasons. ... Lester is 5-5, 5.20 in nine career starts against the White Sox. That's his highest ERA against an American League team. ... Axelrod made one start and one relief appearance against the Sox last season. He allowed two runs over nine innings. ... Pedroia has hit in 11 straight at 21 of 45 (.467) with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs. He has had multiple hits in eight of those games. ... Ellsbury has gone 158 at-bats since his last home run. ... Ortiz has hit in seven straight at 12 of 28 with 12 RBIs. ... Middlebrooks is 11 of his last 40 (.275) with nine extra-base hits. ... Lester and Buchholz are 12-0, 2.21. The Sox are 15-3 in their starts. ... The Sox have a 2.83 ERA on the road trip. Their relievers have allowed one run over 21 innings in six games.

Song of the Day: "Midwestern You" by The Susan Constant.

Final: Blue Jays 12, Red Sox 4: That's it from Fenway Park, where the Sox lost their second in a row vs. the Jays and for the fifth time in this seven-game homestand. Boston was clobbered by Toronto's 12-hit attack, which included five homers, two by Jose Bautista, who went 2-for-4 with a walk and 3 runs scored and 3 RBI.

Top 9th: Blue Jays 12, Red Sox 4: The Blue Jays tacked on a pair of insurance runs on the Sox, scoring two runs on two hits against Jose De La Torre
Bottom 8th: Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 4: Pedro Ciriaco, who came into the game in the seventh as a defensive replacement for Mike Carp at first base, stroked his first homer of the season, a lead-off solo shot off Esmil Rogers, who started the inning in relief of Aaron Loup (2 IP, 3 K).

Rogers loaded the bases with one out when Mike Napoli singled, Daniel Nava drew a walk, and Johnny Gomes reached after getting hit by a pitch on his (heavily padded) left elbow. Brett Cecil relieved Rogers and got Jarrod Saltalamacchia to hit a (broken-bat) grounder to short. Gomes was forced out at second but broke up the double play with a hard slide into the bag. It second, enabling Saltalamacchia to reach base and Napoli to score from third.

With men on the corners, Will Middlebrooks came up and hit a groundball to Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, who relayed it to second for the force out on Saltalamacchia.

Jose De La Torre, who was called up last Thursday when the team transferred closer Joel Hanrahan to the 60-day DL, was summoned in the ninth to make his first Major League appearance.

Top 8th: Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 2: Craig Breslow came into the game to relieve Clayton Mortensen (1.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and retired all three batters he faced, striking out Munenori Kawasaki (looking) on an 89-m.p.h. fastball.

Bottom 7th: Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 2: Aaron Loup retires the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion, as well. No hits. No runs. No walks. No drama. Just what the Sox didn't need against Loup in the bottom of the frame.

Top 7th: Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 2: Nice 1-2-3 inning. No hits. No runs. No walks. No drama. Just what the Red Sox needed from Mortensen.

Bottom 6th: Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 2: The Sox knocked Toronto starter Chad Jenkins (5+ IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 2 K, 1 HR ) out of the game when Dustin Pedroia singled to left and Mike Napoli doubled to right, advancing Pedroia to third. Aaron Loup came into the game in relief of Jenkins to face Daniel Nava, who hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Pedroia.

But Loup got out of the inning when he struck out pinch-hitter Johnny Gomes and induced Jarrod Saltalamacchia to pop up to shallow right.

Top 6th: Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 1: The Blue Jays bust out the whuppin' stick on the Red Sox, erupting for four runs on three hits, including a pair of homers by Brett Lawrie and Jose Bautista (his second of the game). Lawrie greeted reliever Andrew Miller with a lead-off solo homer, ripping a 2-and-0 offering high over the Monster seats for his fourth homer of the season. After getting Colby Rasmus to fly to center, Miller wasn't long for the game when he handed the baton to Clayton Mortensen after giving up a single to Bonifacio (who was a triple short of the cycle) and walking Munenori Kawasaki.

After Melky Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to make it 8-1, Bautista came up to face Mortensen and unloaded on a 0-and-1 pitch, sending it sailing over the Monster for a two-run homer and a 10-1 lead. It was his 18th multi-homer game of his career and first since hitting a pair of dingers last June 19th at Milwaukee.

Hope the Leafs don't treat the Bruins this rough in Toronto tonight.

Bottom 5th: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 1: Stephen Drew reached on a one-out walk, then stole second (marking his first stolen base of the season), and wound up stranded there after Jenkins struck out Jacoby Ellsbury (swinging) and got Shane Victorino to pop up to shallow left.

Andrew Miller was summoned from the bullpen to relieve Dempster in the sixth.

Top 5th: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 1: Dempster continued to scuffle, giving up a solo homer to Edwin Encarnacion. Encarnacion's 11th homer of the season gave the Blue Jays a five-run lead. Dempster responded by striking out J.P. Arencibia (swinging) and Adam Lind (looking) to end the inning. Through five innings, Dempster had allowed six runs on seven hits, including three homers, and one walk while ringing up six strikeouts. He's thrown 100 pitches (66 strikes), a total that was inflated by the 48 pitches he threw after the first two innings.

Bottom 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Mike Napoli got one back for the Sox when he launched a lead-off solo homer to center off Chad Jenkins. It was Napoli's eighth homer of the season.

Top 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Emilio Bonifacio hit a 2-run homer off Dempster into the visitor's bullpen, causing Sox right fielder Shane Victorino to make a frightening collision with the wall as he sprinted toward the warning track in an attempt to snag the ball. Victorino hit the wall with an awful-sounding thud that reverberated through the park and immediately crumpled to the ground, favoring his left side. Members of the Blue Jays bullpen immediately ran to the fence to offer assistance, as did the Sox medical staff. Amazingly, Victorino stayed in to finish the inning when Munenori Kawasaki popped up to second.

Bottom 3d: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Dustin Pedroia grounded into a 6-4-3 double play with two men aboard and two out in the bottom of the third. It extinguished a threat after Jacoby Ellsbury reached on a lead-off single to right and Shane Victorino hit a nubber that did a tight-rope walk on the third-base line and, amazingly, stayed fair.

Top 3d: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0: Jose Bautista launched a lead-off solo homer over the Green Monster seats off Dempster's first-pitch, 90-mile-per-hour fastball. Bautista's eighth homer of the season expanded Toronto's lead to 3-0. Dempster retired the next three batters he faced on a pair of groundball outs to second before getting Adam Lind to fly to center to end the inning. Through three innings, Dempster has labored, throwing 64 pitches (43 strikes) while giving up three runs on five hits.

Bottom 2d: Blue Jays 2, Red Sox 0: Jarrod Saltalamacchia ripped a ground-rule double to right off Chad Jenkins to give the Sox some life with two out in the second. Middlebrooks came up, however, and grounded to short to extinguish the potential rally.

Top 2d: Blue Jays 2, Red Sox 0: Munenori Kawasaki stepped to the plate with two out, two men aboard at first and second and having faced Ryan Dempster only once before in his career. Kawasaki made his first career hit off Dempster count as the Blue Jays shortstop hit a 2-RBI single to right that scored Adam Lind (leadoff single to right) and Emilio Bonifacio (double to right).

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Dustin Pedroia ripped a two-out double to left off Toronto starter Chad Jenkins, but wound up getting stranded there when Mike Napoli came up and grounded to short.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: The Blue Jays stranded Edwin Encarnacion at third after Toronto's DH reached on a base hit to third and went to second on Will Middlebrooks's throwing error to first and then to third on a passed ball. Ryan Dempster got out of the inning when he induced J.P. Arrencibia to ground to second.

Pregame: Greetings from Fenway Park where the Red Sox will host the Blue Jays in the finale of this three-game series and seven-game homestand. RHP Ryan Dempster (2-3, 2.93) will oppose RHP Chad Jenkins.

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

Final: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: That's it. Game over. Red Sox were unable to hold a 2-0 lead and John Lackey, despite going seven innings, was unable to pick up the victory as Boston (21-14) lost for the third time in as many games against the Twins (16-15), and for the sixth time in its last seven overall games.

Top 9th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless ninth which got off to an interesting start when leadoff hitter Ryan Doumit grounded to third and reached when Will Middlebrooks was charged with an error when his throw pulled first baseman Mike Napoli off the bag.

Breslow remained unfazed and retired the next three batters he faced on three groundball outs to third, short, and the mound.

Bottom 8th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: After Jared Burton entered in relief of Brian Duensing (1.2 IP, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts) and led off the inning by striking out Mike Napoli, Daniel Nava drew a walk and Will Middlebrooks reached on a fielder's choice to short. Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar, in the game for Pedro Florimon who left in the sixth with a tight hamstring, booted the attempt at a double play, snapping the Twins' streak of 11 consecutive games without an error.

It allowed Nava to reach second and Middlebrooks to reach first.

But Burton got out of the inning when he struck out Stephen Drew (looking) and fanned Mike Carp (swinging) after he had been summoned to pinch hit for David Ross. Craig Breslow relieved Uehara in the ninth while Jarrod Saltalamacchia replaced Ross behind the plate.

Top 8th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: Koji Uehara entered the game in relief of Lackey and, just as Lackey did at the outset of the game, struck out the side. Uehara fanned Josh Willingham on an 81 splitter, Justin Morneau on an 89 fastball, and Trevor Plouffe on a 91 fastball.

Bottom 7th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: The Sox were unable to muster a response after Dustin Pedroia drew a two-out walk. David Ortiz, who flew to center, grounded to second, and lined to first in his three previous at-bats, came to the plate with a chance to tie the game and wound up driving a fly ball to center for the last out of the inning.

Koji Uehara entered the eighth in relief of Lackey, who went seven innings and allowed five runs (one earned) on six hits, including a two-run homer, and one walk while striking out eight batters. Lackey threw a season-high 102 pitches (74 strikes).

Top 7th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: Lackey kept the Twins in check with a return to form in the seventh, which resulted in a 1-2-3 inning. Lackey punctuated the frame with a strikeout of Joe Mauer to end the inning.

Bottom 6th: Twins 5, Red Sox 3: The Sox got one back in this frame and chased Twins starter Kevin Correia (5.1 IP, 9 hits, 3 runs, 1 strikeout) out of the game in the process. Mike Napoli, who reached on a double to left off Correia, scored when Daniel Nava followed with an RBI single to right.

After Will Middlebrooks' ground ball to short resulted in the force out on Nava at second, Brian Duensing entered the game in relief of Correia and got Stephen Drew to fly out to left and David Ross to strike out swinging at an 84 slider.

Top 6th: Twins 5, Red Sox 2: The Twins pushed across four unearned runs against Lackey, who likely would have been out of the inning had Justin Morneau been called out on Shane Victorino's throw to the plate as Morneau attempted to score on Ryan Doumit's sacrifice fly to right.

Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale called Morneau safe after he slid beneath the tag of Sox catcher David Ross. As a result, Morneau gave the Twins a 3-2 lead, which grew exponentially when Oswaldo Arcia came up and belted a two-run homer off Lackey into the Sox bullpen, making it 5-2.

Lackey committed a self-inflicted mistake when he was charged with a fielding error on Trevor Plouffe's comebacker to the mound. With men on first and second and one out, Lackey stabbed Plouffe's hit, spun around and misfired to second, allowing Morneau, who walked, to reach second safely and Joe Mauer, who singled to center, to advance to third and score the tying run, making it 2-2.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Sox threatened with two out when Dustin Pedroia hustled down the line to reach on an infield basehit, beating out Trevor Plouffe's throw from third. David Ortiz, however, lined out to first base to end the inning.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Lackey gave up a pair of one-out, extra-base hits on consecutive at-bats by Oswaldo Arcia (triple to center) and Aaron Hicks (RBI double to right) to pull the Twins within one run. Lackey appeared to run out of steam as his pitch count crept up and the velocity on his fastball dipped from a high of 94 to a low of 86, but that was before he struck out the last two batters he faced -- Pedro Florimon on a 91 fastball and Brian Dozier on a 92 fastball -- to end the inning.

Lackey has now thrown 74 pitches (54 strikes) and allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven batters.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: Stephen Drew ripped a two-out RBI single to center, scoring Daniel Nava, who reached on a single to right, giving the Red Sox a two-run lead. Through four (laborious) innings, Twins starter Kevin Correia threw 71 pitches (42 strikes) and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out one batter, Sox catcher David Ross, to end the fourth.

Top 4th: Red Sox 1, Twins 0: The Twins again put a runner on base when Justin Morneau singled to left with two out. But Lackey, again, prevented the runner from advancing when he induced Trevor Plouffe to fly to right to end the inning. Through four shutout innings, Lackey has allowed two hits while ringing up five strikeouts.

Bottom 3d: Red Sox 1, Twins 0: Red Sox claimed a 1-0 lead when Dustin Pedroia ripped an RBI single up the middle, driving in Shane Victorino, who reached on a hustling double to right off the glove of leaping first baseman Justin Morneau. Victorino reached in his first two at-bats (single to right, double to right). At this pace, Victorino will probably triple to right in his third at-bat.

Top 3d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: After Lackey retired the first eight batters he faced, the Twins finally got a runner aboard when the immortal Pedro Florimon, the No. 9 hitter in Ron Gardenhire's lineup, ripped a single up the middle. The hit came after Lackey made a spectacular stab on Aaron Hicks' line-drive out to the mound. Dozier ended the inning when he grounded to first.

Bottom 2d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Sox strand another runner after Will Middlebrooks laced a two-out double to left. J.D. er, Stephen Drew grounded to first to end the inning.

Top 2d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Another 1-2-3 inning for Lackey, who sandwiched a pair of flyball outs to right around a strikeout of Trevor Plouffe (swinging, 93 fastball). Through two innings, Lackey has thrown 21 pitches, 17 for strikes and has recorded four strikeouts.

Bottom 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Red Sox managed to get just one runner aboard when Shane Victorino laced a one-out single to right. He wound up getting stranded at first when Dustin Pedroia flew to right and David Ortiz flew to center.

Top 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Niiiice start for John Lackey, who struck out the side. Lackey fanned leadoff hitter Brian Dozier on an 88-mile-per-hour cutter, got Joe Mauer swinging on an 84-m.p.h. slider, and blew a 93-m.p.h. fastball past Josh Willingham.

Pregame: Torrential downpours pelted the Fenway area about 1-1/2 hours before the start of Thursday night's game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. The Sox (21-13) will send John Lackey (1-2, 3.52 ERA) to the mound for his 299th career start to oppose RHP Kevin Correia (3-2, 2.83). Lackey will be looking to put a halt to the team's skid after the Sox dropped their five out of their last six games Wednesday night in an abominable 15-8 loss to the Twins.

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

Here are today's lineups:

RED SOX (21-11)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B,
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Gomes LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Ross C
Pitching: RHP Ryan Dempster (2-2, 3.00)

TWINS (13-15)
Carroll SS
Mauer DH
Willingham LF
Morneau 1B
Plouffe 3B
Doumit C
Parmelee RF
Ramirez CF
Dozier 2B
Pitching: LHP Scott Diamond (2-2, 3.97)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/radio: NESN / WEEI

Stat of the Day: The Twins have an AL-best 2.56 bullpen ERA, compared with a 4.87 ERA from starters (10th in AL). That 2.31 difference is the largest of any AL team.

Notes: Monday's 6-5 win over the Twins was the Red Sox' third walkoff win of the season. It just so happens that it snapped the team's season-long three-game losing streak … Monday's win also made sure the Red Sox kept the best record in baseball at 21-11 … The Sox are on a six-game home winning streak, their longest since a nine-game stretch in 2011 … Dempster has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts. He was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the Twins last year for the Cubs … This will be Scott Diamond's first appearance against the Sox.

Song of the day: "Carry On" by Fun.

Final: Red Sox 6, Twins 5, 11 innings Stephen Drew went 4 for 5, hit a solo homer and belted an RBI double to the base of the wall in left field in the bottom of the 11th to lift the Red Sox to a walk-off victory, 6-5, over the Minnesota Twins Monday night minutes before the clock struck midnight, bringing a merciful conclusion to a game that lasted 4 hours, 44 minutes.

The victory snapped the Red Sox three-game losing streak as Drew recorded his third walk-off hit of his career to deliver Boston its third walk-off victory of the season, making a winner of Clayton Mortensen (1-2), who pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and a pair of walks and one strikeout.

Top 11th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5 Clayton Mortensen submitted another yeoman's effort, holding it down for the Red Sox after allowing a two-out single to Eduardo Escobar. Mortensen stranded Escobar when he got Justin Morneau to fly to left.

UPDATE, 11:52 p.m.: Sox announce Joel Hanrahan left game with right forearm tightness.

Bottom 10th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5 Anthony Swarzak answered Mortensen with a 1-2-3 inning which including a pair of strikeouts of Dustin Pedroia and Mike Carp, both of whom went down swinging to send it to the 11th.

Ryan Dempster began warming up in the Sox bullpen.

Top 10th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5 Clayton Mortensen held it down for the Sox, walking a pair of batters, but stranding both when he induced Ryan Doumit to ground to first, where Mike Napoli made a diving stab and got to his feet to flip the ball to Mortensen for the inning-ending out.

Bottom 9th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5 We're going to extra innings. After Will Middlebrooks struck out swinging, Stephen Drew reached on a sharply-struck single to right.

Anthony Swarzak ended the threat when he got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground into a rally-killing, 4-6-3 double play. It marked the third extra-inning affair of the season for the Red Sox, who split their first two such games.

Top 9th: Twins 5, Red Sox 5 Brian Dozier belted a solo homer off Sox closer Joel Hanrahan to tie the game, 5-5. Dozier drove a 3-and-2 pitch into the Green Monster seats near left-center field. It was his first of the season.

After striking out Joe Mauer, then walking Josh Willingham, Hanrahan departed the game when he appeared to injure himself on a high first-pitch fastball to Justin Morneau, prompting manager John Farrell and a trainer to rush out to the mound.

With Andrew Bailey on the 15-day disabled list, and Hanrahan hors de combat, Clayton Mortensen was summoned to fill-in as the emergency replacement at closer. With two out and an inherited runner at first, Mortensen got out of the jam by getting Morneau to hit a slow roller that third baseman Will Middlebrooks barehanded and fired to first for a close play that resulted in an inning-ending ground out.

Bottom 8th, Red Sox 5, Twins 4 Dustin Pedroia put on a Laser Show with a towering leadoff solo homer off Casey Fein, giving the Sox a one-run lead. It was Pedroia's first homer of the season and first since he belted one on Sept. 11, 2012, in New York.

David Ortiz followed by ripping a double down the line to right off Anthony Swarzak, extending his hitting streak to 26 games. After Mike Napoli lined out to first, Pedro Ciriaco entered the game to pinch run for Ortiz.

Swarzak got out of the inning when he struck out Daniel Nava (looking) and Joe Maurer threw out Ciriaco as he attempted to steal third after Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew a walk.

Top 8th: Twins 4, Red Sox 4 Craig Brelow relieved Andrew Miller (.2 IP, 2 K) to start the eighth. He submitted a 1-2-3 inning with a flyout to right, a strikeout (swinging), and a deep flyball to center.

Joel Hanrahan came into the game to close it out in the ninth.

Bottom 7th: Twins 4, Red Sox 4 Stephen Drew greeted Twins reliever Casey Fien, who started the seventh in relief of Brian Duensing, by taking him yard with a one-out solo homer to right field, tying the game, 4-4.

It was Drew's second homer of the season after belting his first May 1 in a 10-1 romp at Toronto. Clay Buchholz, no doubt, pumped his fist at the sight of Drew's homer disappearing into front row of the right field bleachers. It allowed the righthander to remain unbeaten seven starts this season.

Top 7th: Twins 4, Red Sox 3 Alex Wilson, we barely knew ye. Wilson entered the seventh in relief of Clay Buchholz and gave up a single, a walk before striking out Josh Willingham and handing the baton to Andrew Miller.

With inherited runners on first and second, Miller came in and struck out Justin Morneau with an 86-m.p.h. slider and Chris Parmalee with an 85 slider to extinguish the threat. Craig Breslow, who was called up Monday from Pawtucket after Andrew Bailey (bicep) was placed on the 15-day disabled list, was summoned to begin warming up in the bullpen.

Bottom 6th: Twins 4, Red Sox 3 Vance Worley was done for the night after he gave up sharply struck singles to Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia, putting two men aboard for David Ortiz. It prompted Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to make a pitching change, bringing in Brian Duensing to face Big Papi.

Duensing got Ortiz to ground into a 3-6-1 double play which wiped out Pedroia at second and enabled Victorino to advance to third. Mike Napoli came up and laced an RBI single to right, scoring Victorino to pull the Sox within one run. Daniel Nava walked to put two men aboard for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who fanned on Duensing's 84-mile-per-hour slider.

Alex Wilson was summoned to replace Buchholz on the mound in the top of the 7th.

Top 6th: Twins 4, Red Sox 2 Buchholz retires the Twins in 1-2-3 fashion, needing only 12 pitches to do the job. It was likely Buchholz's last inning after he went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while ringing up nine strikeouts. He threw 116 pitches (78 strikes) over that stretch.

Bottom 5th: Twins 4, Red Sox 2 Daniel Nava led off with a towering double off the wall against Vance Worley, who struck out the next two batters he faced before giving up an RBI single to Stephen Drew, who knocked in Nava to pull the Sox within two runs.

After Jacoby Ellsbury hit a scorched single to center, Drew wound up getting thrown out at the plate on a relay from center fielder Aaron Hicks to short stop Pedro Florimon. Drew appeared to slide beneath catcher Joe Maurer, but home plate umpire Cory Blaser called Drew out.

Top 5th: Twins 4, Red Sox 1 Justin Morneau hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left, scoring Joe Mauer, who led off the inning with a ground-rule double to right-center. Buchholz retired the next two batters he faced, which was a good thing since his pitch count had climbed to 104 (69 strikes). He had thrown 42 pitches in the last two innings, and 62 in his first three combined.

Bottom 4th: Twins 3, Red Sox 1 Shane Victorino hit his first homer as a Red Sox -- and first at Fenway -- when he wrapped a 3-and-2 pitch from Worley around the Pesky Pole in right.

After Dustin Pedroia singled to center, David Ortiz grounded to the mound for a 1-6-3 double play. Worley atoned with his defense, though, fielding his position well when he nabbed a hard comebacker to the mound by Mike Napoli for the easy 1-to-3 putout.

Top 4th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0 Buccholz scuffled after striking out Trevor Plouffe to lead off the inning, giving up back-to-back doubles to Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks, who drove in Arcia with his drive to right, giving the Twins a 3-0 lead.

Buchholz got out of the inning by getting Pedro Florimon looking at a 94 fastball for a called third strike and inducing Brian Dozier to ground to short. Through four innings, Buchholz has thrown 86 pitches, 57 for strikes, and has allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while ringing up eight strikeouts.

Bottom 3d: Twins 2, Red Sox 0 The Sox threaten to push across a run when Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a Wall Ball double off Vance Worley. But Saltalamacchia wound up getting stranded at third when Worley got Will Middlebrooks to ground to short, Stephen Drew to strike out looking, and Jacoby Ellsbury to ground to short.

Top 3d: Twins 2, Red Sox 0 Clay Buchholz put down the Twins in 1-2-3 fashion, striking out Justin Morneau and Chris Parmalee to end the inning. Buchholz has retired eight in a row since walking Trevor Plouffe to load the bases in the first.

Bottom 2d: Twins 2, Red Sox 0 Sox are unable to muster any kind of response after Worley cobbled together another 1-2-3 inning.

Top 2d: Twins 2, Red Sox 0 Buchholz kept the Twins in check when he rang up back-to-back strikeouts of Pedro Florimon and Brian Dozier before getting Joe Mauer to ground to first for the inning-ending out.

Bottom 1st: Twins 2, Red Sox 0 Shane Victorino reaches on a one-out single to center, but Dustin Pedroia grounds into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. It was an easy, breezy inning for winless Vance Worley, who threw 11 pitches (seven for strikes).

Top 1st: Twins 2, Red Sox 0 After he induced Brian Dozier to fly out to center, Clay Buccholz gave up back-to-back Wall Ball doubles to Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham, who drove in Mauer. Justin Morneau hit an RBI single up the middle to drive in Willingham to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Buchholz continued to scuffle when he walked Chris Parmalee and Trevor Plouffe to load the bases for Oswaldo Arcia, who fanned on a 92-mile-per-hour fastball on a 3-and-2 pitch. Buchholz got out of the jam when he struck out Aaron Hicks on three pitches, punching him out with 89 cutter. Buchholz wound up throwing 36 pitches in that frame, including 23 for strikes.

Pregame Greetings from Fenway Park where the Red Sox (20-11) will host the Minnesota Twins (13-14) . The Sox will send undefeated righthhander Clay Buccholz (6-0, 1.01 ERA) to the mound to oppose winless righthander Vance Worley (0-4, 7.22) in an attempt to snap Boston's three-game losing skein.

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

With Red Sox ace Jon Lester and Rangers phenomenon Yu Darvish expecting to get into a pitching prizefight, both teams knew runs would be at a premium.

In the final frame, the Rangers were able to put together a two-out rally to win it.

With runners on first and second, Adrian Beltre belted a single to right that scored Elvis Andrus and gave the Rangers a 4-3 win that completed the series sweep of the Sox.

The pitcher's duel lived up the the billing.

For the second time this season, Darvish struck out 14 batters. Using his entire arsenal, he completely blew by his previous career-high of 123 pitches (set last year at Fenway). He fanned everyone in the Red Sox lineup at least once except for Jacoby Ellsbury. Outfielder Mike Carp was a three-time strikeout victim.

After giving up a two-run home run in the first inning to to David Ortiz (who flipped his bat dismissively as he admired his work) and a solo shot in the second to David Ross (four or Ross’s 9 hits are homers), Darvish seemed to get strong the more pitches he threw.

It worked the other way around for Lester.

For most of the afternoon, Lester was typically steady. He was the picture of efficiency through his first four innings, throwing just 55 pitches and facing just three batters over the minimum. Keeping the Rangers quiet outside of a solo Mitch Moreland homer in the second.

But he labored in his final two frames, throwing 60 pitches over the course of the fifth and sixth innings. By the time he ran into Nelson Cruz in the sixth, Lester had thrown 99 pitches. With a runner on, Cruz shot his 100th to the batter’s eye in center field to even things up.

With the win the Rangers evened up with the Sox for the best record in baseball. The Sox, though, have been at least tied for first place every day of the season so far.

Good morning. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (20-10)
Ellsbury CF
Nava RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Carp LF
Ross C
Drew SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (4-0, 3.11).

RANGERS (19-11)
Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Berkman DH
Beltre 3B
Cruz RF
Pierzynski C
Baker lLF
Moreland 1B
Gentry CF
Pitching: vs. RHP Yu Darvish (5-1, 2.33).

Game time: 3:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Darvish: Caro 0-4, Ellsbury 2-4, Middlebrooks 0-3, Pedroia 3-4, Saltalamacchia 0-3.

Rangers vs. Lester: Kinsler 5-23, Andrus 5-19, Beltre 6-19, Cruz 9-17, Pierzynski 4-13, Murphy 3-11, Baker 6-7, Berkman 0-3, Soto 1-3, Gentry 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox committed two errors in their first 15 games. They have 11 in 15 games since. Middlebrooks has three in the last two games.

Notes: The Sox have lost two straight. They have yet to lose three in a row this season ... Lester is 3-3, 4.57 in 10 starts against the Rangers in his career. But he is 0-3, 11.42 in his last three, allowing 16 earned runs on 20 hits and seven walks over 14 innings. Four of the hits were home runs ... Darvish has faced the Sox once, last Aug. 6. He allowed six runs on 11 hits and four walks over 6 2/3 innings and struck out nine ... Ortiz has hit safely in all 12 games he has played this season and 24 straight going back to last season. That is the longest active streak in the game and the longest of his career ... The Sox have scored one run in their last 21 innings ... The Sox are 13 of 64 (.203) in this series with two extra-base hits.

Song of the Day: "Ain't Got You" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

In all the years that John Lackey’s come to Arlington, the Rangers have never been the greatest hosts. From the moment Ian Kinsler smacked Lackey’s first pitch of the night over the fence in left field, it was obvious things wouldn’t be much different this time around. Lackey went gave up three runs on three hits and four walks, never getting a chance to get remotely comfortable in a 5-1 Red Sox loss.

Mitch Moreland and Craig Gentry both went 2 for 4. Gentry’s two-run home run in the eight gave was insurance as the Rangers pulled off back-to-back wins In two games the Rangers have outhit the Red Sox 28-13.

With the win, the Rangers are a game back for the best record in the majors.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- All the trouble that Red Sox starter Felix Doubront got himself into over the course of his 3.2 innings against the Texas Rangers seemed to come with two outs. Eventually, in a five-run fourth inning that all but buried the Sox, it caught up him.

In his shortest outing of the season, Doubront allowed six runs on 12 hits and the Sox were hammered 7-0. Fueled by Adrian Beltre’s four-hit night, three-RBI night, the Rangers bounced back after dropping two of the first three-games on their six-game home stand.

Going to his slider whenever he needed a strikeouts, Derek Holland had the Sox on a string, fanning nine socks in eight shutout innings.

Final, Red Sox 7, Astros 3: It took him five starts, but Ryan Dempster finally gets his first win of the season, striking out 10 over six innings to push the Sox to their 11th win in the past 14 games.

Bottom of the eighth, Red Sox 7, Astros 3: With the bases loaded, the Astros brought the infield in and Marwin Gonzalez was able to make a big play.

He snagged a Jacoby Ellsbury liner, then looked to his right and made a quick throw to double up Will Middlebrooks at third, killing what could've been a game-sealing inning for he Sox.

Stepping to the plate with runners on first and second, Jonny Gomes was able to salvage what was left of what could've been a big inning with a single to left that scored David Ross.

Ross's single that inning gave him the first four-hit game of his career.

Top of the seventh, Red Sox 6, Astros 3: A mishap and some small ball allow the the Astros stay within arms reach.

Leadoff man Matt Dominguez reached when he was dotted by Clayton Mortensen fastball. Then Marwin Gonzalez dropped down a bunt single that made it first and third. After Mortensen fanned Robbie Grossman, Junichi Tazawa came on and gave up a Jose Altuve sacrifice fly that brought Dominguez in.

He's scored all three runs for the Astros tonight.

Bottom of the sixth, Red Sox 6, Astros 2: Jacoby Ellsbury's 11th stolen base of the season gave him the team's April record. It also gave him 200 for his career.

Top of the sixth, Red Sox 6, Astros 2: The sign was as slight as you could possibly imagine, but Ryan Dempster shook his right arm after striking out Brandon Laird and manager John Farrell came out to the mound to check on him.

They talked, and once it was all done, Dempster stayed out there.

After walking Carlos Pena, he struck out Chris Carteron three pitches and got Fernando Martinez to bounce out to third to end the innings.

It's the second time in his past three starts that Dempster's struck out 10.

Bottom of the fifth, Red Sox 6, Astros 2: David Ortiz gets in on the action with a long home run to straightaway center.

It's his second of the season, second in two nights. He saw another fastball he liked, and mashed it.

Top of the fifth, Red Sox 5, Astros 2:Even though only one of them led to outs, there were a couple of really nice defensive plays by the Sox.

On a fly ball to right, Daniel Nava nearly threw out Matt Dominguez tagging from third. The throw was perfectly online, but a blink too late.

Then, on a liner slicing away from him in left, Jonny Gomes laid out to make a nice inning-ending grab. He had to eat a little grass to come up with it, but it may certainly saved a run.

Ryan Dempster, meanwhile, is up to eight strikeouts. He's thrown 88 pitches, allowing just four hits and walking two.

Bottom of the fourth, Red Sox 5, Astros 1: Back-to-back homers by Will Middlebrooks and David effectively end Erik Bedard's night.

Bedard labored through his three-plus innings, throwing 91 pitches (59 strikes), giving up eight hits, three homers.

Ross and Middlebrooks have 20 hits between them, and nine of them are homers.

Bottom of the third, Red Sox 3, Astros 1: David Ortiz nearly slammed his bat after striking out for a second time. He swing and missed at a 92 mile-per-hour fastball in his first at-bat. He whiffed at a not-as-fastball this time, leaving Dustin Pedroia, who reached on a bloop ground rule double, stranded at second.

Mike Napoli would take care of things in the next at-bat, though. He ripped a double into the left-field corner to bring Pedroia around. It was Napoli's 17th extra-base hit this month and 12 double, setting team records for April.

Top of the third, Red Sox 2, Astros 1: The Astros cut the lead in half thanks to Matt Dominguez's leadoff double.

Mawin Gonzalez got him to third with a sacrifice fly to center, and he came home on Robbie Grossman's groundball.

Bottom of the second, Red Sox 2, Astros 0: By the looks of it, David Ross's moon shot managed to somehow avoid hitting any of the cars in the parking lot across Lansdowne.

He couldn't have been happier to see a fastball from Erik Bedard on 1-and-2. He has four hits this season. Two of them are home runs.

Top of the second, Red Sox 1, Astros 0: Add two more Ks to Dempster's total on the night.

He used the slider to get Carlos Pena and Chris Carter swinging. Pena was muttering something as he left the box.

Twenty-two of Dempster's 31 pitches have gone for strikes.

Bottom of the first, Red Sox 1, Astros 0: In the span of three pitches, Dustin Pedroia went from flinching at Erik Bedard's first curveball of the night to jumping to get out of the way of an errant fastball at the ankles to crushing the next fastball off the Wall for an RBI double.

Meanwhile, Erik Bedard can thank Mike Napoli for single-handedly running up his pitch count. He threw 33 in the first inning -- nine to Napoli. The battle ended with Napoli taking him to the right-field warning track, making Napoli 3 for 16 all-time against Bedard.

Top of the first, Red Sox 0, Astros 0: Ryan Dempster's been remarkable with using strikeouts to get himself out of jams.

Jose Altuve tagged him for a double to the gap in left-center. Dempster made things worse hesitating on a pick off and throwing it into center field, allowing Altuve to take third. But he struck out Jason Castro and Brandon Laird to get out of the inning.

He upped his strikeout total to 35, and 19 have come with men on, 11 with runners in scoring position.

Pregame:Welcome to Fenway where Ryan Dempster's on the mound again, still looking for his first win of the season. The Sox, are three wins shy of matching the team record for April wins with four games left this month. They've won 10 of their past 13.

Enjoy the game. Feel free to comment.

Final, A's 13, Red Sox 0: Persistent rain brings this one to an end early.

Bottom of the seventh, A's 13, Red Sox 0: The announced crowd amazingly is 29,006.

The rain obviously washed away a lot of those over the course of the night.

Right now, they're calling players off the field and rolling out the tarp.

Hello, 9:12 p.m. rain delay.

Top of the sixth, A's 13, Red Sox 0: With an RBI double, Josh Reddick's now 2 for 4 with two RBIS.

Meanwhile, Casper Wells hasn't played a game in a month, and A's manager Bob Melvin was still deciding whether it was better to wait and ease him in or throw him into the mix immediately.

This runaway made the decision easier. He pinch hit for Coco Crisp and flew out to center, and he'll stick around.

Top of the fifth, A's 12, Red Sox 0: There couldn't have been a more low-risk situation for Steven Wright to walk into for his debut.

Still, he's having a tough time. In 1.2 innings, he's given up four runs on three hits and two walks.

Top of the fourth, A's 8, Red Sox 0: Alfredo Aceves is done after far and away the worst start by a Sox starter this year.

His line: 3.1 innings, seven hits, eight runs (seven earned), four walks and three strikeouts. he gave up a a two-run homer to Seth Smith. He also committed an error and was charged with two balks.

Beyond that, it's only the second time a Sox starter has given up more than three runs. Before tonight, the Sox were the only team that hadn't had a starter give up more than four runs. The Sox rotation came in leading the American League with a 2.62 ERA.

Top of the third, A's 6, Red Sox 0: In a disastrous three-hit, three-walk, six-run inning Aceves found a way to do as much to hurt himself as possible.

The only thing he didn't do was hit a batter.

On Josh Reddick's RBI single, Aceves made things worse not only with a throwing error but by forgetting to cover first.

Obviously, the got a shower of boos to go with the already pouring rain.

Bottom of the second, Red Sox 0, As 0: The frigid conditions haven't affected Bartolo Colon's heater. He blew a 94 mile-per-hour fastball by Will Middlebrooks on a 1-and-2 count and dialed it up to 95 to fan Jarrod Saltalamacchia (who weirdly started off his at-bat with an unsuccessful bunt attempt).

Top of the second, Red Sox 0, A's 0: A Brandon Moss single and a Josh Donaldson walk, both with one out, made things a little uncomfortable for Aceves, but he popped up Josh Reddick and Chris Young to get out of the inning.

Bottom of the first, Red Sox 0, A's 0: Dustin Pedroia tapped one softly to the left of the mound and legged it out for a single, but that's all the Sox mustered.

Bartolo Colon threw 13 pitches (12 for strikes) to make his half of the inning brief as well.

Meanwhile, Alfredo Aceves is doing a heavy investigation of the mound between innings, talking it over with umpires and the grounds crew. They appeared to resolve the issue. But Aceves did a lot of digging and stomping trying to to fix the dirt to his liking.

Top of the first, Red Sox 0, A's 0: Eight pitches, seven strikes and Alfredo Aceves is out of the inning.

He got Coco Crisp with a curveball. Mike Napoli made a great leap at first to snare a John Jaso liner, and Seth Smith stared at a cutter to end the inning in a hurry.

Pregame: God bless the folks that decided to bring ponchos and umbrellas and push through the weather. For that matter, god bless the grounds crew, which has earning every penny on a wet and ugly day at Fenway.

The Sox have won 10 of their last 14 but have dropped two of the first three in this home stand.

Alfredo Aceves is 3-1 in nine career relief appearances against Oakland, but this is his first career start against the A’s. They've hit him better than any other American League team (.297). Last year he gave up five runs (four earned) over 5.2 innings for a 6.35 ERA in four outings. But he's on the mound (in short sleeves!) ready to go.

Enjoy the game. Feel free to comment.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (13-6)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli 1B
Nava LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Gomes DH
Drew SS
Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 6.28).

ATHLETICS (12-8)
Crisp CF
Jaso C
Smith DH
Lowrie SS
Moss 1B
Donaldson 3B
Reddick RF
Young LF
Sogard 2B
Pitching: RHP Bartolo Colon (2-0, 3.32).

Game time: 6:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Colon: Ortiz 7-48, Gomes 5-13, Salty 3-12, Pedroia 1-10, Ellsbury 2-7, Napoli 3-8, Nava 1-2, Victorino 1-2, Ross 0-1.

Athletics vs. Aceves: Jaso 2-6, Crisp 1-3, Reddick 0-4, Lowrie 0-1, Moss 2-2, Smith 0-2, Norris 1-1.

Stat of the Day: Ortiz has hit in 15 straight games. Eleven of those games came in July, one in August and three in April. He has hit .451 in that stretch with six extra-base hits, eight RBIs and 14 walks.

Notes: The Sox have won 8 of 10. ... Oakland has dropped four straight. The A's have scored 10 runs in those four games and hit .175. ... Aceves is 3-1, 5.17 in nine career appearances against Oakland, all in relief. This is his third start of the season. He allowed five runs on 13 hits and six walks over 10 innings in the first two and struck out six. ... Colon is 8-11, 3.98 in 26 career appearances against the Sox. He faced them once last season, allowing one earned run over six innings on July 3. ... Ellsbury has a 12-game hit streak. He has hit a modest .308 (16 of 52) in the streak but has scored 11 runs. ... Napoli has 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs in 19 games. ... The Sox have struck out 99 times in the last 10 games. ... Andrew Bailey converted four of five save opportunities he had in Joel Hanrahan's absence, allowing two runs over six innings with two walk and nine strikeouts.

Song of the Day: "Change Of The Guard" by Steely Dan.

The Sox bounced back after dropping both games of a doubleheader with Kansas City Sunday with a 9-6 win over the Royals.

Fresh off being named American League co-player of the week, Mike Napoli continued his tear, smacking a fifth inning grand slam that busted the game open.

He went 2 for 4 with 5 RBIs, upping his team-high total to 25 runs driven in.

Felix Doubront went 6.2 innings in a much-delayed Fenway debut, giving up three runs on three hits and using eight strikeouts to work through minor turbulence.

Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hit streak to 12 games. David Ortiz (2 for 4) had another multi-hit game, and Andrew Bailey came on for to earn his fourth save of the season.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (12-6)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Drew SS
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.50).

ATHLETICS (12-7)
Crisp CF
Young LF
Moss 1B
Lowrie SS
Norris C
Donaldson 3B
Reddick RF
Freiman DH
Parrino 2B
Pitching: RHP A.J. Griffin (2-0, 2.25).

Game time: 6:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Griffin: Salty 2-6, Napoli 0-4, Ellsbury 0-3, Nava 0-3, Ortiz 1-2, Pedroia 1-3, Ciriaco 0-2.

Athletics vs. Doubront: Reddick 0-3, Jaso 1-3, Crisp 2-2, Norris 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Sox were 1-8 against the Athletics last season, getting outscored, 60-26.

Notes: The Sox are tied with the Rangers for the best record in the league with Oakland a half-game behind. But the Sox have lost two straight and the A's three straight. ... Doubront is 0-2, 12.86 in two starts against the A's, both coming last season. He allowed 10 earned runs on 12 hits over seven innings but did strike out 14. ... Griffin was 1-0, 2.08 in two starts against the Red Sox, both coming last year. Oakland is 3-0 in his starts this season. ... Ellsbury has a 11-game hitting streak. He is 15 of 49 (.306) in those 11 games with 11 runs scored and four extra-base hits. ... Napoli has 20 RBIs in 18 games and 13 in the last 10. ... Pedroia has reached safely via hit or walk in all 18 games. ... Ortiz has a 14-game hitting streak dating back to July 2. ... Middlebrooks is 4 for 43 (.093) in his last 11 game with one RBI. ... Drew is 3 for 30 since coming off the disabled list. ... Andrew Miller has allowed four hits and six walks in four innings of work. ... Ex-Sox update: Lowrie is raking with Oakland (.382/.462/.632) while Josh Reddick is struggling (.113/.226/.208).

Song of the Day: "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" by Bob Dylan.

Final, Royals 4, Red Sox 2: The Sox go down 1-2-3 in the ninth and their seven-game win streak comes to an end.

Bottom of the eighth, Royals 4, Red Sox 2: The Sox had a true opportunity to threaten with the bases loaded and two outs. The Royals had given up on Bruce Chen (two hits in two-thirds of an inning) and brought right-hander Aaron Crow out of the bullpen.

But Jarrod Saltalamacchia couldn't capitalize. He mustered a tapper that didn't even reach the mound. It easily ended the inning, got the Royals out of hot water and kept the Red Sox in a late hole. The Sox are 0-3 this year when trailing after 3.

Top of the eighth, Royals 4, Red Sox 2: Clayton Mortensen came on for the first time since April 16, when he threw two scoreless innings in relief of Felix Doubront, and he was effective.

After gett Billy Butler to bounce out to third, he used his slider to strike out Eric Hosmer and his changeup to get Lorenzo Cain.

Ervin Santana is done after seven innings. He gave up just two runs on six hits and struck out seven with no walks. Bruce Chen will pick things up.

Too of the sixth, Royals 4, Red Sox 2: With his pitch count up to 96, his innings up to six, and Clayton Mortensen warming up in the Red Sox bullpen, it looks like Ryan Dempster's day is likely done.

His issued a pair of one-out walks to Cain and Moustakas that turned out to be harmless one his struck out Jeff Francoeur (for the third time today) and got Salvador Perez to fly out to center.

Bottom of the fifth, Royals 4, Red Sox 2: Santana's retired 11 straight Sox with three of his four strikeouts over that stretch.

Will Middlebrooks is the hitter in the bottom half of the Sox's lineup with a hit. Everyone from Napoli down is a combined 0 for 8.

Top of the fourth, Royals 4, Royals 2: From the back-to-back singles to start it off to two scorching RBI doubles, there wasn't much pretty about that three-run inning for Dempster.

He toed a tricky line, getting into trouble then seeming as if he might be able to work his way out of it.

He couldn't.

Not with Lorenzo Cain continuing to rake. Cain ripped a line drive into the left-field corner for an RBI double that tied the game at 2 and added to his gluttonous numbers so far this series. He's 5 for 6 with three doubles, a homer, two RBIs and a stolen base.

Dempster struck out the next two batters he faced, but then with two on, he gave up a double to Salvador Perez.

For Sox starters, a three-run inning had been unheard of all year. No starter had even had a three-run outing before today.

Bottom of the third, Red Sox 2, Royals 1: For the first time today, the Sox go down in order.

Ervin Santana got Mike Napoli swinging at a fastball up and in.

Santana had to scrap through his last start against the Blue Jays in order for Kansas City to pull out a 3-2 win, according to the Kansas City Star:

While Santana wasn’t nearly as dominant as he was last Monday during the home opener, he consistently wriggled out of trouble, finishing with a no decision after he allowed two runs — one earned — in eight innings.

Santana, who scattered seven hits and three walks, recorded four strikeouts (all on sliders) including one against slugger J.P. Arencibia with two runners on to end the eighth inning in a 2-2 game.

“He was very stingy in terms of giving up runs and made big pitches when he needed to, especially in the eighth when he needed to get Arencibia,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Top of the third, Red Sox 2, Royals 1: The loud, long first-inning homer that Ryan Dempster gave up to Alcides Escobar is turning out to be just a blip. He's buzzed through two 1-2-3 innings.

After walking Alex Gordon with one out, he faced Esobar again and used his splitter to get a ground ball that started a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

He's thrown 46 pitches (29 strikes) through three innings.

Bottom of the second, Red Sox 2, Royals 1: Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hit streak to 10-games with his single to left. He's now hitting .310 over that stretch (13-42) with 10 runs scored, a double, two triples and three stolen bases.

Top of the second, Red Sox 2, Royals 1: Ryan Dempster keeps the Ks coming. He got Jeff Francoeur reaching for a slider and Salvado Perez chasing for a split to give him three for the game.

Bottom of the first, Red Sox 2, Royals 1: The Sox responded quickly stringing together quality at-bats to turn three singles into two runs.

Daniel Nava and Dustin Pedroia both came up with one-out singles. David Ortiz followed up with a liner to right-center that scored Nava. Mike Napoli then drove in Dustin Pedroia with a ground ball to second.

After going 2 for 4 with an RBI yesterday, Ortiz put together a solid at-bat to get the Sox on the board, working the count full, fouling off an Ervin Santana fastball down to then get a slider away that he roped to the outfield to cap the seven-pitch at-bat.

Top of the first, Royals 1, Red Sox 0: Alcides Escobar took the first pitch he saw from Ryan Dempster and drilled it over the Monster to put the Royals up early.

Dempster fed Escobar an 89 mile-per-hour fastball over the middle of the plate and he devoured it.

Escobar is now 5 for 13 on this road trip after going through an 0-for-15 slump.

Pregame: For as well as Ryan Dempster has pitched this season, his first win has been strangely elusive. Dempster’s 0-1 with a 2.65 ERA, and overall, the Sox are 1-2 in his starts this year.

“Wins are great,” he said after start last week against the Rays, when he left after seven innings with a 2-1 lead before Andrew Bailey let it slip away in the ninth. “I’d love to win as many games as I possibly can, but I've always said if I start 34 games in a season and we go 34-0 in my starts and I don't win one of those games, I'm totally, completely happy with that. I mean that. Any time I can start a ball game and we win that ball game that's all that matters.”

His 25 strikeouts have him at fifth in the American League. In each of his first three starts, he’s struck out at least seven. He’s second in the majors with 13.24 strikeouts per nine innings. But he’s also thrown 295 pitches over 17 innings.

“I like the one-pitch outs,” Dempster said “Those are a lot nicer than the strikeouts.”

To a pitcher who threw at least 200 innings from 2008 to 2011, efficiency matters. Starts like the one he had against the Rays, when he went deep into the game and left with the lead, are the ideal.

“I take a lot of in being able to go out there and throw innings, throw quality innings,” Dempster said. “I was able to not waste as many pitches [against the Rays] and able to get myself deeper in the ball game. Hopefully that's something I can continue to do.”

Enjoy the game. Feel free to comment.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (10-4)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli 1B
Nava LF,
Gomes DH
Saltalamacchia C
Drew SS
Ciriaco 3B,
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (2-0, 1.42).

INDIANS (5-8)
Brantley LF
Cabrera SS
Santana C
Swisher 1B
Reynolds DH
Rayburn RF
Aviles 3B
Phelps 2B
Stubbs CF
Pitching: RHP Zach McAllister (0-1, 3.00).

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI-FM.

Red Sox vs. McAllister: Pedroia 2-7, Salty 1-6, Carp 1-4, Drew 0-1 (2 walks), Ellsbury 2-3, Gomes 2-3, Middlebrooks 0-3, Nava 2-3, Ciriaco 0-2.

Indians vs. Lester: Swisher 15-46, Cabrera 3-16, Reynolds 4-13, Giambi 2-6, Raburn 2-6, Santana 1-4, Aviles 0-4, Brantley 1-5, Gomes 1-3.

Stat of the Day: The Sox have 13 homers in 14 games. Eight of them came in Toronto from April 5-7.

Notes: The Sox have won five straight and have the second-best record in the American League to the 12-4 Oakland Athletics. ... The Sox are 6-2 on the road and start a 10-game homestand on Friday. ... The Indians have lost three straight and are 2-5 at home. ... Jon Lester is 5-1, 3.34 in 11 career starts against the Indians. In his last three starts at Progressive Field, Lester has allowed one earned run over 19 innings and struck out 28. ... Zach McAllister is 1-1, 3.60 in two career starts against the Sox, both coming last season. McAllister is 5-6, 4.95 in 17 starts in Cleveland, 2-4, 3.30 in 11 starts on the road. ... Red Sox starters are 7-2, 2.30. ... Mike Napoli has hit in six straight at 9 of 26 with five doubles and nine RBIs. ... The Sox are 9-0 when scoring first. ... Dustin Pedroia has reached base safely in 24 games going back to last season. ... Will Middlebrooks is 2 for 30 with 12 strikeouts, 1 run scored and 1 RBI in the last eight games. ... Jacoby Ellsbury has hit in seven straight and 12 of 14 games this season. ... Shane Victorino has either a hit, walk or RBI in every game this season. But while he has a .403 on-base percentage, his one extra-base hit has left him with a .352 slugging percentage. ... Stephen Drew is 2 of 19 since coming off the disabled list. ... The Sox have struck out 64 times in their last six games. ... The Red Sox bullpen has thrown eight scoreless innings and struck out 10 in this series.

Song of the Day: "Award Tour" by A Tribe Called Quest.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (9-4)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli DH
Nava LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Drew SS,
Carp 1B
Pitching: RHP Alfredo Aceves (0-0, 6.75).

INDIANS (5-7)
Brantley LF
Cabrera SS
Santana C
Swisher RF
Giambi DH
Reynolds 1B
Phelps 2B
Chisenhall 3B
Stubbs CF
Pitching: RHP Justin Masterson (3-0, 0.41).

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI-FM.

Red Sox vs. Masterson: Napoli 4-15, Pedroia 1-13, Ellsbury 2-9, Salty 3-8, Drew 1-6, Carp 0-4, Victorino 0-2, Middlebrooks 2-3, Nava 1-1, Ross 0-3, Gomes 0-1.

Indians vs. Aceves: Reynolds 4-12, Swisher 3-9, Cabrera 0-2, Santana 0-1, Aviles 1-2, Bourn 1-2, Brantley 1-2, Kipnis 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Sox have not been six games over .500 since the end of the 2011 season. Their high-water mark was five games over last season, the last time on July 1 when they were 42-37.

Notes: The Sox have won four straight and are 5-2 on the road. ... Red Sox starters are 6-2 with a 2.09 ERA. ... Ellsbury has hit in six straight and 11 of 13 this season. He leads the majors with six stolen bases. ... Pedroia has reached base safely in all 13 games this season and 23 straight going back to last season. ... Aceves is making his first career start against the Indians. He has a 2.35 ERA in six relief outings. ... Masterson, the former Sox prospect, is 3-1, 3.21 in five career starts against Boston. He has struck out 20 in 22 innings this season. ... The Sox have played only three games since 2001 before crowds of less than 10,000. All have been in Cleveland in April. Tuesday's game drew 9,143. ... Middlebrooks is 2 of 25 with 10 strikeouts in the last seven games. ... The Indians are 2-4 at home.

Song of the Day: "Into The Fire" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Continuing a dominant run of starting pitching for the Red Sox, Ryan Dempster notched 10 strikeouts over seven strong innings but again didn’t factor into the decision in the Sox’s 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

With Joel Hanrahan nursing a hamstring injury, Koji Uehara came on to pitch a clean eighth, his 17th straight scoreless inning. Andrew Bailey, who had been more than reliable in 4.1 scoreless innings as a setup man (seven strikeouts, just one hit allowed) came on in the ninth for his first save opportunity of the year, but fumbled it.

He gave up a leadoff single to Desmond Jennings, who got himself into scoring position by stealing second. Then Ben Zobrist brought him around with a line-drive to left that Jackie Bradley Jr. couldn’t come up with.

The Sox needed a blast off the Monster by Mike Napoli to win in walk off fashion for the second time this season. It was the third walk-off hit of Napoli’s career. With Dustin Pedroia at first, he ripped 2-and-2 splitter for the game-deciding double.

The Sox swept the Tampa Bay for the first time since a 2010 series in Tampa. It had been four years since they took every game in a Fenway set with the Rays since.

The Sox jumped out to an early lead in the first thanks to a leadoff triple by Jacoby Ellsbury, who was then driven in by a Shane Victorino ground ball. Victorino, who came in hitting .566 with runners in scoring position, now has seven RBI on the year.

Challenged offensively, the only run Tampa Bay was able to muster up was Evan Longoria homer in the fourth. The Sox reclaimed the lead in the fifth when Jarrod Saltalamacchia smacked an 0-and-2 pitch over the Sox bullpen.

The Sox, who have won all four of their series to start the season, improved to 8-4, second in the American League behind the Oakland As.

It took an extra inning and help from an errant throw, but the Sox were able to scratch out a tough 2-1 win over in their series opener with the division rival Tampa Bay Rays.

After reaching with a one-out single, Jacoby Ellsbury stole second. Then, Jose Lobaton, a late sub for started Jose Molina, fired a wild throw that bounced off the glove of shortstop Yunel Escobar and into the outfield allowing Ellsbury to take third.

From there, it was almost academic that Shane Victorino would lay down a bunt to bring Ellsbury home and put the game away. But he tapped one for an infield single.

On a day when offense was scarce, the hits were huge.
Lester went 7 innings, allowing the one run on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk, dueling with the 2012 Cy Young award winner.

Although he struggled in his last early season start a year ago against the Sox and had gotten off to a rocky beginning in this season, giving up 11 runs in 10 innings, David Price was locked in, going six innings, giving up just the one run on four hits with eight strikeouts.

In the fifth inning, with the Sox trailing 1-0, David Ross blasted his first home run of the year over, launching a two-out, 3-and-2 pitch over the Monster.

Sox closer Joel Hanrahan, who had three days to shake off the save he blew on Wednesday to the Orioles, struggled again, walking the only two batters he’s faced. Of the 25 hitters he’s seen this season, 11 have reached base (9 of 14 in the past two games).

Koji Uehara was able to clean up the mess, coming in and retiring James Loney, Yunel Escobar and Ryan Roberts in order to hold the Rays scoreless in the ninth.

Good morning. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (5-4)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava LF
Gomes DH
Drew SS
Ross C
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (2-0, 1.50).

RAYS (4-5)
Jennings CF
Rodriguez 1B
Longoria 3B
Zobrist RF
Duncan DH
Escobar SS
Roberts 2B
Molina C
Joyce LF
Pitching: LHP David Price (0-1, 8.18).

Game time: 1:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: FOX / WEEI-FM.

Red Sox vs. Price: Pedroia 10-31, Ellsbury 6-22, Napoli 5-17, Nava 1-15, Ciriaco 1-10, Salty 1-8, Gomes 3-9, Victorino 1-5, Middlebrooks 3-6, Ross 1-3.

Rays vs. Lester: Longoria 11-44, Zobrist 8-35, Escobar 7-23, Rodriguez 2-16, Molina 5-15, Duncan 4-13, Jennings 3-12, Johnson 0-8, Lobaton 0-7, Fuld 1-6, Joyce 2-3, Roberts 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Price is 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA in seven career starts at Fenway Park. He dominated the then-beleaguered Red Sox at Fenway last Sept. 25, going nine innings in a 5-2 victory and allowing two runs with 13 strikeouts and no walks.

Notes: Two of the best lefties in the league meet up in a nationally televised game. ... Lester (12 innings, 2 ER) is off to an excellent start. Price (11 IP, 10 ER) not so much. Price allowed eight earned runs in five innings against the Indians last Sunday. Lester also pitched that day and threw seven shutout innings against the Blue Jays. ... Lester is 10-8, 4.30 in 22 career against against Tampa Bay. He was hit hard last season, going 0-2, 9.00 in two starts. Lester went 10 innings in two games allowed 10 earned runs on 10 hits. ... Price is 8-4, 3.08 in 15 career starts against the Sox. ... Lefthanders have hit .199/.258/.289 against Price in his career. Lester has held lefties to a .243/.303/.377 line. ... Pedroia has reached base safely in all nine games this season and 19 straight dating back to last season. ... Middlebrooks (0 for 12) and Bradley (0 for 14) are slumping for the Sox. ... The Sox and Rays split 18 games last season. ... The Rays are playing for the first time since Wednesday afternoon in Texas. They were off on Thursday and Friday's game was rained out. ... The Sox are 5-0 when scoring first, 0-4 when they don't.

Song of the Day: "Aces" by Suzy Bogguss.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (5-2)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli 1B
Middlebrooks 3B
Nava DH
Saltalamacchia C
Drew SS
Bradley Jr LF,
Pitching: Ryan Dempster (0-1, 5.40 ERA).

ORIOLES (3-4)
McLouth LF
Machado 3B
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Davis 1B
Wieters C
Hardy SS
Flaherty 2B
Reimold DH
Pitching: Jake Arrieta (0-0, 9.00).

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI-FM.

Red Sox vs. Arrieta: Pedroia 4-11, Ellsbury 2-5, Nava 3-5, Napoli 2-5, Middlebrooks 2-3, Victorino, 3-3, Ciriaco 0-1, Ross 2-2, Saltalamacchia 1-2, Gomes 0-1.

Orioles vs. Dempster: Hardy 2-27, McLouth 6-20, Markakis 1-3, Davis 0-3, Jones 2-3, Machado 0-3, Pearce 1-2, Wieters 0-3.

Stat of the Day: Along with his struggles against Dempster, JJ Hardy is 4 for 25 in his last six games against the Sox with just two extra base hits and one RBI.

Notes: Ryan Dempster (1-0 all-time against the Orioles with a 1.35 ERA) went 13 years between his two starts against the Orioles. The first was in 1999. The most recent was last September ... Arrieta is winless in four starts against the Sox (0-4, 6.00 ERA) ... Shane Victorino has reached base in every game this season ... So has Adam Jones, who’s done it with five multi-hit games. He’s hit seven home runs in 43 career games at Fenway and his 20 RBIs at Fenway are the most he’s driven in at any visiting ballpark.

Song of the Day: "Let's Start Over," by Miles Jaye.

By Julian Benbow

John Farrell had a hunch and went with it. With the Orioles sending lefty Wei-Yin Chen to the mound, he wanted to sit his young, fresh face Jackie Bradley Jr. In his place, he put Daniel Nava, who last year hit .185 against lefties.

For a day, Nava defied the numbers.

He went 2 for 2 with a three-run home run in the seventh inning that blew up what had been a tense pitchers duel between Chen and Sox starter Clay Buchholz and pushing the Sox to a 3-1 win in their home opener.

For the ninth straight season, the Sox came out victorious in their Fenway starter. This time they rode Buchholz, who went seven strong innings, striking out eight while giving up just three hits.

Despite giving up a loud ninth-inning home run to Adam Jones, Joel Hanrahan made his Fenway debut and picked up his third save.

By Julian Benbow, Globe staff

NEW YORK -- The Red Sox were eying their first opening-series sweep since 1999. Andy Pettitte made sure it didn’t happen.

Pounding the strike zone, Pettitte buzzed through the Sox lineup, scattering eight hits over eight innings and ending the Yankees early woes before they became a bona fide streak with a 4-2 win.

Lyle Overbay (1 for 3) had a two-run double in the second to get things started for the Yankees, and Brett Gardner (2 for 3) and Francisco Cervelli (1 for 2) both homered. Mariano Rivera made his first appearance of since last May to record the save.

After scoring 15 runs the first two games, the Sox struggled to muster any offense against Pettitte. Jackie Bradley Jr. upped his RBI total to three with a run-scoring double in the seventh. Otherwise, the Sox were relatively quiet. With the Sox trying to rally late against, Bradley Jr. struck out on three pitches in his first ever at-bat against Rivera.

Still, for the first time since 2008, the Sox won their season opening series.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (2-0)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli 1B
Gomes DH
Middlebrooks 3B
Bradley Jr. LF
Ross C
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Ryan Dempster (12-8, 3.38 in 2012).

YANKEES (0-2)
Gardner CF
Cano 2B
Youkilis 3B
Hafner DH
Wells LF
Suzuki RF
Nunez SS
Overbay 1B
Cervelli C
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (5-4, 2.87 in 2012).

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network, YES / WEEI, WCBS.

Red Sox vs. Pettitte: Pedroia 9-40, Gomes 8-22, Ellsbury 8-20, Napoli 6-14, Victorino 6-14, Ross 4-12, Carp 0-3, Saltalamacchia 0-3, Nava 1-2.

Yankees vs. Dempster: Overbay 2-7, Suzuki 2-6, Cano 1-4, Wells 3-6, Gardner 1-4, Francisco 0-3, Nunez 1-3, Stewart 0-3, Youkilis 0-3, Hafner 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 19-19 against the Yankees at the new Yankee Stadium.

Notes: The Sox are trying to get to 3-0 for the first time since a 5-0 start in 1999. ... Dempster is 0-4, 7.65 in five career starts against the Yankees. But only two of those starts have come since 2001. Dempster faced the Yankees last Aug. 13 and allowed eight earned runs in six innings. ... Pettitte is 18-10, 3.91 in 37 career starts against the Red Sox. Tonight will be the first since Oct. 2, 2010. No players in the Red Sox lineup tonight played in that game. ... The Red Sox' 7-9 hitters were 10 of 24 with eight runs in the first two games. ... The Sox had 15 runs on 26 hits with 11 walks in the first two games. ... Bradley has seen 48 pitches in 10 plate appearances and been on base five times.

Song of the Day: "All The Small Things" by Blink-182.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (1-0)
Ellsbury CF
Nava DH
Pedroia 2B
Napoli 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Victorino RF
Bradley LF
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (11-8, 4.56 in 2012).

YANKEES (0-1)
Gardner CF
Ichiro RF
Cano 2B
Youkilis 3B
Hafner DH
Wells LF
Overbay 1B
Nunez SS
Stewart C
Pitching: RHP Hiroki Kuroda (16-11, 3.32 in 2012).

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, YES, ESPN2 / WEEI, WCBS

Red Sox vs. Kuroda: Victorino 4-18, Ellsbury 5-15, Pedroia 6-14, Ciriaco 3-12, Salty 2-11, Nava 2-8, Gomes 0-8, Carp 2-6, Napoli 1-5, Iglesias 1-3, Middlebrooks 0-3.

Yankees vs. Buchholz: Wells 5-26, Overbay 6-22, Cano 12-25, Boesch 3-18, Gardner 2-11, Suzuki 2-8, Cervelli 3-6, Hafner 2-6, Nix 0-5.

Stat of the Day: The Sox have not been 2-0 since 1999 when they opened at Kansas City.

Notes: The Sox are 18-19 at the new Yankee Stadium. ... Buchholz is 2-5, 7.19 in nine career starts against the Yankees, 0-2, 15.26 in two starts last season. ... Kuroda is 2-1, 3.43 in six career starts against the Sox, 2-0, 3.60 in five starts last season. ... The Yankees have won 16 of the last 23 games against the Sox. ... Pedroia has hit in five straight games dating back to last season. ... Napoli is hitless in 16 consecutive at-bats going back to last season, including the AL wild card playoff game.

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

Game over: The New York Yankees are the AL East champions, while the Red Sox finish in last place in the East with 69 wins. The Red Sox' final regular season game was a 14-2 beating. Daisuke Matsuzaka likely ended his Boston career with a horrible outing after the Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first. The 2012 season is finally over and now the mess will have to be cleaned up. There were 47,393 fans on hand at Yankee Stadium in a game that lasted 3:23. Thanks for reading the blog this season. Can't wait 'til next year.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 14, Red Sox 2 Junichi Tazawa came on and threw a couple of long outs that prevented the Yankees from damaging the Red Sox further.

Top 8th: Yankees 14, Red Sox 2 A Daniel Nava double with one out was wasted as Podsednik and Loney struck out.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 14, Red Sox 2 Curtis Granderson homered off Theo-comp Chris Carpenter. After an Ibanez walk and single by Derek Jeter, Ichiro knocked in two more off Carpenter, who was finally relieved. During the inning the Yankees learned they had won the AL East after Tampa Bay knocked off Baltimore. Craig Breslow replaced Carpenter and he allowed an RBI single to Nick Swisher and a sacrifice fly by Mark Teixeira.

Top 7th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2 Ciriaco doubled to left field and scored on Jose Iglesias's single to center.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 Russell Martin started off the inning by being hit with a pitch. After a single by Derek Jeter, Ichiro hit into a force at second. A-Rod walked and Robinson Cano struck once more - a two-run single - giving him six RBIs.

Top 6th: Yankees 7, Red Sox 1 Dustin Pedroia doubled to right but never scored as the Sox made the next three outs.

strong>Bottom 5th: Yankees 7, Red Sox 1 Cano is amazing. He struck for a two-run homer with A-Rod aboard to extend NY's lead.

Top 5th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1 Sox managed an infield single by Ciriaco but Kuroda has settled in nicely and is on his way to preserving a Yankee AL East title.

Bottom 4th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1 Raul Ibanez singled but Derek Jeter knocked into an inning-ending double play

Top 4th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1 Cody Ross (single) was erased on James Loney's double-play grounder as Kuroda got out of the inning quickly.

Bottom 3d: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1 Red-hot Robinson Cano homered with Alex Rodriguez (single) aboard. Dice-K eventually was replaced by Clayton Mortensen following a Nick Swisher single.

Top 3d: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 A two-out Dustin Pedroia walk and steal of second wasn't enough as Nava grounded out to end the inning.

Bottom 2d: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 Good times didn't last very long. Curtis Granderson hit his 42d homer on his first pitch, a high, towering blast to right. Cano and Swisher were on base ahead of him with one out.

Top 2d: Red Sox 1, Yankees 0 Ryan Lavarnway walked with two outs against Hiroki Kuroda, but Sox couldn't add to their lead.,

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 1, Yankees 0 Daisuke Matsuzaka, making what might be his final Red Sox start, started well by retiring the Yankees on six pitches. Jeter, Ichiro, and A-Rod all made outs.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Yankees 0 The Sox got off to a quick start when leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury started the rally with a base hit to right. After Dustin Pedroia moved the runner to third base, Daniel Nava grounded to first. But Cody Ross came up with a big two-out hit to drive in the run. Ross was eventually caught stealing.

Game over: Andrew Miller came on and dominated the first two hitters but issued two-out walks to Francisco Cervelli and Curtis Granderson before Raul Ibanez, who had tied the game in the ninth with a two-run homer, singled to left to score the winning run. The game was played in 4:09 before 41,564..

Top 12th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 3 Sox go down as Nava knocks into DP.

Bottom 11th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 3 Great one-handed running catch by Ellsbury to save the game robbing A-Rod.

Top 11th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 3 Salty was at second after a Loney single and a fielder's choice erased Loney. Salty got to second on a wild pitch by Derek Lowe and after Ciriaco was walked intentionally, Iglesias grounded out.

Bottom 10th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 3 Melancon records a 1-2-3 inning. Nice job tonight..

Top 10th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 3 Dustin Pedroia walked with one out, but the Sox offense couldn't muster another positive act.

Bottom 9th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 3 That Josh Reddick-Andrew Bailey deal keeps looking even better...for the A's...doesn't it. Bailey surrendered a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez to tie the score. The low liner to right, scored Curtis Granderson (single). Derek Jeter reached on a two-out double to right. Swisher was walked intentionally for A-Rod. He drew a walk to load the bases, Valentine took out Bailey and brought in Mark Melancon. Teixeira flew out to short center, but the Yankees decided not to test Ellsbury's weak arm. Melancon did a nice job in retiring Cano with a ground ball out to keep the Yankees from celebrating a win.

Top 9th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1 James Loney homered to the second deck in right field, only his second homer as a Red Sox.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 A base-running blunder by Brett Gardner took the Yanks out of an inning vs. Craig Breslow. With two outs, Russell Martin singled and was pinch-run for by Gardner. Against the lefty Breslow, Gardner tried to steal but was picked off by Breslow, who threw to Loney at first who threw to Iglesias at second who applied the tag.

Top 8th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Strong inning for Dave Robertson who struck out both Daniel Nava and Cody Ross in a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Very effective and dominant inning by Junichi Tazawa, who struck out A-Rod to end the inning.

Top 7th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Ciriaco singled with one out and stole second base, but the Sox couldn't add to their slim lead.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Big chance squandered by Yanks. After Cano singled off Rich Hill, Hill struck out Martin and Granderson before allowing a double to Eduardo Nunez. With runners at second and third, Hill retired Ichiro on a liner to center.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Nava earned a walk to lead off the inning, but the Sox just haven't been able to muster too much offensively.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 The Yankees caught a break when Lester looked to tweak his left leg on a slippery mound. Lester was able to get through the fifth. He finished the night allowing eight hits and one unearned run.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 A 1-2-3 inning for Phelps.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 A leadoff single by Cano was wasted as Lester regrouped to retire the next three batters.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 A Salty walk was about the weak Sox offense could muster off Phelps.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 The inning looked promising for the Yankees when Nick Swisher doubled down the left field line passed Pedro Ciriaco at third. Alex Rodriguez reached on an infield single to second base, but Mark Teixeira grounded into a double play started by Iglesias and a nice turn by Pedroia.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Nava was hit with a pitch with two outs, but that's all Boston could muster against Phelps.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 The Yankees got one back vs. Jon lester. After he secured the first two outs, Curtis Granderson reached on an infield single to third. Got to second on Pedro Ciriaco's throwing error and the stole third easily off Lester. Nunez then scorched a grounder to shortstop on which Jose Iglesias tried to backhand. The ball squirted away from his glove, scoring the run. The play was ruled a hit because of the velocity of the grounder, but a ball Iglesias would normally field.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0 Pedro Ciriaco beat out an infield single with two outs, but that was all vs. David Phelps.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0 Jon lester allowed a pair of base hits to Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, but a 6-4-3 double play took lester out of harms way and preserved Boston's two-run lead.

Top 1st: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0 The Red Sox got off to a hot start with Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup. He stroked a single to rightcenter and scored all the way from first base on Dustin Pedroia's double to the rightcenter gap. After Pedroia, playing with a broken left ring finger, advanced to thrid on Daniel Nava's ground out to first base, Cody Ross drove Pedroia in with a sacrifice fly.

Good afternoon. Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (69-91)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Nava LF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Ciriaco 3B
Iglesias SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (9-14, 4.94)

YANKEES (93-67)
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Rodriguez 3B
Teixeira 1B
Cano 2B
Martin C
Granderson CF
Nunez DH
Ichiro LF
Pitching: RHP David Phelps (4-8, 3.34)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, YES / WEEI, WCBS

Red Sox vs. Phelps: Ross 1-8, Ciriaco 3-7, Ellsbury 1-6, Podsednik 0-5, Salty 3-3, Aviles 1-3, Lavarnway 0-3, Iglesias 0-2, Loney 1-2, Nava 0-2.

Yankees vs. Lester: Jeter 20-60, Cano 12-55, Swisher 14-44, Teixeira 12-45, Rodriguez 7-39, Jones 8-29, Suzuki 10-34, Granderson 8-30, Nix 7-21, Martin 3-13, Ibanez 4-12, McGehee 1-7, Nunez 1-6, Gardner 1-6, Cervelli 1-4, Stewart 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox were 97-51 (.655) in games started by Lester before Sept. 1, 2011. They are 14-24 (.368) since. He was 75-31, 3.47 until last September. He is 10-17, 5.00 since.

Notes: The Red Sox have lost six straight (one off their season worst), 10 of 11, 20 of 27 and 40 of 56. They are a loss away (or a Toronto win) from clinching last place alone for the first time since 1992. ... The Yankees lead the Orioles by a game in the division with two to go. ... The Sox are 5-11 against the Yankees, their worst mark since going 5-13 in 2001. ... Lester is 9-4, 4.27 in 21 career starts against the Yankees, 1-1, 4.76 in four starts this season. Lester is actually pretty good (6-4, 3.38) in 14 starts on the road. Maybe all the singing and doing the wave at Fenway distracts him. Lester has been fairly decent (4-6, 4.01) in 11 starts since Aug. 1. ... Phelps is 1-1, 3.44 in four games (two starts) against the Sox this season with 17 strikeouts over 18.1 innings. ... Teixeira has 20 RBIs against the Sox this season, the most for a Yankee in a season against the Sox since Mickey Mantle had 22 in 1958.

Song of the Day: "Stay Useless" by Cloud Nothings.

Game over: The Yankees took sole possession of first place in the AL East with a big win over the Red Sox after scoring nine runs in the second inning off a horrible Clay Buchholz and reliever Alfredo Aceves. Tampa Bay beat Baltimore, dropping the Orioles one game back in the division. The game was played in 2:58.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 10, Red Sox 2 Melky Mesa drove in his first major league run with a single to center, his first career hit, off Sox closer Andrew Bailey, Mesa had a smile ear to ear as his teammates cheered him on. Mesa has a tremendous arm.

Top 8th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2 Lin singled again, but Sabathia easily got through this weak lineup.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2 The Yankees had two runners on base when Andrew Miller struck out Martin and Chavez to end the threat.

Top 7th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2 Gomez walked and advanced to second on a Sabathia wild pitch. After Lavarnway grounded out, advancing Gomez to third, Salty got him in with sacrifice fly to left.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 Ichiro, A-Rod and Cano went down in order.

Top 6th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 Ciriaco, Nava and Ross go down in order.

Bottom 5th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 With Pedro Beato in for Aceves, the Yankees got a two-out walk from Chavez, but Beato took care of the rest.

Top 5th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 Lin managed a two-out single, but nothing else as Sabathia continues to breeze.

Bottom 4th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 Ichiro and A-Rod made the first two outs before the red-hot Cano doubled. After Teixeira walked, Swisher struck out to end the threat.

Top 4th: Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 No quit in these Red Sox. Nava homered. The next three go down vs. Sabathia.

Bottom 3rd: Yankees 9, Red Sox 0 Aceves mows down Martin, Chavez and Jeter.

Top 3rd: Yankees 9, Red Sox 0 Sox went down in order as Sabathia whiffs Lin and Ciriaco.

Bottom 2nd: Yankees 9, Red Sox 0 One of the most pathetic innings of the season. An awful outing by Clay Buchholz, who allowed home runs to Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin. He then gave way to Alfredo Aceves who surrendered a two-run blast to Mark Teixeira. Cano also had a two-run double in the inning.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 Mauro Gomez gave Bostona chance with a double to the left-center gap vs. CC Sabathia. He advanced to third on Ryan Lavarnway's long fly ball to right, but Sabathia got the next two outs. Salty fouled out to third and Danny Valencia struck out.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 Buchholz retired the Yankees in order. He struck out Alex Rodriguez on an awkward check swing for the third out.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 CC Sabathia retired the Red Sox in order with a strong showing in the first. Both Daniel Nava and Cody Ross, the Nos. 2 and 3 hitters, went down on strikeouts.

Game over: The Orioles swept the Red Sox with a win this afternoon. Another poor start by Zach Stewart, who the Sox acquired from the Chicago White Sox for Kevin Youkilis. He lasted only 2-2/3 innings and allowed five runs. The game was played before 41,257 in 2:19. Johnson picked up his 50th save. The Orioles were awaiting the Angels-Rangers outcome. If Texas wins, the Orioles clinch a postseason berth.

Bottom 8th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 3 Mark Reynolds hit into an inning ending double-play as the Orioles hand it to Jim Johnson.

Top 8th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 3 Dustin Pedroia reached on an infield hit and then got caught stealing on a great throw by Matt Wieters. Red Sox keep taking strange chances on the bases.

Bottom 7th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 3 McLouth singled and was sacrificed to second. After Chris davis was walked intentionally by Chris Carpenter, Jones knocked into a double-play started by Iglesias.

Top 7th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 3 Nava belted a two-run homer. After Ciriaco singled, he managed to get himself caught in a run down.

Bottom 6th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Three up, three down against Mortensen.

Top 6th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Three fly ball outs for Pedroia, Ross and Gomez.

Bottom 5th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Chris Davis hit No. 31, a shot to right off Clay Mortensen.

Top 5th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 1 A one-out Pedro Ciriaco double was wasted as Nava and Iglesias struck out and the disappearing ellsbury grounded out on a nice play by Hardy.

Bottom 4th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 1 Jose Iglesias makes great play after great play. So fun to watch as he robs Hardy.

Top 4th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 1 Cody Ross homered, his 22nd. Danny Valencia also singed in the inning, but the Sox are taking the one run at a time approach.

Bottom 3rd: Orioles 5, Red Sox 0 Zach Stewart had another early exit - this time 2-2/3 innings. He allowed a leadoff homer to J.J. Hardy, then watched Jim Thome single to center to knock in Adam Jones.

Top 3rd: Orioles 3, Red Sox 0 Jose Iglesias doubled with one out, but Ellsbury and Pedroia can't get him in. The Sox are going to pay Ellsbury how much?

Bottom 2nd: Orioles 3, Red Sox 0 Stewart settles down nicely and sets down the No. 8,9 and leadoff hitter.

Top 2nd: Orioles 3, Red Sox 0 Saunders retired five straight before Ryan Lavarnway roped a double to left field, but he was stranded.

Bottom 1st: Orioles 3, Red Sox 0 Red Sox folks keep telling us Zach Stewart has a great arm. Terriffic. He allowed a leadoff homer to Nate McLouth, then singles to JJ Hardy and Chris Davis and loaded the bases when he hit Adam Jones with a pitch. Matt Wieters knocked into a double-play scoring the second O's run and Jim Thome singled to center accounting for the third run.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Sox helped out Orioles starter Joe Saunders with a lot of early swings. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Cody Ross go down in order.

Good morning. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (69-89)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Gomez 1B
Valencia 3B
Lavarnway C
Nava LF
Ciriaco DH
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Zach Stewart (1-3, 7.91)

ORIOLES (91-67)
McLouth LF
Hardy SS
Davis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Thome DH
Reynolds 1B
Flaherty 2B
Machado 3B
Pitching: LHP Joe Saunders (8-13, 4.09)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Saunders: Pedroia 8-29, Loney 8-27, Ellsbury 5-16, Podsednik 4-11, Salty 1-11, Aviles 1-5, Ross 2-4, DeJesus 1-3.

Orioles vs. Stewart: Hardy 3-4, Jones 0-4, Reynolds 1-2, Thome 1-2, Andino 1-2, Davis 1-2, McLouth 1-2, Wieters 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Orioles have scored 25 runs in their last three games, 21 by home runs.

Notes: The Sox turn their lonely eyes to Stewart to try to avoid a three-game sweep. The 26-year-old, who was obtained from Chicago in the Kevin Youkilis trade, is making his second appearance of the season with the Sox. The first one, against the Angels on Aug. 29 in Anaheim, didn't go so well as Stewart allowed nine runs on 10 hits over three innings. He is 2-8, 7.16 in his previous 13 career starts. One cause for hope: Stewart faced the O's on June 16, 2011 and allowed two runs over seven innings. ... Saunders is 2-3, 3.62 in six start for the Orioles since being obtained from the Diamondbacks. He is 4-2, 4.17 in nine career starts against the Sox, the last in 2010. ... Baltimore is tied with the Yankees for first place in the division. ... The Sox have lost four straight and eight of nine. They are 26-46 since the All-Star break. ... The Sox have not lost 90 games since 1966.

Song of the Day: "Burning Down The House" by Talking Heads.

Game over: The Red Sox dropped their second straight vs. the Orioles, who moved into a first-place tie for first place with the Yankees in the American League East. The Orioles won it on rookie phenom Manny Machado's 7th inning home run to break a 3-3 tie off Felix Doubront, who allowed three earned runs over seven innings and struck out 10. Jim Johnson earned his 49th save. The game was played before 46,311, a sellout at Camden Yards in 2:37.

Bottom 8th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 3 Junichi Tazawa was outstanding in retiring the side. Sported a 96 mph fastball, a moving two-seamer, curveball and split. Pretty nice repertoire.

Top 8th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 3 A combination Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day retired the top of the Sox order.

Bottom 7th: Orioles 4, Red Sox 3 Super rookie third baseman Manny Machado broke the tie with a home run to left off Doubront. The Sox lefty did a nice job escaping further damage. There were Orioles runners at second and third and one out after McLouth's bloop double to left. But Doubront struck out both Hardy and Jones to escape further harm.

Top 7th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 3 Sox managed a 2-out single by Pedro Ciriaco, but Hunter had things under control.

Bottom 6th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 3 Doubront struck out two to bring his total up to six. he allowed a broken bat single to Chris Davis, but retired Mark Reynolds on a grounder that forced the runner at second base. Doubront is sporting an outstanding curveball tonight.

Top 6th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 3 The Sox tied it as Steve Johnson began to tire. Jacoby Ellsbury singled and Scott Podsednik walked to start the sixth. Johnson was replaced by Tommy Hunter. Pedroia grounded out to Hardy who got the force at second base. With runners at first and third Cody Ross' fly ball to right was dropped by Chris Davis with Adam Jones converging. The run scored.

Bottom 5th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 2 The Orioles got a leadoff single by Lew Ford, who was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Robert Andino. But Doubront was able to secure the next two outs from McLouth and Hardy to escape.

Top 5th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 2 Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer with Mauro Gomez (walk) aboard to pull the Sox closer. That's No. 25 for Salty, one behind Carlton Fisk's single-season Sox record for a catcher. Mark Reynolds made a great catch tripping over the tarp near the railing on the first base side and came up with Aviles' pop fly.

Bottom 4th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 0 Chris Davis hit his 30th homer, a two-run shot to right field off Felix Doubront with Adam Jones aboard. Jones had reached on a throwing error by Mike Aviles.

Top 4th: Orioles 1, Red Sox 0 Manny Machado made a sensational play on a short-hop hard-hit grounder by Cody Ross to start an inning-ending doubleplay.

Bottom 3rd: Orioles 1, Red Sox 0 Doubront has a solid inning. Looks as if he has his good stuff again tonight. Now if Sox offense could only get going.

Top 3rd: Orioles 1, Red Sox 0 Sox went down easily in the third.

Bottom 2nd: Orioles 1, Red Sox 0 Doubront hit Chris Davis with a pitch with one out. Davis then easily stole second base. Reynolds reached on an infield hit to the left of the mound that Doubront couldn't handle. Machado followed with a single up the middle, scoring the first Oriole run.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Cody Ross singled and with one out was thrown out trying to steal. After Saltalamacchia walked, Ryan Lavarnway fouled out to first base.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Felix Doubront seemed up for the Orioles challenge tonight with a strong first inning.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 With knowledge of a Yankee loss, the Orioles came out hyped. Starter Steve Johnson retired the Red Sox in order in the first before a packed house at Camden Yards.

Game over The Orioles won their 90th game with a six-run outburst against Aaron Cook in the first inning and a great pitching performance by Chris Tillman, who allowed one hit and one run over eight innings. The game was played in 2:23 before 33,518 at Camden Yards. The Orioles went over the 2 million mark in attendance. The magic number to the postseason for the O's - 3.

Bottom 8th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 Daniel Bard got some work. He walked Teagarden on four pitches after one out, but retired the next two batters.

Top 8th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 Fourteen straight batters retired by Tillman who allowd one bunt single and one run.

Bottom 7th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 After a Thome single (his third hit) vs. Beato, Reynolds knocks into a double-play.

Top 7th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 Tillman never let up with a big lead. The Red Sox haven't had much of a chance all night against him. Three up and three down again. The Sox have mustered one hit - a leadoff bunt single by Podsednik in the first inning.

Bottom 6th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 Orioles give their offense a rest.

Top 6th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 Tillman really pitching well as he retired the Sox in order.

Bottom 5th: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1 Aceves allowed four straight hits, three of them doubles in the fifth to produce three O's runs. Mark Reynolds, Manny Machado and Ryan Flaherty all doubled to produce two runs and Taylor Teagarden singled in the third run of the inning. Aceves was replaced by Valentine and handed him the ball and patted Valentine on the shoulder. Former Oriole Pedro Beato replaced him.

Top 5th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Tillman struck out Salty and Nava in a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 4th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Aceves strong again. He retired the first two batters - Taylor Teagarden with a strikeout and McLouth with a tap back to Aceves. Hardy reached on a nubber down the third base line, but Chris Davis struck out.

Top 4th: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Dustin Pedroia got to second on a stolen base, but Loney flew out to left to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Alfredo Aceves allowed a leadoff single (and error by Scott Podsednik) to center to Jim Thome, who looks 10 years younger. But the O's failed to muster anything else. Acveves had his good stuff going as he retired the next three batters. Aceves has a chance to show why he should be a starting pitcher in the future as he's going to be allowed to go deep into the game. The Orioles are one team which have always been interested in Aceves.

Top 3rd: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Daniel Nava led off with a walk, but he was erased on Podsednik's double-play grounder.

Bottom 2nd: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Aaron Cook's awful outing ended after he put the first two Orioles on in the inning. Alfredo Acves came on and threw a double-play grounder to Chris Davis and then got Adam Jones to ground out on a nice play on a hard-hit ball that nearly took Pedro Ciriaco's head off at third.

Top 2nd: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Tillman retired the Red sox in order as James Loney popped out to third, DH Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out and catcher Ryan Lavarnway grounded out to third base.

Bottom 1st: Orioles 6, Red Sox 1 Aaron Cook didn't get the memo about being a spoiler. Maybe he didn't get the memo about being the starting ptcher. He allowed a leadoff single to Nate McLouth and then after one out, Chris Davis hit his 29th homer, a smash on a 1-1 pitch to rightfield. Cook really struggled here. After Adam Jones grounded out for the second out, the O's loaded the bases on singles by Jim Thome and Manny Machado, and a walk to Mark Reynolds. Cook then allowed a grand slam to Ryan Flaherty, his sixth on a 2-1 pitch to right field.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Orioles 0 This is a pride series for the Red Sox. The O's knocked them out last season and the Sox would like to make baseball's Cinderella team squirm. The Sox got a run when Scott Podsednik beat out an infield hit and advanced to second on an error. After he was advanced to third on a Pedro Ciriaco grounder, Dustin Pedroia's sac fly drove him in.

Game over: The Red Sox ended their Fenway season with a 34-47 record with a 4-2 loss to the Rays Wednesday night. Jon Lester was beaten again, and is now 9-14 on the season. The game was played in 3:18 before 37,247. Sox players just threw T-shirts into the crowd.

Top 9th: Rays 4, Red Sox 2 Rays couldn't do much vs. Craig Breslow, who walked a batter but struck out three.

Bottom 8th: Rays 4, Red Sox 2 Not much left in the tank for these Sox.

Top 8th: Rays 4, Red Sox 2 Mark Melancon has been impressive. After allowing a leadoff single to BJ Upton, he struck out the next three batters.

Bottom 7th: Rays 4, Red Sox 2 Sox go down again as Fenway is now about half empty in this final Fenway game of 2012.

Top 7th: Rays 4, Red Sox 2 Lobaton's ground rule double off Rich Hill scored an insurance run for the Rays.

Bottom 6th: Rays 3, Red Sox 2 The Sox chipped away at the Rays lead with one run. Pedroia stole second, his 100th career theft, and after a Ross single to right, Loney's sacrifice fly got the run home.

Top 6th: Rays 3, Red Sox 1 Lester surrendered a two-out double to Ben Zobrist but struck out Longoria to end the inning.

Bottom 5th: Rays 3, Red Sox 1 Sox can't counter with anything off Cobb. Three up and three down.

Top 5th: Rays 3, Red Sox 1 Lester lost no-hitter and shutout here. Keppinger singled with one out for the first hit and that was folllowed by Pena's homer. Francisco made it back-to-back off the Triple A sign over the Monster.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 A Lavarnway single with one out was erased by a Nava double-play grounder.

Top 4th:Red Sox 1, Rays 0 Lester again has a strong inning. Hasn't allowed a hit.

Bottom 3d: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 The Sox threatened for more, putting two runners on base. A Scott Podsednik single resulted in Dustrin Pedroia reaching on a fielder's choice and then stealing second base. Ross walked, but Loney grounded out to end the threat.

Top 3d: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 Lester continued to be on his game, retiring the bottom of the Rays order. He's pitched to the minimum nine batters so far.

Bottom 2d: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 The Red Sox drew first blood. A walk to Salty and an RBI single Daniel Nava, after Salty advanced to second on a ground ball out by Lavarnway, did the trick.

Top 2d: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Longoria drew a walk but Lester managed to get out of it when Pena knocked into a double play.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Dustin Pedroia drew a two-out walk against Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb, but Cody Ross popped out to end the threat.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Lester retired the Rays in order after a long ceremony to honor the All-Fenway team.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (69-86)
Ciriaco 3B
Podsednik CF
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Nava LF
Iglesias SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (9-13, 4.96)

RAYS (84-70)
Jennings RF
Upton CF
Zobrist SS
Longoria 3B
Keppinger DH
Pena 1B
Francisco LF
Roberts 2B
Lobaton C
Pitching: RHP Alex Cobb (9-9, 4.27)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Cobb: Aviles 0-6, Pedroia 0-5, Salty 0-2, Podsednik 104, Ciriaco 0-3, Ellsbury 1-3, Loney 1-3, Ross 0-3, Iglesias 0-1, Lavaenway 0-2, Nava 0-2.

Rays vs. Lester: Upton 13-58, Pena 12-45, Longoria 11-42, Zobrist 7-32, Rodriguez 2-16, Molina 5-15, Scott 0-11, Francisco 2-14, Jennings 3-9, Johnson 2-7, Fuld 1-6, Lobaton 0-5, Joyce 2-3, Gimenez 0-2.

Stat of the Day: The Sox are 34-46 at Fenway this season, getting outscored 419-417. Their all-time worst record at home (over a 162-game season) was 34-47 in 1965.

All-Fenway team revealed: As a conclusion to the season-long 100th Anniversary celebration of Fenway Park, the Red Sox will present the All-Time Fenway Park Team during a pre-game ceremony tonight. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m.

Notes: Say goodbye to the Sox, who are playing their final home game until April 8, 2013 against Baltimore. The Sox have lost five of six but remain a half-game ahead of Toronto in the division. The Jays must be awful. ... The Rays have won six straight and are three games out of a wild card spot with eight to play. ... Lester is 4-5, 3.97 in his last 10 starts. He faced the Rays on May 25 and allowed seven runs over four innings. He is 10-7, 4.29 in 21 career starts against the Rays. ... Cobb has faced the Sox twice this season and allowed four earned runs over 11 innings. ... Per the Red Sox, tonight’s game will be the 8,000th Major League game played at Fenway Park, including regular season and postseason games played by both the Red Sox and Boston Braves.

Song of the Day: "Don't Come Around Here No More" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Game over: Rays 5, Red Sox 2: David Price had a somewhat rocky few innings but bamboozled the Sox over the final six innings to improve to 19-5. The Rays have won six straight.

It was Price's fourth career complete game. He fanned 13 and was in control the whole time. Buchholz falls to 11-7.

Middle of the 9th: Rays 5, Red Sox 2: Last licks for the Sox after Vicente Padilla pitches a scoreless inning. Price stays in the game despite Fernando Rodney warming up.

Top of the 9th: Rays 5, Red Sox 2: Price is likely finished after eight innings and 102 pitches. He struck out 11, one off his season high, and scattered seven hits.

This would be six straight wins for the Rays. Oakland is tied with Texas in the sixth in Texas.

Top of the 8th: Rays 5, Red Sox 2: Price has fanned 10 and allowed seven hits. Buchholz was done after six innings. His line: 6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER. 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 99 pitches, 61 strikes.

Middle of the 6th: Rays 5, Red Sox 2: Sloppy inning for the Sox there. With runners on first and second, Pena grounded to first. Gomez fired to shortstop for one out and Iglesias relayed to Buchholz at first. It should have been a double play but Buchholz came off the bag.

Molina followed with a well-hit ball to left field that Nava played off the wall. One scored and another came in with Nava fumbled the ball. Molina was injured running to first and came out of the game. Jose Lobaton replaced him.

Top of the 6th: Rays 3 Red Sox 2: Price has settled down. Buchholz, too. William Shatner is here. That's all I really have for you at this point.

Top of the 4th: Rays 3, Red Sox 2: Ciriaco and Nava singled with one out. With Pedroia up, Ciriaco inexplicably tried to steal third and was thrown out.

Here's why you don't do that:

1. Pedroia is up.

2. You have the speed to score from second on a single.

3. Pedroia is up.

Ciriaco does a few things you like. But he has a tendency to over-reach at times.

Pedroia, naturally, doubled and Nava went to third. He scored from there on a balk by Price. Ross had a chance to tie it and struck out. So the Sox have six hits in the last two innings and two runs thanks to bad base running.

Middle of the 3rd: Rays 3, Red Sox 1: The Sox scored a run in the second. Ross singled before Gomez singled off the ladder on the wall in left. You almost never see that.

Lavarnway popped out and Ross held at third. Valencia followed with a liner to the gap in left. He took a wide turn around first and was thrown out going back to the base. So the Sox turned three hits into one run.

Middle of the 2nd: Rays 3, Red Sox 0: Buchholz walked Longoria on six pitches and Scott on four. Then he threw a first-pitch, get-me-over fastball to Keppinger. He crushed it off the base of the light tower in left.

Middle of the 1st: Rays 0, Red Sox 0: The game started after a delay of 12 minutes. Can't believe Curt Schilling missed the ceremony and another chance to criticize Valentine.

Buchholz retired the side in order. That's 8 shutout innings in a row for him against the Rays.

2004 ceremony underway: Those in attendance from the 2004 team are riding duck boats around the warming track.

Terry Francona got a big hand. The trophy is on one of the boats. The players are throwing soft baseballs to the crowd. This is nice and all, but Fenway is about a third full.

Here is who showed up:

Players: Keith Foulke, Nomar Garciaparra, Adam Hyzdu, Pedro Martinez, Dave McCarty, Kevin Millar, Joe Nelson, Trot Nixon, David Ortiz, Phil Seibel, Jason Shiell, Mike Timlin, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, Alan Embree.

Manager: Terry Francona,

Coaches: Ron Jackson, Lynn Jones, Dave Wallace, Brad Mills.

Ortiz hopped on a duck boat from the dugout. The scoreboard showed messages from Derek Lowe, Dave Roberts and Bronson Arroyo.

Foulke threw out the first pitch to Varitek and the catcher jumped into his arms like that night in St. Louis.

Pre-game: No replacement refs here at Fenway. Just good old baseball. The Sox entertain the Rays in the penultimate home game of this tortured season. It's a good pitching matchup as Clay Buchholz faces David Price.

The Sox have a lineup that includes Pedro Ciriaco, Daniel Nava, Mauro Gomez, Ryan Lavarnway, Danny Valencia, Che-Hsuan Lin and Jose Iglesias. If those seven guys were at a table at Legal Seafood, how many people would know they played for the Sox?

But if you're reading this blog, bet you do. So hang out for updates and we'll try to be entertaining.

Feel free to leave your comments. They actually work, I'm told.

Final, Red Sox 2, Orioles 1: The Red Sox avoid the sweep and snap both a four-game losing streak and a four-game home losing streak. Boston will enjoy an off day tomorrow before playing their final two home games of the season against Tampa Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday night. The Red Sox improve to 69-85 with the win.

Top 9th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 2: Andrew Bailey hits the hill for Boston looking for his sixth save of the season. Weiters, who was on fire in the first two games, grounds out to second to cap an 0-for-4 day. A Jim Thome pinch-hit, ground-rule double puts O's on second and third. An intentional walk of Davis loads the bases. Gomez fields Machado's grounder and goes home to cut down the lead runner. And pinch-hitter Ryan Flaherty goes down looking to end it.

Bottom 8th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 2: Pedroia pulls the crowd back into this game with an opposite field double down the first base line and along the right field wall. Ross follows with a high fly to left that catches the top of the Monster four an RBI double. Mauro Gomez pinch hitting, puts a charge on a Brian Matusz pitch, but it is run down in left-center. Lavarnway is the second straight Sox pinch-hitter, promoting another O's pitching change as they bring on 19-year-old Dylan Bundy, making his Major League debut. Bundy induces two flyouts to end the inning.

Top 8th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: Junichi Tazawa spells Doubront who finished with a career-high eleven strikeouts on the day. Tazawa makes quick work of the Orioles with a 1-2-3 inning. It's the fourth time today that Baltimore, who has four hits on the day, has gone down order.

Bottom 7th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: Troy Patton starts the inning in relief for the O's, but is lifted after allowing a Scott Podsednik single. Bobby Ayala comes on for Baltimore and retires Ciriaco with some big help from Machado who makes a great diving play to his right on a ball down the line, then popping up to beat Ciriaco by half a step.

Top 7th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: Iglesias makes a nifty play at short, charging in on a ball, and line drive flipping it to second base, but the double play could not be completed on Machado. But Doubront uses the opportunity to up his K mark, as he sits down Andino for the third time tonight for his eleventh strikeout.

Bottom 6th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: James Loney singles in the frame, but the Sox can muster nothing more.

Top 6th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: Doubront gets Mark Reynolds swinging to end a 1-2-3 inning. It was Doubront's tenth strikeout of the day, a career high mark for the lefty. It was also the third time he's gotten Reynolds today.

Bottom 5th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: The Sox are retired 1-2-3 for the second time on the day. Pedro Ciriaco has three fly outs to right field.

Top 5th, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: Lew Ford gets the first Orioles hit of the game, a single back up the box on the first pitch of the inning. And Chris Davis wall-balls a double for their second hit. Machado pops one up to shallow left that Ciriaco just misses, allowing Ford to tie the game. Doubront bears down, strikes out two more and gets out of the jam. Felix has tied his season and career-highs with nine strikeouts in a game.

Bottom 4th, Orioles 0, Red Sox 1: Cody Ross checks in with a wall-ball single to leadoff and scores on an error by Andino who threw away a perfect double-play ball that would have ended the inning. Iglesias flies out to right, ending the inning and stranding two.

Top 4th, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Doubront strikes out the side, giving him seven through four innings. He is doing a solid job mixing his pitches and keeping these hitters guessing.

Bottom 3rd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Tillman gets the Sox to go down quietly, the first 1-2-3 of the day for the Orioles.

Top 3rd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Doubront allows a leadoff walk to Manny Machado, but then mows down the next in order, tossing two more Ks to the effort.

Bottom 2nd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Jarros Saltalamacchia hits one a mile high and Robert Andino loses it in the sun, allowing the ball to drop to between him and Jones in shallow center. Andino gets a second chance on another mile-high pop, finding Danny Valencia's fly, albeit with a little bit of concern at the end of the play. Daniel Nava moves Salty to third with a deep sac-fly to center. Jose Iglesias strands Salty with a ground out to short.

Top 2nd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Two strikeouts and another fly ball out to centerfield for Doubront and crew as a Lew Ford walk proves harmless.

Bottom 1st, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Podsednik and Dustin Pedroia each pick up first-inning singles, but can't be helped around as James Loney ends the inning on a check-swing grounder to third base.

Top 1st, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Doubront gets the Orioles on three straight flyouts to start the game. Cody Ross went slamming into the right field wall to track down an Adam Jones fly to end the inning.

Pregame: Hello from Fenway Park on a gorgeous fall Sunday. I am Craig Forde, back one more time to keep you updated on all of today’s action. The Red Sox are looking to avoid their second three-game sweep at home against Baltimore this season. The O’s are 10-4 against the Sox this year and 7-1 at Fenway. Felix Doubront will be making his second start of the season against Baltimore. He lost in his prior outing against them back on May 22nd, but did post a season-high nine strikeouts over six innings. The O’s counter with Chris Tillman who had a no decision in an August 16th start against the Red Sox. Skies are clear as can be, the sun is shining bright, and it is the last home day game of the season. It’s a perfect day for baseball!

Final: Orioles 9, RedSox 6: It was an entertaining one to be sure, but the Sox never gained a lead all day and ultimately fall for the fourth straight game. The Orioles improve to 11-0 in extra-inning games on the road, and 16-2 overall when additional frames are required. We’ll do it all over again tomorrow as Felix Doubront faces Chris Tillman in a 1:35 p.m. start.

Bottom 12th, Orioles 9, Red Sox 6: The A.L. saves leader, Jim Johnson (46) on to shut the door for the second straight night. Gomez hits an opposite field single to right and moves to second on a defensive indifference, but gets no further as Johnson shuts things down, striking out Valencia to end it.

Top 12th, Orioles 9, Red Sox 6: Alfredo Aceves is pitcher number eight for Boston against the meat of Baltimore's order. Jones ropes a two-bagger to the wall in left-center to lead things off. Thome with a shot off of Aceves that one hops the track in right field for a ground-rule double, scoring Jones. Endy Chavez drives in pinch-runner Xavier Avery with a single to right and Aceves is yanked for Chris Carpenter. Machado scores Chavez with a single back up the box and the Orioles add a little more breathing room. The bleeding stops on a pop-up to third by McLouth.

Bottom 11th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: Tommy Hunter hits the hill for Baltimore, becoming the thirteenth pitcher of the day. The top of the Sox order goes down without a fight and we get one more free frame.

Top 11th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: It's a new inning, so it must be time for a new Sox pitcher...ladies and gentlemen, Marc Melancon. And it's another 1-2-3 inning for Boston who have sent down thirteen straight O's.

Bottom 10th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: Sox sandwich an Aviles single and a Nava walk into the inning, but can't do anything about it. More free baseball ahead.

Top 10th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: Andrew Bailey is the sixth pitcher of the game for Boston and he gets the O's to go down in order.

Bottom 9th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: Luis Ayala on in relief for Baltimore. Pedroia hits a flat, foul pop-up that Reynolds tracks down before the camera well on the first base side. Ross gets caught up on an Ayala breaking ball, striking out for the second out. Lavarnway's strike out sends us into extra frames.

Top 9th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: Junichi Tazawa becomes the fifth Boston pitcher on the day. Jones goes down swinging at a 96-mile-per hour heater and Weiters is finally retired on a groundout to first. After a battle, Tazawa gets Thome swinging at 95-mile-per hour cheese.

Bottom 8th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 6: Nava goes two-put, wall-ball double and Pods follows with one of his own as McLouth just misses on it as he leaped at the wall. Ciriaco grounds to second for the third out as we head to the ninth inning deadlocked at six.

Top 8th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 5: Craig Breslow on for the Red Sox and he works a 1-2-3 inning, only the second time the Sox have retired Baltimore in order today.

Bottom 7th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 5: Podsednick opens things with a double, followed by a Ciriaco walk and a crazy play at second where the Orioles Hardy and Flaherty ran into each other, missing the force play and loading the bases. Ross chops one to second base and Pedroia is tagged out going to second base for the first out, but not before Pods crossed the plate. Hardy makes up for things with a great diving play at shortstop on a Lavarnway grounder. He gets the force at second, but Ciriaco scores to pull the Sox within one. Gomez strikes out to end the rally.

Top 7th, Orioles 6, Red Sox 3: Adam Jones whacks the first pitch of the inning off of the Sports Authority sign above the Monster seats for his 31st home run of the season. After sprinkling in a couple of walks, Mortensen gets out without any additional damage by striking out three batters.

Bottom 6th, Orioles 5, Red Sox 3: Jake Arrieta on to pitch for the Orioles and he makes quick work of the Sox, setting them down 1-2-3 for the second straight inning.

Top 6th, Orioles 5, Red Sox 3: Cook strikes out the leadoff man, but allowed back-to-back hits, running him from the game in favor of Rich Hill

Cook's final line: 5 1/3 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 77/48 pitches/strikes

Ryan Flaherty takes Hill to the triangle for a bases-clearing triple. Hill Ks McLouth, but is lifted for Mortensen who gets Hardy to ground out to short to end the inning.

Bottom 5th, Orioles 3, Red Sox 3: Ross, Lavarnway and Gomez go down 1-2-3, the first time the Sox have been retired in order today.

Top 5th, Orioles 3, Red Sox 3: Weiters picks up his second double of the day and third hit as he continues to knock the leather off the ball against the Red Sox, but for third time Thome follows with a grounder hit perfectly to Pedroia in the shift.

Bottom 4th, Orioles 3, Red Sox 3: Danny Valencia makes a nice impression on the home crowd with a two-run bomb that cleared everything in left field. It is his first home run as a member of the Red Sox, and scored Aviles who had reached on a leadoff single. Nava makes it three very solid hits for Boston, as Wolf heads towards the 70 pitch mark for the game. Pedroia grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 4th, Orioles 3, Red Sox 1: Mark Reynolds takes a 2-0 fastball off the AAA sign above the Monster seats for his 22nd long ball of the season. The O's continue to put good wood on Cook's pitches, but can't muster any more runs.

Bottom 3rd, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Ciriaco leads off with a single but is promptly gunned down trying to steal second. The next two guys reached base before Randy Wolf extinguished the threat by forcing Lavarnway to pop to first and striking out Gomez.

Top 3rd, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Once again Thome finds Pedroia on the shift, this time Dustin catches up to the grounder going to his right, allowing him to force an out at second and throw to first to double up Thome.

Bottom 2nd, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: A Daniel Nava walk was the only threat the Sox had in the second, but he was stranded at first as the Sox put up the first zero of the day.

Top 2nd, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Chris Davis singles, then moves to second on an errant pick off throw by Cook. Manny Machado follows with a single to center and Podsednik's throw is not enough to catch Davis at the plate. The O's put a few more on, but can't plate another run as Scott Podsednik makes a nice play in front of the wall in center to end the inning.

Bottom 1st, Orioles 1, Red Sox 1: Dustin Pedroia bounces one into the stands down in right for a ground rule double and Ryan Lavarnway flares one opposite field to right to get him home and tie the game up at one. Mauro Gomez sizzles his bat in half on an inning-ending liner to short.

Top 1st, Orioles 1, Red Sox 0: Aaron Cook wastes a strike in walking Nate McLouth on five pitches to start the game. And McLouth wastes no time in stealing second base, which he does on the first pitch to J.J. Hardy who advances him to third with a ground out to second. Adam Jones hits one out to shortstop and with Mike Aviles playing back on the ball his only play was at first base for the second out. McLouth scores the first run of the game. Weiters picks up where he left off yesterday, opposite fielding a double into the left field corner. Thome hits into the shift with Pedroia back on the outfield grass for the final out of the inning.

Pregame: Good afternoon folks, I am Craig Forde, back on blogging duties fifteen hours after the Sox dropped game one of their three-game set to Baltimore, 4-2. The Autumnal equinox is upon us and as we change seasons, Fenway Park plays host to a little day baseball. The weather will be around 70 degrees and overcast by first pitch, so kick back on this fine fall day, follow along as we provide you with live updates and feel free to comment.

Good morning. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (68-84)
Ciriaco DH
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Lavarnway C
Gomez 1B
Aviles SS
Valencia 3B
Nava LF
Podsednik CF
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (4-10, 4.93)

ORIOLES (86-64)
McLouth LF
Hardy SS
Jones CF
Wieters C
Thome DH
Reynolds 1B
Davis RF
Machado 3B
Flaherty 2B
Pitching: LHP Randy Wolf (2-0, 5.23)

Game time: 1:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Wolf: Ross 3-14, Loney 3-10, Podsednik 1-8, Saltalamacchia 3-9, Ellsbury 1-4, Pedroia 1-4.

Orioles vs. Cook: Reynolds 5-22, McLouth 4-18, Chavez 5-16, Betemit 5-9, Wolf 0-6, Hardy 1-4, Jones 1-5, Wieters 2-4, Davis 2-4, Andino 0-2, Machado 0-2, Quintinilla 0-2.

Stat of the Day: The Orioles are 52-21 in games decided by one or two runs. The Sox are 30-41.

Notes: The Orioles have won five straight and eight of 10. They are 40-20 since July 18 ... The Sox have lost three straight ... Baltimore starts the day a game out of first in the AL East ... The Sox are 4-9 against the Orioles this season, 1-6 at Fenway ... Cook has faced the Orioles twice this season, allowing 11 hits and 12 runs (8 earned) over 8 innings. He was spiked in his start against them on May 5 and suffered a cut on his left knee that led to a stay on the disabled list ... Wolf, who signed with the Orioles on Aug. 31 after being released by Milwaukee, is getting a spot start based on a 3-1, 2.70 career record in six starts against the Sox. That includes going 2-1, 4.73 in four starts at Fenway. Pitching for the Brewers, he allowed two runs over seven innings at Fenway last June 18 ... Reynolds is 15 of 34 in 10 games against the Sox this season with nine extra-base hits, 15 RBIs, 8 walks and 8 runs scored ... Iglesias is 4 of 7 after going 2 of 35.

Song of the Day: "Bird on a Wire" by Johnny Cash.

Final: Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: After posting a 14-0 mark in his first 20 career starts against the Orioles, Jon Lester picks up his first loss against them. The good news for the Red Sox, if such thing exists this year, is that they shouldn’t fall into last place as the Blue Jays were getting trounced by Tampa Bay, 12-1, late in the game. We return tomorrow for some afternoon baseball with a 1:10 p.m. start time as Aaron Cook faces off against Randy Wolf. Only four more home games to play in this 2012 season.

Bottom 9th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Jim Johnson on to close the door for the Orioles, looking to set the Orioles mark for saves in a season with 46. He is currently tied with Randy Myers.

Salty runs the count full before flying out to right. Loney grounds out to Reynolds who slips to Johnson covering the bag for out number two. Nava keeps hop alive with a single to left. Mauro Gomez, pinch-hitting for Iglesias, strikes out to end the game.

Top 9th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Mark Melancon on in relief for Boston.

Machado first pitch swinging, grounds out to Pedroia. Chavez grounds out to Iglesias who makes it look so easy sometimes. Andino catches a 94-mile-per-hour heater on the back of his left shoulder. Andino gets lifted for a pinch runner and stares down Melancon as he cross the infield from first base. Omar Quintanilla on to run. McLouth takes the first pitch back through the box for a single. Hardy strikes out to end the inning.

Bottom 8th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Pedroia goes down, 5-3, to start the inning. Ross with a laser to center that looked as if it could find the gap, but Jones is just too quick and tracks it down. Lavarnway with a harmless fly to left to end the inning. The 3-4-5 hitters for Boston are 1-for-12 on the night.

Top 8th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Scott Atchison on for the Red Sox.

Lester's final line: 7 IP, 8H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 112/70 pitches/strikes

Jones Ks and is retired for the first time this evening. Weiters is tamed this time around, flying to center on an 0-2 count. Ciriaco can't barehand the slow roller from Reynolds who reaches with a single. Ford flies out to center to end the inning.

Bottom 7th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Nava to center field, Jones doesn't move much to get to it for the first out. Iglesias with a nice piece of the first pitch he sees, lining it into left for a single. Buck Showalter out to the mound to pull Gonzalez who leaves after 101 pitches, 72 of which were for strikes.

The side-arming Darren O'Day on for Baltimore. Ciriaco posts one out to Jones in center after a series of foul balls. Podsednik grounds to Andino who flips to Hardy to end the inning.

Top 7th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Lester back on the mound to start the seventh. Pedroia moves to his left on a Chavez grounder and flips to Loney for the first out. Andino finds that hole between Loney and the first base line for a single. He is the third O's batter to put it right down the line tonight. McLouth skies a foul pop up that Ciriaco snatches in front of the O's dugout. Hardy goes down looking to end the inning. Lester at 112 pitches, tied for his sixth highest total of the year.

Bottom 6th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Lavarnway lines to third for out number one. Salty with a high fly ball that McLouth camps under for the second out. Loney follows up with a similar fly out to left field for Gonzalez's second 1-2-3 for the night.

Top 6th, Orioles 4, Red Sox 2: Hardy nubs one back to Lester who runs it most of the way to first before handing off to Loney for the out. Jones picks up the free pass, Lester's third. Weiters comes through again for the O's, lining one into the left field corner, bringing home Jones for the second time tonight. Its the 21st multi-hit game for Weiters who has all three of the Orioles RBIs to this point. A wild pitch puts Weiters on third with one out. Reynolds punches home Weiters with an RBI single past the drawn in infield. Ciriaco with the play of the day so far, lunging to his left on a very hard hit grounder from Ford, eliminating Reynolds at second base. Machado grounds out to Iglesias who flips to Pedroia at second for the last out.

Lester ends the inning at 93 pitches, 59 for strikes...action in the bullpen may spell the end of his night.

Bottom 5th, Orioles 2, Red Sox 2: Nava swings at a bad ball in the dirt and is retired at first to make it official. Igesias grounds to Reynolds at first for the second out. Ciriaco grounds it back up the middle, Gonzalez slows it down but Andino can't make the throw to retired Pedro at first. It goes down as a single, Ciriaco's second hit of the night. Sox execute on a hit-and-run with Pods putting his hit into left field as Ciriaco advances to third on the play. Pedroia finds the hole on the left side of the infield to tie the game at two. Nice at-bat by Dustin, working the count full and then some before slapping one through, snapping an 0-for-18 drought. Ross grounds to short and the Hardy shuffles it to Andino for the last out.

Top 5th, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Chavez grounds out to third and Ciriaco makes it interesting with this throw, but Loney gets it on the other side of the bag for the first out. Andino skips a fast grounder past the dive of Ciriaco for a single. McLouth sets up Iglesias with the perfect 6-3 double play to end the inning. It's the second straight inning-ending DP for the Sox and their third of the night.

Bottom 4th, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Ross down on strikes to start things off. Lavarnway puts some good wood on a ball, but it hangs up in right field for Chavez. Balls seem to be dying down tonight unless they are hit on a line. Salty draws the Sox first walk of the night, his 35th of the season. Loney ends the inning with a fly out to left.

Top 4th, Orioles 2, Red Sox 1: Hardy pops a leadoff single into left field. Jones gets a nice piece of the first pitch he sees and takes it out to the Monster for a double, giving the Orioles two runners in scoring position with no outs. Weiters finds that seem between Loney and the line, scoring both runners with an opposite field single. Reynolds hits one a mile-high and Loney gets to it in foul ground for the first out. Lester gives up his second free pass of the night, this time to Ford, bringing Randy Niemann to the hill for a visit. Lester handles the Machado comeback nicely, but puts a terrible throw to second base that thankfully Iglesias snatched up and turned the double play on. The Sox have had a 9-4-3 and 1-6-3 double so far.

Bottom 3rd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 1: Daniel Nava pulls one perfectly down the right field line, along the right field wall where it got hung up out near the 380 mark, bringing Nava back to second for a ground-rule double. Iglesias with "how-not-to-bunt" showing on pitch number one, popping it perfectly to third base. Ciriaco brings home Nava with a wall-ball double that popped up off the top of the scoreboard. Podsednik makes sure that Machado is awake with a ripped liner to third for the second out. Pedroia stands Ciriaco with a groundout to second base. Sox draw first blood.

Top 3rd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Chavez chops one out towards second and Pedroia makes a nice place coming in on the ball. Robert Andino draws the first walk of the game. McLouth ropes one out towards the bullpen but Pods gets to it backtracking and relays it back in to double off Andino at first. Andino was long past second when Pods caught the ball just on the warning track. Solid stuff from Lester thus far.

Bottom 2nd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Ryan Lavarnway grounds out to short. Jared Saltalamacchia with a liner to short for out number two. James Loney becomes Miguel Gonzalez's first strikeout victim of the night, as the Sox go down 1-2-3.

Top 2nd, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Mark Reynolds becomes the second Oriole to leadoff with a strikeout. Baltimore is keeping Iglesias warm at short as Lew Ford grounds to short for the second out. Manny Machado makes it a 1-2-3 inning with a groundout to third.

Bottom 1st, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: Pedro Ciriaco grounds to short for a leadoff out. Scott Podesdnik takes a 1-2 pitch into right field field for the first Red Sox hit of the game. Dustin Pedroia puts a charge into one, sending out to center field, but it hangs up and Jones gets to it before the warning track. Cody Ross hits an opposite field liner that Endy Chavez gets to in time to end the inning.

Top 1st, Orioles 0, Red Sox 0: A 90-mile-per-hour cutter from Jon Lester retires Nate McLouth for the first out of the ballgame. J.J. Hardy follows with an easy ground out to Jose Iglesias at short. Adam Jones goes opposite field on a Lester curve, finding space between Loney and the first base line, for a single. Matt Weiters knicks one off the top of his bat, slicing off a splinter as the ball rolls out to Iglesias for another easy out, ending the inning.

Pregame: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Craig Forde, back once again to drive the live blog ship as the Sox kick off their final homestand of the season with the first of three against the Baltimore Orioles. Jon Lester (9-12) looks to reach double digit wins for the fifth straight season and run his career record against Baltimore to 15-0. The Sox will look to trip up the Orioles who currently sit one game behind the Yankees in the A.L. East, but still maintain a 4 ½ game lead for one of the two Wildcard spots. We are down to the final eleven games of the season and the temps are down in the low 60s and sinking. So bundle up, sit back, follow along and comment away as we provide live updates throughout the evening.

Game over: BJ Upton hit a dramatic three-run walkoff homer against Vicente Padilla to snatch victory from defeat.

The Rays were down 4-1 when they tied the score against Andrew Bailey who blew the save. Padilla came on with runners at second and third and one out and after falling behind 2-1 to Upton. He drilled the three-run blast to center ending the game. The Red Sox split with the Rays and went 4-3 on the road trip.

Clay Buchholz pitched seven shutout, four-hit innings while Junichi Tazawa allowed a run in the eighth. Bailey had been very good since being inserted in the closer role. He allowed back-to-back singles to Matt Joyce and Jeff Keppinger, but then retired Luke Scott on a ground ball to first base as the runners advanced to second and third. Carlos Pena ran the count to 3-2 before stroking a single to right to score the second run. Runners were at first and third with one out for pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt, who drew a walk to load the bases and one out. Desmond Jennings singled in a pair of runs to erase Boston's lead.

Top 9th: Red Sox 4, Rays 1 Jose Iglesias homered to left field, his first career round-tripper.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 3, Rays 1 With Junichi Tazawa replacing Clay Buchholz, who went seven innings and allowed four hits, two walks and struck out four, Desmond Jennings scorched a hard grounder over Mike Aviles' glove at third base for a double. He advanced to third on B.J. Upton's fly ball to right. He scored on Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly to left.

Top 8th: Red Sox 3, Rays 0 Mauro Gomez stroked a stand-up triple to rightcenter scoring Ryan Lavarnway as he greeted reliever Wade Davis with a shot to the gap. Davis relieved David Price, who once again received no run support.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 2, Rays 0 Buchholz allowed a double off the left field wall to Luke Scott with one out, but once again the Rays were unable to capitalize. Carlos Pena grounded out and pinch-hitter Ryan Roberts flew out to center to end the threat.

Top 7th: Red Sox 2, Rays 0 Sox get Podsednik to third, but can't drive him home. Podsednik singled to shortstop and moved along on ground ball outs by Iglesias and Ellsbury. Pedroia made another out and is 0-for-15 in this series.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 2, Rays 0 The Buchholz machine kept rolling. He retired the side. The Rays have now gone 22 straight innings at The Trop without scoring for Price.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Rays 0 The Sox rallied vs Price and broke his 29-1/3 scoreless innings streak at Tropicana Field. Jose Iglesias got his second hit, beating out an infield single to shortstop. After Ellsbury struck out and Pedroia flew out to right, a wild pitch advanced Iglesias and he rode home on a Ross double. Ryan Lavarnway singled in the second run. Mauro Gomez singled to right, Aviles walked but Nava fouled out to third to end the rally.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 The Rays were foiled in their attempt to score vs. Buchholz. They had a chance. Buchholz walked Carlos Pena with one out and Desmond Jennings singled sending Pena to third with two outs, but B.J. Upton flew out to right to end the threat.

Top 5th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Mike Aviles singled to right but was caught stealing as Daniel Nava swung and missed for strike three. This might have been a missed hit and run. Scott Podsednik grounded out to end the inning.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Buchholz keeps on rolling. He retired Longoria, Joyce and Keppinger.

Top 4th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Ross, Lavarnway and Gomez are retired by Price.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Pedro Ciriaco is having a tough time picking up the ball in centerfield. He let BJ Upton's routine flyball drop in front of him for a double which should have eben the third out of the inning. That made Buchholz have to work a little harder and essentially get four outs to get out of the inning, which he did.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Price allowed a single to Jose Iglesias, but retired the hitters before and after him to keep the Sox off the scoreboard.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 The Rays wasted a leadoff double by Evan Longoria on a deep drive to right center on which there was limited communication between Pedro Ciriaco, playing center, and Daniel Nava, playing right. The ball fell between them. But Buchholz did a good job working out of it, allowing a walk to Luke Scott, before getting the third out without the Rays scoring.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Price is right tonight. Gomez, Aviles and Nava go down easily.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Clay Buchholz is the other half of this excellent pitching matchup with David Price. He retired the Rays in order in the first.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Cody Ross reached on an error by David Price with two outs after Dustin Pedroia nearly beat out an infield hit ahead of him. That was the only error Cy Young candidate Price would make however as the Sox were retired.

Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (68-82)
Ciriaco CF
Pedroia 2B
Ross DH
Lavarnway C
Gomez 1B
Aviles 3B
Nava RF
Podsednik LF
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (11-6, 4.33)

RAYS (79-70)
Jennings LF
Upton CF
Zobrist SS
Longoria 3B
Joyce RF
Keppinger 2B
Scott DH
Pena 1B
Mplina C
Pitching: LHP David Price (18-5, 2.54)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Price: Pedroia 8-23, Ellsbury 6-20, Aviles 4-13, Ross 1-8, Salty 1-8, Nava 0-8, Podsednik 2-7, Ciriaco 0-4.

Rays vs. Buchholz: Scott 6-28, Pena 5-28, Zobrist 3-26, Longoria 5-24, Upton 6-20, Joyce 5-12, Molina 5-12, Rodriguez 3-10, Jennings 1-4, Keppinger 1-5, Johnson 1-5, Brignac 0-3, Gimenez 0-3, Fuld 1-2.

Stat of the Day: Adrian Gonzalez leads the Sox with 86 RBIs. Cody Ross is next with 74. The Sox haven't gone a full season without a player driving in at least 90 runs since Tom Brunansky led the team with 74 in 1992.

Notes: The series ends with a good pitching matchup. Buchholz will be facing the Rays for the fifth time this season. He is 1-2, 4.62 over 25.1 innings. In his career, Buchholz is 5-4, 2.76 in 12 starts against Tampa Bay, 3-3, 2.89 in seven starts at Tropicana Field. ... Price is 7-4, 3.15 in 13 career starts against the Sox, 1-1, 3.12 in three starts this season. ... The Sox are 4-2 on a road trip that ends tonight. They have won two of three. ... The Rays have lost four of five and seven of their last nine. They start the day 6.5 games out in the division and the wild card. ... Ciriaco is 15 of 15 in stolen bases. ... The Sox have 492 extra-base hits, tied with Texas and Milwaukee for the most in the majors. ... The Sox allowed 15 hits and 10 walks over innings on Wednesday. That last happened against Milwaukee in 1996.

Song of the Day: "Must Of Got Lost" by the J. Geils Band.

Game over: A combination of a terrible performance by Daisuke Matsuzaka and one by the Red Sox bullpen made for a horrible Wednesday night at The Trop. After the Red Sox had won two straight and four out of their last five, the Rays' offense finally came alive in a 13-3 Tampa win. The game was played in 3:21 before 12,708.

Bottom 8th: Rays 13, Red Sox 3 Chris Carpenter gave up a run as the misery continued. He did get a strikeout with the bases loaded.

Top 8th: Rays 12, Red Sox 3 Sox retired in order.

Bottom 7th: Rays 12, Red Sox 3 Valentine did a complete overhaul of the lineup. Mauro Gomez went to third, Ivan De Jesus to second, Pedro Ciriaco shifted from third to center field, Scott Podsednik moved to left field. Also, Guillermo Quiroz came in to catch for the Sox. He became the 56th player to play for the Sox, a team record. Scott Atchison continued to be the only positive. He retired the Rays in order.

Top 7th: Rays 12, Red Sox 3 Three up, three down for Sox. Ciriaco drove a ball deep to left that was caught for the final out.

Bottom 6th: Rays 12, Red Sox 3 Aceves unravels as he allows three runs (charged with four altogether), makes a throwing error, and fails to back up third base, allowing the third run of the inning to score. Carlos Pena walked and Molina bunted for a hit, but Aceves tried to make an off-balance throw to first and it was wide of Loney. With runners at second and third, Desmond Jennings tripled in the runs. Ciriaco was charged with an error for allowing the second run to score, but Aceves failed to back up third, so there was no backup for Ciriaco. Upton doubled in the third run of the inning. Aceves was taken out by Valentine. This time Aceves didn't make a scene, handing Valentine the ball and leaving quietly. But then came Daniel Bard. He walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases. His first out was Luke Scott's sacrifice fly. Keppinger then singled in the 10th Rays run. Bard walked Joyce and Valentine had seen enough, Bard faced five batters and allowed three walks and a hit. Then it was Andrew Miller's turn to dissolve. The big lefty walked Carlos Pena on four pitches with the bases loaded, and fell behind Molina 3-and-0 before throwing his first strike on his eighth pitch. Miller ran the count to 3-and-2 before walking Molina to force in another run. Out came Miller. Thank goodness for Scott Atchison, who ended the six-walk, seven-run inning with a double-play grounder.

Top 6th: Rays 5, Red Sox 3 Archer ran his strikeout total to eight as Loney and Salty went down on strikes.

Bottom 5th: Rays 5, Red Sox 3 Aceves holds the fort as he tackles the middle of the order.

Top 5th: Rays 5, Red Sox 3 An Ellsbury single highlighted another non-eventful inning for the Sox in which Archer struck out two more (Ciriaco and Ross).

Bottom 4th: Rays 5, Red Sox 3 One of those Dice-K innings. Jeff Keppinger homered to left. Matt Joyce singled to right. Carlos Pena homered to right and Jose Molina doubled high atop the wall in center. Bye-bye Dice-K. In came Alfredo Aceves, who got the next three outs while stranding a runner at third.

Top 4th: Red Sox 3, Rays 2 Sox managed a Daniel Nava walk amid a pair of strikeouts (Salty and Lavarnway).

Bottom 3d: Red Sox 3, Rays 2 Desmond Jennings reached on a single to deep shortstop and stole second base. After BJ Upton grounded out with the runner staying put, Ben Zobrist singled to center, scoring Jennings, who didn't even hesitate with Ellsbury's arm in center.

Top 3d: Red Sox 3, Rays 1 The Sox added two runs here. Jose Iglesias, who has been somewhat of a sparkplug, walked and advanced to second on Pedro Ciriaco's single to left. Jacoby Ellsbury failed to sacrifice, but he singled on a grounder up the middle to score Iglesias. Dustin Pedroia avoided a double play with hustle down the line, scoring Ciriaco with the third Sox run.

Bottom 2d: Red Sox 1, Rays 1 Matsuzaka minimized the damage. He allowed hits to Longoria, Scott, and Keppinger to start the inning to load the bases. He walked Matt Joyce to force a run in, but then struck out Carlos Pena and induced a 5-3 double-play grounder by catcher Jose Moilina to escape what could have been an awful situation.

Top 2d: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 The Red Sox drew a pair of walks off Archer - James Loney and Jarrod Saltalamacchia taking free passes. But the slow-footed Ryan Lavarnway knocked into a 4-6-3 double play to take Boston out of a potentially big inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 Dasiuke Matsuzaka retired the Rays in order and effectively protected the one-run lead.

Top 1st: Red Sox 1, Rays 0 The Sox manufactured a run with a single by Pedro Ciriaco to lead off vs. Chris Archer. He stole his 15th consecutive base and then scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's bloop single to left. Ellsbury was picked off trying to steal.

Game over: The Red Sox went down in order in the top of the ninth, then the Rays had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the inning, but B.J. Upton flied out to center field to end the game.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Rays 5 A leadoff single by Jeff Keppinger vs. Vicente Padilla. Valentine yanked him for Craig Breslow who got Luke Scott on a fielder's choice and then Ryan Roberts knocked into an inning-ending double-play.

Top 8th: Red Sox 7, Rays 5 Sox go down. Ellsbury walked but nothing else doing.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 7, Rays 5 Clayton Mortensen ran into major control issues and loaded the bases before leaving for Junichi Tazawa, who allowed a two-run single to Ben Zobrist. Tazawa got Evan Longoria to ground out to minimize the damage.

Top 7th: Red Sox 7, Rays 3 Red Sox broke it open with a two-out rally scoring three times. Cody Ross walked and stole second base and Loney also walked before Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled in the fifth Sox run. Ryan Lavarnway then stroked a two-run double to the rightcenter gap scoring a pair of runs.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 4, Rays 3 Give Felix Doubront a lot of credit for a nice recovery. He retired the Rays in order in the sixth.

Top 6th: Red Sox 4, Rays 3 Ryan Lavarnway singled to left and Scott Podsednik broke an 0-for-18 with a single to right. After a Jose Iglesias ground ball out advancd the runners, Pedro Ciriaco's speed caused havoc as Sean Rodriguez rushed his throw to first and overthrew the bag. The go-ahead run scored, But Podsednick also tried to score from second and was thrown out after failing to slide. Podsednik seemed upset that on-deck hitter Jacoby Ellsbury didn't give him the slide sign.

Bottom 5th: Rays 3, Red Sox 3 Doubront allowed a walk to Desmond Jennings but continued to go on the right path after his horrible third inning.

Top 5th Rays 3, Red Sox 3 Sox tie it with a nifty rally against Jeremy Hellickson. Jose Iglesias drew a walk, Pedro Ciriaco singled sending Iglesias to third. Jacoby Ellsbury singled in Iglesias flashing good speed. Ciriaco then scored on Dustin Pedroia' medium fly ball to center. All tied up. Hellickson lasted four innings, allowed five hits and three runs. He had seven strikeouts.

Bottom 4th: Rays 3, Red Sox 1 Doubront got it back together striking out two of three batters he faced. Still painfully slow.

Top 4th: Rays 3, Red Sox 1 The Red Sox chipped into the Rays lead when James Loney's single to right drove in Cody Ross, who doubled to right to start the inning. Hellickson dug in after that and retired Boston's nest three batters.

Bottom 3rd: Rays 3, Red Sox 0 Felix Doubront completely lost his control. He walked the bases loaded, allowed a two-run single to Ben Zobrist and a sac fly to Evan Longoria. Doubront worked extra slow and seemed not confident in himself at all.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 The Rays showed why they're the worst defensive team in the league. With two outs, Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an error by third baseman Sean Rodriguez. Jeremy Hellickson then threw his pickoff throw to first away, sending Ellsbury all the way around to third base. Third base coach Jerry Royster was actually about to send him, but held him uip at the last minute which proved to be a wise decision. But Dustin Pedroia couldn't get Ellsbury in when he flew out to center field.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Doubront retired the first two batters and then walked Ben Francisco, falling behind 3-1 before issuing the free pass. Doubront retired Ryan Roberts on a grounder to Pedro Ciriaco at third base.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 The Sox put a couple of baserunners on vs. Hellickson but couldn't break into the scoring column. Cody Ross singled to lead it off, but after two outs, Ryan Lavarnway drew a walk. But Scott Podsednik struck out to end the inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Felix Doubront's first turn around the Rays lineup was also fruitful with a strikeout and a pair of fly ball outs.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Jeremy Hellickson started strong with two strikeouts (Pedro Ciriaco and Jacoby Ellsbury) and a ground out by Dustin Pedroia. The Rays need this game badly.

Game over: The Rays scored a run in the ninth, but their playoff hopes continue to fade after a loss to the Red Sox. Aaron Cook gave Boston six solid innings, the bullpen pitched three innings and allowed just one run and Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in three of the five runs to pace the Boston attack. The Red Sox, who have now won three out of four, beat the Rays in 3:11 before 11,722 at the quiet Trop.

Top 9th: Red Sox 5, Rays 1 Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an infield single, on base three times. He was eventually caught stealing at third, ending Boston's streak of 17 straight stolen bases streak.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 5, Rays 1 Brilliant inning by Junichi Tazawa. He struck out two as he retired the side with dominant stuff.

Top 8th: Red Sox 5, Rays 1 Sox have a chance to enlarge the lead but come up short. Single by Loney, his second hit of the game.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 5, Rays 1 Strong inning for the seldom-used Rich Hill. Rays go down in order. Hill K'd two.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Rays 1 Sox exploded for three runs. They knocked Cobb out after Loney singled and Salty walked. Lavarnway reached on a fielder's choice and error by shortstop Zobrist to load them up. Mauro Gomez, pinch-hitting for Scott Podsednik, singled to left scoring a pair. Iglesias laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners. Rays walked Ciriaco intentionally, but Ellsbury blooped a single to left to score the fifth Sox run

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 2, Rays 1 Ben Zobrist helped Aaron Cook with a double play grounder. Cook is done. Went six full innings, and allowed one run. Not bad.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Rays 1 Jacoby Ellsbury stroked a two-run homer on a 3-1 pitch by Alex Cobb, the first hit allowed by Cobb. It came with Jose Iglesias on board after Iglesias was hit with a pitch, and then used his legs to advance to third, first running with the pitch on a ground ball out by Pedro Ciriaco and then breaking for third on a wild pitch by Cobb. Pedroia walked and stole second base, the 17th straight steal by Sox runners. After a Jose Molina passed ball advanced Pedroia to third, Cody Ross struck out to end the inning.

Bottom 5th: Rays 1, Red Sox 0 The Rays broke the scoreless game when they got to Cook for a run. Luke Scott and Carlos Pena, hitting .216 and .193 respectively each singled and the run scored on Ryan Roberts grounder to first base on which James Loney tried to gun the run down at the plate, but his throw was off the mark. Lavarnway threw out Pena trying to steal third base and after Cook walked Jose Molina, he retired Jennings on a grounder to shortstop.

Top 5th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 It's time to start mentioning the fact that the Red Sox do not have a hit through five. Cobb has allowed only a second-inning walk to Saltalamacchia. He struck out Salty and Lavarnway in the fifth.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Cook allowed an infield single to thrid base to BJ Upton, but Ben Zobrist grounded into a force at second before Matt Joyce knocked into a 6-4-3 double-play.

Top 4th: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 A parade of quick outs in this game so far. Sox go 1-2-3 again vs. Cobb.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Aaron Cook is breaking bats and retiring the rays in order again.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Another easy inning for Cobb. Jose Iglesias took no chances and swung at the first pitch and flew out to deep center for the second out of the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 The Rays went down in order vs. Cook as this weak Rays lineup continues to have problems scoring runs.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Jarrod Saltalamacchia worked in a walk with two outs, but a fairly easy inning for Cobb.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rays 0 Aaron Cook continues to try to make something positive of his season and perhaps his future. After getting the first two outs he allowed a single to Ben Zobrist before Matt Joyce fouled out to third baseman Pedro Ciriaco.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Tampa Bay 0 Hugely important games for the Tampa Bay Rays. Alex Cobb started things off on a positive note by retiring the Red Sox in order. Pedro Ciriaco, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia couldn't get the ball out of the infield.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (66-81)
Ciriaco 3B
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia DH
Lavarnway C
Podsednik LF
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-10, 5.18)

RAYS (78-68)
Jenning LF
Upton CF
Zobrist SS
Joyce RF
Scott DH
Keepinger 3B
Pena 1B
Roberts 2B
Molina C
Pitching: RHP Alex Cobb (9-8, 4.26)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Cobb: Aviles 0-6, Pedroia 0-3, Nava 0-2, Podsednik 1-2, Salty 0-1.

Rays vs. Cook: Keppinger 0-12, Pena 2-5, Longoria 2-4, Upton 0-4, Roberts 0-3, Scott 0-3, Zobrist 0-3.

Stat of the Day: The Sox are actually 7-5 against the Rays this season, outscoring them 60-39.

Notes: The Sox have been officially eliminated. With 15 games left they are 17.5 games out in the division and 16.5 games out in the wild card. ... The Rays are heading in that direction. They were 1-5 on a road trip to Baltimore and New York and are five games out in the division and four games out in the wild card with 16 games left. ... Cook is 1-8, 5.40 in his last nine starts and 0-6, 6.00 in his last six. His last win came Aug. 6. Cook hasn't faced the Rays since June 17, 2009 when he was with the Rockies. Cook is 6-20, 5.64 over the last two seasons (33 games) yet remains in the Red Sox rotation. ... Cobb is 5-0, 3.31 in his last eight starts. His last loss was on July 27. He faced the Sox on May 25 and allowed three runs (two earned) over 5 innings and 96 pitches. ... The Sox have scored 38 runs and hit .222 in their 14 games this month.

Song of the Day: "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" by Green Day.

Final: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0 The Blue Jays averted a sweep by taking the finale of this three-game set, pinning the Red Sox with a 5-0 loss before a Rogers Centre crowd of 21,698.

Jon Lester (9-12) went seven innings, but was tagged for three runs in the seventh, including a two-run homer by Adeiny Hechavarria that made it 3-0. Brandon Lyon picked up the win for the Blue Jays.

Bottom of 8th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0 Daniel Bard was rudely greeted by Brett Lawrie's ground-rule double to left. Lawrie then scored when Colby Rasmus hit a high-chopper to left field that bounded over the head of Ryan Kalish, who had entered the game for Scott Podsednik. It allowed Rasmus to safely reach second.

Bard was gone after he issued a walk to J.P. Arencibia, prompting Sox manager Bobby Valentine to summon Andrew Miller from the bullpen to face Adam Lind. Miller got Lind to hit a grounder to second for the force on Arencibia before handing it over Scott Atchison, who gave up an RBI single to center by Moises Sierra that made it 5-0.

Bottom of 7th: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0 The Jays rallied for three runs with two outs when Yan Gomes singled up the middle. Pinch-runner Rajai Davis then stole second and scored on Omar Vizquel's hit-and-run single to center, giving the Jays a 1-0 lead.

Adeiny Hechavarria made it 3-0 when he belted Lester's first pitch into the second level of seats in left field. With Daniel Bard warming up in the Sox bullpen, Lester got out of the inning when Anthony Gose struck out. Through seven innings, Lester allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. He threw 101 pitches (68 strikes).

Top of 7th: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Brett Cecil entered the game in the top of the seventh in relief of Brandon Morrow (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K), who threw 102 pitches. Cecil faced one batter, striking out Jarrod Saltalamacchia, before handing it over to Brandon Lyon with one out in the seventh.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Lester seemed to struggle when he issued a leadoff walk to Moises Sierra. Yan Gomes laid down a bunt that Lester fielded. He spun toward second to begin a double play, but airmailed his throw over second, allowing Sierra to advance and Gomes to reach base.

Lester settled down and struck out the next two batters he faced before getting Anthony Gose to ground to short for the inning-ending forceout on Gomes at second.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Lester looked strong through the first four innings, retiring one above the minimum 12 batters. He needed just eight pitches to retire the Blue Jays in order after getting Colby Rasmus to pop to left, J.P. Arencibia to hit a pop foul to first, and Adam Lind to hit a hard comebacker to the mound.

Top 4th: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Just as they did in the first inning, when Dustin Pedroia singled and Jacoby Ellsbury drew a walk from Toronto starter Brandon Morrow, the Red Sox stranded a pair in the fourth after Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each singled to reach base.

Morrow got out of the jam when he got Ryan Lavarnway to fly to right and Pedro Ciriaco to hit a pop foul to first.

Bottom 3d: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 After retiring his first six batters, Jon Lester gave up a hit when Omar Vizquel doubled down the line to left.

After Adeiny Hechavarria grounded to short, Vizquel went to third on Brett Lawrie's groundout to second. He wound up getting stranded there, however, when Lester got Colby Rasmus to hit a pop foul to Sox first baseman James Loney.

Pregame Greetings from Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the retractable roof has been rolled back, revealing a perfectly azure-blue sky overhead. The Red Sox (66-80) will attempt to go for a sweep in the finale of this three-game series against the Blue Jays (65-79) and send LHP Jon Lester (9-11, 4.99 ERA) to the mound to oppose RHP Brandon Morrow (8-6, 3.16).

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

Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (66-80)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia DH
Lavarnway C
Ciriaco 3B
Iglesias SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (9-11, 4.99)

BLUE JAYS (65-79)
Lawrie 3B
Rasmus CF
Arencibia C
Lind 1B
Sierra RF
Gomes DH
Vizquel 2B
Hechavarria SS
Gose LF
Pitching: RHP Brandon Morrow (8-6, 3.16)

Game time: 1:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Morrow: Pedroia 9-17, Ellsbury 8-16, Saltalamacchia 0-9, Aviles 2-5, Podsednik 1-2, Nava 1-3, Quiroz 0-1.

Blue Jays vs. Lester: Escobar 7-23, Arencibia 5-23, Encarnacion 4-21, Lind 3-24, Davis 5-21, Mathis 4-12, Lawrie 2-11, Johnson 0-8, McCoy 1-6, Vizquel 2-7, Rasmus 2-6, Torrealba 0-4.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox will try for their first series sweep since taking three in a row from the Marlins in June.

Notes: Lester allowed a career high 11 runs in his last start against the Blue Jays on July 22. ... He has won four of his last five decisions. ... Morrow hasn't faced the Red Sox this season, but he gave up five earned runs in his last start against them Sept. 13 last year. ... Pedroia was hitless in his return to the lineup following the birth of his second son. ...

Final: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2: Pedro Ciriaco helped the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays for the second time in as many games with an RBI double that scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia with the winning run in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays before a Rogers Centre crowd of 37,325.

Craig Breslow (1-0) picked up the victory in relief of starter Clay Buchholz, who went 7.0 innings and allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits and five walks while striking out five batters.

Top of 9th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2: Pedro Ciriaco ripped an RBI double down the line to left to score Jarrod Saltalamacchia with the go-ahead run off reliever Steve Delabar. Saltalamacchia reached on his leadoff double to right off Delabar then advanced to third on Mike Aviles' sacrifice fly to center.

Andrew Bailey was summoned to relieve Craig Breslow and close it for the Sox.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 2: The Sox threatened to score the go-ahead runs when Pedro Ciriaco drew a leadoff walk that spelled the end of Carlos Villanueva's day.

Aaron Loup entered the game and walked Jacoby Ellsbury and was gone after Daniel Nava laid down a 3-4 sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners to third and second, respectively, prompting John Farrell to summon Steve Delabar from the bullpen to face Dustin Pedroia, who walked to load the bases for Cody Ross.

The Red Sox let Delabar off the hook when he came back from an 3-and-0 count to strike out Ross and got James Loney to pop up to second to end the inning with three runners aboard.

Craig Breslow was summoned to pitch for the Red Sox in the bottom of the eighth in relief of Clay Buchholz (7.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 5 K).

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 2: Toronto tied it when Buchholz intentionally walked Edwin Encarnacion to load the bases for Adam Lind, who hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center that scored Anthony Gose (base hit) with the tying run.

Buchholz got out of the inning after he induced Yunel Escobar to ground out to second.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: The Sox rallied for the go-ahead run with two out when Cody Ross drew a two-out walk. Villanueva gave up back-to-back singles to center by James Loney and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the latter of which drove in Ross with the go-ahead run, making it 2-1.

Bottom 2d: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 1: Daniel Nava, who made a game-saving diving catch in left in the eighth inning of Friday night's 8-6 win, threw around the leather in left again Saturday when he made a leaping grab on the warning track before crashing into the wall. Nava held onto the ball for the third out as Buchholz left men stranded on the corners.

Top 2d: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 1: Cody Ross tied it up when he belted a solo leadoff homer to left off of Carlos Villaneuva. It was Ross' 21st homer of the season, the most he's had since 2009 when he had 24 with the Marlins.

Bottom 1st: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 0: With runners in scoring position, Yunel Escobar hit an RBI single to right, scoring Edwin Encarnacion, who drew a walk from Clay Buchholz and went to third on Adam Lind's scorched double to right. Lind, however, wound up getting thrown out at the plate by right fielder Cody Ross to end the inning.

Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (65-80)
Ellsbury CF
Nava LF
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (11-6, 4.46)

BLUE JAYS (65-78)
Davis, LF
Lawrie, 3B
Encarnacion, DH
Lind, 1B
Escobar, SS
Johnson, 2B
Torrealba, C
Sierra, RF
Gose, CF
Pitching: RHP Carlos Villanueva (7-5, 3.48)

Game time: 1:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Villanueva: Pedroia 4-10, Ellsbury 3-8, Ross 4-6, Loney 1-7, Podsednik 0-6, Saltalamacchia 1-5, Ciriaco 1-4, Nava 0-2, Aviles 0-3, Kalish 1-2, Lavarnway 1-2.

Blue Jays vs. Buchholz: Lind 10-33, Mathis 2-12, Encarnacion 1-14, Escobar 2-9, Davis 2-10, Arencibia 0-11, Vizquel 1-7, Johnson 0-5, Lawrie 1-8, Rasmus 1-6, Gose 2-4, McCoy 0-4, Hechavarria 1-3.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox lost their 80th game of the season Thursday night against the Yankees. The Red Sox haven't lost 80 games in a year since 1997, and they haven't had 80 losses as of Sept. 13 since 1966 when they lost 90 games and finished in ninth place out of 10 American League teams.

Notes: Buchholz nearly went the distance against the Blue Jays last Sunday, allowing four earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss. ... Villanueva threw a quality start in that matchup (6 IP, 3 ER) and has pitched at least five innings in all of his starts since June 19. ... The Red Sox have lost 12 of their last 15 games and the Blue Jays swept them at Fenway Park last weekend. ... Pedroia is expected to return after missing two games because of the birth of his second son.

Game over: Andrew Bailey retired the Jays in the 9th to earn a save as the Red Sox rallied for three runs in the 9th, the big hit a two-run triple by Mauro Gomez to seal the win. The Red Sox, 65-80, are trying to overtake Toronto for fourth place in this series. The game was played in 3:42 before 21,888 at Rogers Centre. Chris Carpenter got the win for the Red Sox. It was Bailey's third save.

Top 9th: Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 5 Big hit by Mauro Gomez, a triple scoring two runs. Ryan Lavarnway's sacrifice fly scored Gomez.Ellsbury had singled and with one out Ross singled before Gomez' big hit.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 5 Vicente Padilla looks worn out. The veteran righty allowed a leadoff single to Colby Rasmus and then a double to Brett Lawrie which tied the score. Daniel Nava then made a spectacular catch in leftcenter to rob Adam Lind of extra bases and fired a nice throw into second base, but Mike Aviles couldn't handle the throw or the Sox would have doubled Lawrie off the bag. Chris Carpenter replaced Padilla. Lawrie made a bonehead running play as he was thrown out at third on Escobar's grounder to shortstop. Carpenter then wild pitched the runner to second base, intentionally walked Kelly Johnson before retiring the side when JP Arencibia flew out to center.

Top 8th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4 Jose Iglesias created some excitement when he stole second base when the throw hit him and went into centerfield. Iglesias got to third with two outs, but Pedro Ciriaco struck out to end the threat.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4 Impressive two-strikeout inning for Junichi Tazawa, who has a world of confidence these days and could very well emerge as Boston's set-up man next season.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4 Three up and three down for the Sox.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4 Dice-K allowed a triple to Adam Lind in the sixth and was lifted for Clayton Mortensen. Mortensen surrendered an RBI single to left to escobar to pull the Jays to within one run. Mortensen struck out Kelly Johnson as Escobar stole second.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3 Jose Iglesias was hit with a pitch and advanced to second base on Pedro Ciriaco's sacrifice bunt. But the Sox couldn't get the insurance run in.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3 Dice-K pitches his second consecutive rocking chair inning.

Top 5th: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3 A clutch two-out bases loaded single by Daniel Nava scored a pair of runs to give Boston the lead. Aviles singled, Gomez reached on a fielder's choice and Lavarnway walked to set the stage for Nava. Aviles made a Wes Welker spin move to avoid Bret Lawrie's tag at third on what was the key play of the inning.

Bottom 4th: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 3 Stop the presses! Dice K pitches a 1-2-3 inning.

Top 4th: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 3 Ryan Lavarnway hit a three-run home rto left to tie the game vs. Aaron Laffey. After Cody Ross walked and Mauro Gomez singled, Lavarnway hit a lined shot that made it over the wall.

Bottom 3rd: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0 Yup. this is the Dice-K we know and love. Walks and wild pitches galore. With the bases loaded, Dice-K uncorked two wild pitches that scored runs and Brett Lawrie's ground ball to second scored the third run.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 The Sox made two quick out, but then Ciriaco and Ellsbury produced back-to-back hits and pulled off a double-steal to make it interesting, but Mike Aviles flew out to right to end the rally.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Dice-K squirmed out of a jam after he allowed a leadoff bloop double to Adam Lind. Lind mad eit to third on Yunel Escobar's ground ball out, but Dice-K bore down and retired the next two batters.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Mauro Gomez walked with one out, but Ryan Lavarnway and Daniel Nava each tapped back to Laffey.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 Dice-K retired the Jays in order here. No. 3 hitter Brett Lawrie reached on an infield single to third base. Pedro Ciriaco threw the ball away but Aviles recovered the ball in foul territory and threw Lawrie out at second base.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 All you need to know about tonight's lineup is that Mike Aviles is batting third and playing second base. Another challenge for Bobby Valentine. Aaron Laffey, who pitched 13 shutout innings against the Red Sox over two starts before allowing two runs in 4-2/3 innings back on September 8, retired the Sox in order in the first.

Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (64-80)
Ciriaco 3B
Ellsbury CF
Aviles 2B
Ross RF
Gomez DH
Lavarnway C
Nava LF
Loney 1B
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5, 7.20)

BLUE JAYS (65-77)
Davis LF
Rasmus CF
Lawrie 3B
Lind 1B
Escobar SS
Johnson 2B
Arencibia C
Sierra DH
Gose RF
Pitching: LHP Aaron Laffey (3-5, 4.43)

Game time: 7:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Laffey: Aviles 4-15, Pedroia 3-12, Saltalamacchia 4-10, Ellsbury 2-10, Ross 1-7, Podsednik 1-6, Ciriaco 1-6, Gomez 0-2, Iglesias 0-2, Lavarnway 0-0 (2 walks).

Blue Jays vs. Matsuzaka: Lind 4-29, Escobar 4-14, Encarnacion 2-8, Mathis 1-11, Davis, 3-9, Johnson 1-9, Arencibia 0-5, Vizquel 2-6, Rasmus 1-5, Lawrie 1-3, Torrealba 1-2, Gose 1-1, Hechavarria 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox lost their 80th game of the season Thursday night against the Yankees. The Red Sox haven't lost 80 games in a year since 1997, and they haven't had 80 losses as of Sept. 13 since 1966 when they lost 90 games and finished in ninth place out of 10 American League teams.

Notes: Tonight is the start of a seven-game road trip that ends with four games in Tampa Bay. ... The Blue Jays knocked Matsuzaka out of last Saturday's game in the second inning and he took the loss in a 9-2 drubbing. ... He held the Jays to one run over 5.1 innings on June 26. ... Laffey hasn't pitched through the fifth inning since Aug. 22 and hasn't earned a victory since Aug. 5 against the Athletics. ... The Red Sox have lost 12 of their last 14 games and the Blue Jays swept them at Fenway Park last weekend. ... The Red Sox are losing the season series against the Jays at 5-10. ... The Pawtucket Red Sox won their first International League championship since 1984 Thursday night.

Game over: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: The Yankees maintain a first place tie with the Orioles after this win while the Red Sox maintain their place in the AL East basement.

There were only 11 total hits in this one. Phil Hughes had solid stuff in holding the Sox bats at bay. In 7.1 innings of work, the Yankee starter allowed only five hits and struck out seven. Doubront was decent in his 6.2 innings of work for the Sox, but five walks and four hits allowed helped the Yankees get the only two runs they would need.

Bottom 9th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: Rafael Soriano on for the Yankees to try and close this one out.

Loney with a quick, one-pitch at-bat as he grounds down to first, unassisted. Ross at least makes his a four-pitch at bat, but three of those were strikes for the second out. Nava keeps hope alive with a two-out single into center field and gets to second on the next pitch with no throw down. Salty grounds out to second to end the game.

Top 9th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: A shift in the infield as Iglesias comes on at short and Aviles moves over to second. It is the first time this season that Aviles has played anywhere else in the field besides shortstop where he has played in 124 games. Melancon on to pitch.

Nunez breaks his bat on a flare pop-up that Iglesias catches up to just on the outfield grass. Jeter lines out to Ross for the second out of the inning. Swisher walks, putting him on base for the first time tonight. Iglesias boots a routine grounder from A-Rod and can't get Swisher at second in time. Cano hits one hard, but it hangs up for Ellsbury to track it down.

Governors' Cup FINAL: PawSox 4, Charlotte Knights 1: The Pawtucket Red Sox are the International League Champions for 2012. They will face the Pacific Coast League champion in a one-game, Triple-A championship game next Tuesday in Durham, N.C.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: Ciriaco strokes a wall-ball double on the first pitch he sees. Mauro Gomez on to pinch-hit and he can't wait to get at it as he pops the first pitch he sees out to centerfield for our number one.

Joe Girardi hits the mound to relieve Phil Hughes who had a very solid night. Lefty Boone Logan on for the Yankees.

Ellsbury flies out to Ichiro in right field, but Ciriaco moves up to third on the sac-fly. Girardi gets LOOGY Logan out of the game for David Robertson.

Lavarnway in to pinch-hit for Podsednik, flies out to Ichiro to stand the runner at third.

Top 8th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: Cano hits an easy grounder to DeJesus who comes up on it before the ball was even in his glove for an error to start the frame. Martin flies to left-center, handled by Ellsbury. Jones walks on four pitches for the sixth free pass of the night. Granderson Ks for the third time tonight. And Pearce flies out to center field to end things in the top of the eighth.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: Nava ropes one out to right but Swisher gets a good track on it and makes a diving catch for the first out. Salty goes down swinging for the third time tonight. The good new for Salty is that he might not get the chance for the 'golden sombrero' tonight as the Sox are running out of innings. Aviles pops to first to end the inning.

Top 7th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: Granderson goes down swinging for the second time tonight. Pearce draws a walk, Doubront's fifth free pass of the night. Nunez takes an inside pitch near his hands over the infield for a single and his second hit of the night.

Bobby Valentine out to the mound to collect Doubront. Junichi Tazawa on to face Derek Jeter.

Tazawa bringing the heat (consistently hitting 96 miles-per-hour) but Jeter drops one between everyone in shallow center, scoring Pearce. The hit ties Jeter for 10th on the all-time hit list, tying him with the great Willie Mays at 3,283 career hits.

Swisher Ks for the second time tonight. A-Rod goes down looking at strike three and did not like that call at all. It's the seventh strikeout by Sox pitching this evening.

Governors' Cup update - Jeremy Hazelbaker's seventh inning triple drives in Che-Hsuan Lin and J.C. Linares drives in Hazelbaker to give the PawSox a 4-1 lead over Charlotte after seven innings of play.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: DeJesus goes down swinging for the second time in as many at-bats. Ellsbury with a single back up the middle. Podsednik becomes the sixth strikeout victim of the game for Hughes. Loney singles through the third base-shortstop hole to put two on with two out. Ross ends the threat with a can-of-corn to Swisher in right.

Top 6th: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: A-Rod gets a bad piece of a ball and grounds out to Doubront who had to come up off of the mound to his right to field it. Cano draws a one-out walk. Martin goes down looking at strike three and Jones ends it with a 6-4 ground out.

Governors' Cup update - Charlotte scores one on the bottom of the fifth inning on a Carlos Sanchez single. The PawSox still maintain the lead, but it is now 2-1 after five-and-a-half innings.

Bottom 5th: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Salty strikes out to lead things off. Aviles singles into the center for the second Sox hit of the night. Ciriaco hits it to a perfectly positioned Cano, who was breaking to the second base bag, stepped on it and relayed to first for the double play.

Top 5th: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Pearce grounds out to third to start the fifth. Nunez hits one that gets by the diving glove of Ciriaco and into the left-field corner for a one-out double. Jeter's first-pitch ground out to short moves Nunez to third with two out. And another ground out to short, this time by Swisher, ends the inning.

Bottom 4th: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Ellsbury gets some good wood on a Hughes fastball, but it hangs up in the air for Swisher to make the play in right. Podsednik becomes the Sox first base runner after drawing a walk. Loney quickly lines one out to left field for out number two. Ross gives out plenty of souvenir foul balls, before roping a grounder passed A-Rod at third. Podsednik moves to third on the hit, the Sox first off of Hughes. Nava grounds to Cano to end the inning.

Top 4th: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: A-Rod picks up his second single of the game, a shot back up the box that looked like it could have decapitate Doubront. A-Rod proceeds to steal second on a 78 mile-per-hour curve, his 12th swipe of the season. Cano draws a walk after a long battle, putting two on with no out. Randy Niemann makes a trip to the mound after Doubront starts Martin off with two straight balls. That meeting did not work as Martin walks on four straight to load the bases.

Andruw Jones lines the first pitch he sees out to Ross, but A-Rod tags up from third to put the Yanks on the board first, and Cano moves to third on the play. Doubront is helped out in a huge way when Granderson sends a broken-bat liner down to Loney at first who steps on the bag to double off Martin and end the threat.

Governors' Cup update: The PawSox maintain their 2-0 lead over Charlotte through three-and-a-half innings of play.

Bottom 3rd: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0: Mike Aviles puts some terrible swings into his strikeout performance. Ciriaco skies the first pitch he sees and Nunez collects the pop-up in shallow left field. Ivan DeJesus Jr. becomes Hughes third strikeout victim of the night. Sox have yet to get a base runner through three.

Top 3rd: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0: Eduardo Nunez wildly flails at strike three outside the zone. Jeter laces a liner opposite field and Ross makes a few steps back to snag it. Swisher grounds to short to end the inning. Doubront with a solid first three, pounding the zone and keep his fastball near 93-94 so far.

Bottom 2nd: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0: Cody Ross, first-pitch swinging, grounds out to shortstop. Daniel Nava flies out to center on a 1-1 fastball. Granderson has caught three of the first five outs tonight. Jared Saltalamacchia strikes out on a 94 mile-per-hour heater from Phil Hughes.

Top 2nd: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0: Russell Martin leads off the inning with a ground out to third base. Andruw Jones picks up a walk after running the count full. Curtis Granderson chases a pitch outside and Doubront picks up his second K of the night. Steven Pearce ends the inning with a lazy fly to centerfield.

Governors' Cup update - PawSox catcher Mike Rivera drives in Danny Valencia for the first run of the game in Charlotte and Che-Hsuan Lin plates Andy LaRoche with a sac-fly. The PawSox lead 2-0 in the second inning.

Bottom1st: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0:Jacoby Ellsbury almost legs out an infield single on a solidly hit ball to short, but is out by half a step. Scott Podsednik drives one to deep center where Curtis Granderson tracks it down after getting a great read on it. James Loney also flies out to Granderson, this time in front of the track in left-center.

Down in Charlotte (actually Fort Mill, South Carolina to be exact), the PawSox are scoreless against the Knights after one full inning. Charlotte bumped starter Matt Zileski for Scott Carroll.

Top 1st: Yankees 0, Red Sox 0: Derek Jeter leading off for New York tonight in the DH role after tweaking his ankle last night at first base. He hits one to Doubront's right, but Felix comes off the mound to make a nice play for the first out. Nick Swisher goes down on three straight strikes, the last one a 94 mile-per-hour fastball that he watched go by. Alex Rodriguez punches a two-out single into centerfield. Robinson harmlessly grounds back to third to end the top half of the inning.

Larry David, John Hamm and Bill Cosby (who threw out the ceremonial first pitch) are all in attendance this evening.

Pregame: Good evening, Craig Forde back for some more live blogging from Fenway Park as the Red Sox get set to close out their penultimate series against the Yankees this season. It’s the rubber match of their three game with Felix Doubront facing off against Phil Hughes.

I will provide an inning-by-inning account of things here, with an eye on the PawSox down in Charlotte who are looking to win their first Governors’ Cup title since 1984. Check out the lineups for that game here. Feel free to leave comments.

Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (64-79)
Ellsbury CF
Podsednik D
Loney 1B
Ross RF
Nava LF
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
De Jesus 2B
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (10-8, 5.21)

YANKEES (80-62)
Jeter DH
Swisher RF
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Martin RF
Jones LF
Granderson CF
Pearce 1B
Nunez SS
Pitching: RHP Phil Hughes (14-12, 4.13)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, YES, MLB Network / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Hughes: Pedroia 6-24, Ellsbury 5-13, Salty 2-12, Ross 1-8, Aviles 2-8, Nava 1-7, Podsednik 2-7, Ciriaco 3-6, Gomez 2-3, Kalish 1-5.
Yankees vs. Doubront: Cano 0-10, Granderson 2-10, Martin 2-8, Swisher 4-10, Jeter 2-10, Teixeira 2-9, Jones 1-6, Nix 0-5, Suzuki 1-5, Rodriguez 0-3, Nunez 0-1, Chavez 1-1, Dickerson 0-1.

Stat of the Day: Saltalamacchia’s 24 home runs are tied for second most by a catcher in the majors this year behind A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox, who has 26.

Notes: The series wraps up with Doubront seeking his first win since July 18. He is 0-4, 8.27 in seven starts since and last lasted only 32.2 innings in those starts. Doubront has faced the Yankees three times and allowed only five earned runs over 18.2 innings with 21 strikeouts. ... Hughes is 2-1, 2.79 in three starts against the Sox this season. He faced them Aug. 17 and allowed four runs (none earned) over seven innings. ... The Sox have lost 5 of 6 and 12 of 14. They start a seven-game road trip in Toronto on Friday night. ... Pedroia is out after the birth of his second child. ... The Yankees are tied for first in the division with the Orioles. ... Swisher is 21 of 46 with 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs against the Sox this season. ... The Sox are 5-9 against the Yankees this season.

Song of the Day: "Truth Hits Everybody" by The Police.

Game over: The Red Sox showed some fight, but fell short. Jarrod Saltalamacchia finished a very productive night with a solo homer to right. The Sox had good swings against Rafael Soriano including Daniel Nava's warning track shot to leftcenter. After Mike Aviles reached on an error by the pitcher, Jacoby Ellsbury bounced back to Soriano to end it. The game was played in 3:43 before 37,230.

Top 9th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 3 James Loney got hit by a truck - Alex Rodriguez - in a collision at first base after Andrew Miller threw A-Rod's slow roller wide of Loney, who was knocked down..One addition to the thrown out of the game roll-call - third base coach Jerry Royster was also tossed. Vicente Padilla relieved Miller and kept things status quo.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 3 Don't think you'll ever see Cody Ross angrier than his blowup with home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez after taking a called third strike from Rafael Soriano to end the inning with James Loney on second base after a double. Ross was hot. He was right in Marquez' face, gesturing. He had to be broken up by Jerry Royster and then Bobby Valentine. Ross was ejected. Valentine came out between innings and started another heated argument with Marquez, who listened and then ejected Bobby V. The crowd cheered Bobby V.

Top 8th:Yankees 5, Red Sox 3 Sox survived a boot by Mike Aviles at short on Andruw Jones' grounder. They got out of it with an inning-ending double-play grounder by Jeter.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 3 Back to back doubles by Salty and Nava produced the first Sox run when Mauro Gomez grounded out scoring Salty from third. Pinch-hitter Mike Aviles doubled in Boston's second run of the inning.

Top 7th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 1 Alfredo Aceves bombed once again. He allowed a single to Jeter and a home run to Granderson, his second of the game. He left after allowing a double to Swisher. Aceves hung around the mound as Valentine made the pitching move and then circled completely the opposite direction of Valentine and ran into the right corner of the dugout.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 An Ellsbury leadoff single was erased on a Ciriaco double-play grounder. After a Pedroia single, Loney grounded out.

Top 6th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 Nick Swisher led off with a double, but the Yankls couldn't capitalize against a combination Rich Hill/Alfredo Aceves. Hill struck out pinch-hitter Jayson Nix, walked pinch-hitter Andruw Jones and got Ichiro to ground into a force at second base. Aceves came on and got Stewart to fly out to left.

Bottom 5th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 Salty tripled to the triangle and there he stayed as Nava (K), Podsednik (popped out) and Iglesias (K) couldn't get it done.

Top 5th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 Think we just saw why Jose Iglesias is so special defensively, robbing Robinson Cano of a basehit by ranging far up the middle and making a diving stop of a grounder and then making a solid throw while his body was completely in air to nail Cano. Cook allowed a Jeter single in the inning, but Cook survived.

Bottom 4th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1 Dustin Pedroia ignited Boston's first rally with a double. He scored on James Loney's single to right.

Top 4th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0 Remember what I said about Cook having a good sinker? Never mind. Curtis Granderson opened with a solo homer to right center. After A-Rod singled, Robinson Cano hit a two-run bomb to left. Chavez also doubled with two outs, but Cook drew the line.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 Sox remain hitless in the third as Phelps has them fooled.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 Tough pitching by Aaron Cook. He allowed a leadoff double to Eric Chavez, the 300th of Chavez' career, but then got Ichiro to tap back to the mound, Chris Stewart to fly out to right and he struck out Derek Jeter.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked with two outs but the Sox haven't been able to crank up their offense against Phelps.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 So far Cook's sinker is working. Bobby Valentine was afraid to use Cook against the Yankees earlier this season, but so far Cook has retired all six Yankee batters, three of them with ground outs in the second inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0. Yankees 0 Yankees starter David Phelps retires the Sox in order in the first. Jacoby Ellsbury (K), Pedro Ciraico (5-3) and Dustin Pedroia (6-3) went down.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0 Aaron Cook throws three outs to start the game. Very nice pregame ceremony honoring Joe Castiglione's 30 years with the Red Sox. One of the great people of all time and a deserving finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award, the broadcasting arm of the Hall of Fame.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (64-78)
Ellsbury CF
Ciriaco 3B
Pedroia 2B
Loney 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia C
Nava LF
Podsednik DH
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-9, 5.17)

YANKEES (79-62)
Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Rodriguez DH
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Ibanez LF
Chavez 3B
Suzuki RF
Stewart RF
Pitching: RHP David Phelps (3-4, 3.55)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, YES, ESPN / WEEI, WCBS

Red Sox vs. Phelps: Pedroia 1-6, Ross 1-6, Ciriaco 3-4, Aviles 1-3, Ellsbury 0-3, Lavarnway 0-3, Podsednik 0-3, Salty 2-2.

Yankees vs. Cook: Martin 2-20, Ibanez 7-14, Jones 2-14, McGehee 5-11, Swisher 3-8, Granderson 4-6, Suzuki 2-6, Cano 1-5, Chavez 0-4, Cervelli 2-3, Dickerson 1-2, Jeter 1-3, Nunez 1-3, Rodriguez 2-2, Stewart 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Yankees are 75-40 when they hit at least one home run. They are 4-22 when they do not, which was the case on Tuesday.

Notes: The Yankees start the day tied for first in the AL East with the Orioles after the Spoiler Sox beat them on Tuesday with a walk-off. The Yankees have lost 8 of their last 12. ... The Sox, who have dropped 11 of 13, haven't won two in a row since Aug. 26-27 when they beat the Royals. ... The Sox have won four of their last six against the Yankees, but trail 8-5 in the season series with five games to play. ... Cook is 1-8, 5.40 in his last 11 starts. He faced the Yankees on July 27 in New York and got croaked, giving up six runs on seven hits in four innings. He has faced the Yankees twice in the last two years and allowed 11 earned runs on 19 hits over 9.2 innings. ... Phelps started against the Sox on Aug. 18 and pitched well: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K. He has allowed six earned runs in 12.2 innings against the Sox this season. ... Pedroia has hit three home runs in his last four games. ... The Sox are 11 of their last 11 in stolen base attempts. ... Jeter has a seven-game hit streak (15 of 32).

Song of the Day: "Killer Parties" by The Hold Steady.

Game over: Jacoby Ellsbury's walk-off single off Dave Robertson scored Pedro Ciriaco with the winning run. It was the third walk-off of the season for the Red Sox. Sox players poured out of the dugout as if they'd won the World Series. The game was played in 3:11 before 37,437.

Top 9th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 3 Andrew Bailey came on. He retired Derek Jeter with a fly to right, but the Sox may have revived Nick Swisher who lined a single to right, his second hit of the game after snapping an 0 for 28 in the first inning. But Bailey bore down with an assist by Ryan Lavarnway who made a great throw to nail pinch-runner Edwardo Nunez trying to steal (nice tag by Dustin Pedroia also). Bailey then struck out A-Rod.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 3 Loney, Ross and Lavarnway strikeout against Dave Robertson.

Top 8th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 3 Nice inning for lefty Craig Breslow as Yankees are down without a fuss.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 3 Bases loaded one out, no runs. Daniel Nava and Dustin Pedroia couldn't get it done with sacks full. Nava hit into a fielder's chopice to first base and the run was cut down at the plate. And Pedroia popped up against Joba Chamberlain.

Top 7th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 3 Junichi Tazawa provides the most optimism from relievers going into next season. He's been terrific and he retired the Yankees again.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 3 Dustin Pedroia lined one just over the Green Monster to tie it up.

Top 6th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 2 It just felt as if it was a matter of time before Lester's wildness caught up to him. He issued his seventh walk to open the sixth to Curtis Garnderson and then a single to Andruw Jones. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Jayson Nix, Jeter got jammed but punched a ground-rule double down the line in right that kicked into the stands. Lester was out after 102 pitches. Junichi Tazawa then did a nice job keeping things where they were, striking out Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez.
Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Scott Podsednik has looked awful in three at-bats - two pop ups and a strikeout. The Sox have allowed Kuroda to settle in.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Lester struck out the side and also allowed a double to Russell Martin. Lester also broke Bruce Hurst's franchise strikeout record for a lefty.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Kuroda mows down Sox. Kuroda has had a heck of a year for the Yankees and their most consistent pitcher. Interesting, he'll pitch at 38 years old next season. Wonder if anyone will bite on a multi-year deal.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Lester sharp again as he gets out of fourth without losign the lead.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1 Pedro Ciriaco doubled and scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's single up the middle. After Ellsbury stole second, Pedroia singled him to give Boston the lead.

Top 3rd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0 The Yankees had a chance to get a big inning going when Alex Rodriguez and Robin Cano drew walks from Jon Lester to open the inning. But the Yankees looked more like the Red Sox, and got nothing to show for it, as Lester struck out Martina nd Pearce and got Granderson to ground out to first base.

Bottom 2nd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0 There are actually a good number of fans here. They're very quiet, but they're here. The Sox went down in order. No surprise.

Top 2nd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0 The Yankees waste a one-out double by No. 9 hitter Jayson Nix as Lester pitches out of a jam.

Bottom 1st: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0 The Sox get more laughable by the minute. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled down the right field line and Scott Podsednik attempts a bunt? Really? First inning? He popped it out to Russell Martin. After Dustin Pedroia's pop up fell into short left for a hit, the slow-footed James Loney knocked into a double-play to end the inning and allow Hiroki Kuroda to skate free.

Top 1st: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0 Staff ace Jon Lester was touched for a run when he walked Derek Jeter to open the game and then allowed a double to Nick Swisher, who broke an 0-for-28. Alex Rodriguez grounded out to third, but Robinson Cano's grounder to first allowed Jeter to score the first Yankee run. After Russell Martin and Steve Pearce walked to reload the bases, Curtis Granderson fouled out to James Loney to get Lester out of further peril.

Pregame :Nice 9-11 tribute to open the evening here. Certainly the normal Red Sox-Yankee buzz is nowhere to be found. Fans are trickling in, but half the seats are not occupied at this point.

Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (63-78)
Ellsbury CF
Podsednik DH
Pedroia 2B
Loney 1B
Ross LF
Lavarnway C
Kalish RF
Ciriaco 3B
Aviles SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (9-11, 4.99)

YANKEES (79-61)
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Rodriguez DH
Cano 2B
Martin C
Pearce 1B
Granderson CF
Jones LF
Nix 3B
Pitching: RHP Hiroki Kuroda (13-10, 3.14)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI, WCBS

Red Sox vs. Kuroda: Ross 6-25, Podsednik 2-14, Pedroia 2-9, Salty 2-8, Ellsbury 2-8, Ciriaco 0-7, Nava 2-5, Kalish 1-3, Aviles 1-3, Gomez 1-3, Lavarnway 1-3.

Yankees vs. Lester: Jeter 19-57, Cano 12-53, Swisher 13-41, Teixeira 12-45, Rodriguez 7-37, Jones 7-27, Suzuki 10-34, Granderson 8-28, Nix 6-19, Martin 2-11, Ibanez 4-12, McGehee 1-7, Nunez 1-6, Cervelli 1-4, Stewart 1-2, Pearce 0-2.

Stat of the Day: Lester enters the game with 1,039 career strikeouts, four shy of tying Bruce Hurst (1,043) for the most ever by a lefthander in franchise history. Lester is eighth overall.

Notes: The old rivals meet again with much on the line for the Yankees and nothing at stake for the Sox. ... The Yankees are a game ahead of the Orioles in the division and two ahead of the Rays. They have lost seven of their last 11 games and are 27-28 since the All-Star break. ... The last-place Sox, who are 16.5 games back, have lost four straight, 11 of 12 and 16 of 20. They are 23-41 since July 1. ... The Yankees lead the season series 8-4, outscoring the Sox 78-55. The Yankees are 5-1 at Fenway Park this season and have won seven of their last nine games in Boston. ... The Sox are 32-41 at home. Their last losing record at Fenway came in 1997 (39-42). ... The Sox are 1-7 in September and 20-31 against the AL East. ... Lester is 4-3, 3.70 in his last seven starts, a vast improvement from his first 21 starts (5-8, 5.49). Lester is 3-3, 4.15 in six career starts against the Yankees. He has faced them twice this season, allowing 10 earned runs over 17.1 innings. ... Kuroda is facing the Sox for the fourth time this season. He has given up nine earned runs over 21.2 innings. ... Ciriaco is 15 of 32 with four extra-base hits and seven RBIs in eight games against the Yankees this season. ... Ellsbury turned 29 today. he has hit .327 (146 for 446) in 109 career September games, the best batting average in any month of his career and the top mark among American Leaguers with at least 450 plate appearances in September since 2007.

Song of the Day: "Backs Turned Looking Down The Path" by Warren Zevon.

Game over: Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3: Mike Aviles popped up to catcher Yorvit Torrealba to strand pinch-runner Ivan De Jesus at first as the Red Sox sunk further into the American League East cellar after getting swept by the Jays before a Fenway Park crowd announced at 37,226.

Middle of the 9thL Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3: Omar Vizquel broke up a 3-3 tie when he stroked a sacrifice RBI fly to left with the bases loaded, scoring Rajai Davis from third with the go-ahead run. It chased Sox starter Clay Buchholz from the game.

Bottom of 8th: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 3: Brandon Lyon entered the game with two out in the eighth to face Pedroia, who grounded to third and was brought to his knees when he was called out by first base umpire Chris Guccione.

Bottom of 6th: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 3: Dustin Pedroia clobbered an 0-and-1 pitch from Villaneuva, launching it into the Green Monster seats for a solo homer (his 14th overall of the season) to help the Sox tie the game with one out in the sixth.

Villanueva departed the game at the end of the inning after going six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, and two walks while striking out two batters. He threw 97 pitches (59 strikes).

Steve Delabar was summoned to relieve Villanueva in the seventh.

Top of 4th: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 2: The Jays rallied for three runs with one out, getting an RBI single from Jeff Mathis, an RBI sacrifice fly by Omar Vizquel and an RBI single to left by Adeiny Hechavarria (trying say his name fast three times), who was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0: Jacoby Ellsbury gave the Sox a 2-0 lead when he launched a 2-and-1 changeup from Toronto lefthander Carlos Villanueva pitch into the Red Sox bullpen for a two-run homer. Ellsbury's third homer of the season scored Cody Ross, who drew a one-out walk.

Pregame Welcome to Fenway Park where there was a definite feel of fall in the air. The Red Sox (63-77) will look to avert suffering a sweep against the Blue Jays (63-75) in the finale of this three-game set. RHP Clay Buchholz (11-5, 4.47 ERA) will take the mound in opposition of RHP Carlos Villanueva (7-5, 3.42).

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

Game over: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 2: After five plus hours — thanks in large part to two rain delays totaling two hours and five minutes — the Red Sox come up with yet another loss and fall into sole possession of last place in the American League East. They have won only five times in their last twenty games and are 10-26 since the beginning of August.

The Blue Jays move to 63-75 with the win and take a one game lead over the Red Sox (63-77) in the race for fourth place in the East.

The announced “paid attendance” for the night was 37,107, bringing consecutive sell-out streak to 784 games.

Bottom 9th: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 2: Jason Frasor on to try and turn off the lights for Blue Jays.

Ross strikes out on the thirteenth pitch of the at-bat to lead off. Gomez finds the space between second and third for a single. Lavarnway grounds out 6-3 and Aviles ends the game swinging at a pitch in the dirt.

Top 9th: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 2:Sox go the pen once more, this time for Andrew Bailey, their sixth pitcher of the night.

Arencibia singles back through the box to start the frame. Hechavarria draws a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs.

Anthony Gose unloads on the first pitch he sees and hits a bomb into the right field seats. This thing landed about twenty rows up for his first career Major League home run. Yes, the same Gose I was ripping on for being sub-.200 at the plate.

Davis flies out to right field for the first out of the inning. Rasmus then goes down looking and Encarnarcion lines out to left.

Bottom 8th: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 2: Jose Iglesias picks up his second hit since being called up, a single. He was then move over on a dribbler back to the pitcher by Ciriaco.

Ellsbury (1-4, 2 Ks) followed with his second strikeout of the night and Pedroia (0-4, K) goes 5-3 to end the inning.

Top 8th: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 2:Vincente Padilla becomes the fifth Red Sox pitcher of the night.

Rasmus ends the Jays slump right away with a single to right. Encarnarcion follows with a "hit 'em where they ain't" blooper between Iglesias and Ellsbury in mid-center field. Rasmus with some heady base running on the play gets all the way to third to put runners at the corners with no outs.

Lind yanked a single past the drawn-in infield to plate Rasmus. Escobar grounds one right at Ciriaco who steps on third and fires to second to double up the Jays.

Padilla strikes out Johnson before any more runs can cross the plate, and Neil Diamond begins to sing and the remaining crowd still loves it ... still. No further comment.

Bottom 7th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Lavanway strikes out to start things off in the bottom of the seventh. It's the third Sox strikeout in their last four batters.

Aviles hits a moon shot about thirty feet up the first base line that Lind caught in foul ground for out number two and Podsednik grounds out to second to end the inning.

Brad Lincoln has now sat down all seven batters he has faced since coming into the game after the second rain delay.

Top 7th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Melancon with another 1-2-3. Hecavarria grounds out to Ciriaco, Gose Ks once again and Davis grounds out to Gomez at first.

These rain delays have really affected the Blue Jays bats as they have not gotten on base since a fielder's choice in the third by Kelly Johnson. Sox relievers have put down thirteen straight batters.

Bottom 6th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Pedroia comes up taking some big hacks, but he misses on the one that counts the most, the third strike.

Ross takes a 1-2 curveball and puts it on a straight line to Hechavarria at third for out number two. Gomez goes down looking to end.

Top 6th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2:Mark Melancon comes in to pitch for the Red Sox and puts the Jays down in order with a strikeout of Escobar, a forced ground out to third by Johnson and a strikeout of Arencibia.

The Red Sox have retired ten straight batters.

Bottom 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Brad Lincoln is the new pitcher for Toronto coming out of the rain delay. He inherits a 2-0 count on Ellsbury with Ciriaco on first base and two outs.

The first pitch comes at 10:51, giving us a one hour and five minute rain delay that time around.

Ellsbury is retired on a grounder to second base to end the inning and make this an official game should the rains return.

UPDATE - Game is now scheduled to restart at approximately 10:50 p.m...that would put us over two hours in rain delays tonight. Of course, the assumption is that the rain returns shortly after we get underway. The tarp is being rolled off and the field relined.

SIDE NOTE (while we wait): The Pawtucket Red Sox have defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barres Yankees, 7-1, to win their best-of-five first round series, three game to one.

The PawSox advance to the International League finals for the first time since 2003 and will be looking for their first Governor's Cup since 1984.

They will face either the Charlotte Knights (White Sox) or Indianapolis Indians (Pirates) in the finals. Charlotte currently has a 2-1 lead in that series and a 5-0 lead in their game this evening.

UPDATE - The grounds crew is putting down bag after bag of quick dry, the rain has subsided for the time being, so they seem to be doing everything in their power to get this one in...granted if they got one more out, it may have been called by this point, but we trudge on into this good night! No time yet for a restart, stay tuned.

Bottom 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Lavarnway leads off the inning with his second walk of the game. Aviles pushes one past Hechavarria on the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second with no outs. And Podsednik rips a single into right that brings Lavarnway around for the first Sox run and puts runners at the corners.

Iglesias hits a weak blooper that Lind catches at the apex of his reach, then falls down and tags first to double off Podsednik.

Ciriaco plates Aviles with a single and the Sox showing a little life here off of Laffey.

Annnnnd the rain returns...in a big way...and another delay begins.

Top 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Aceves does not return to the hill for the Sox after the delay, instead Andrew Miller steps to the bump for his 47th appearance of the year.

Miller promptly retires Rasmus by way of the K for the first out of the inning.

Encarnacion follows with an easy fly out to Ross in right and Lind also flies to Ross to end the inning, the second straight 1-2-3 for Boston.

Aceves' line - 2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks

Bottom 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: With Ellsbury on first base, Pedroia steps to the plate and the game resumes at 9:23 p.m., 58 minutes later.

Lind fields Pedroia's foul pop-up in front of the Sox dugout for out number one.

Ross gets plunked on his left thigh to put runners on first and second with an out.

And Gomez ends the Sox first threat of the game with a 6-4-3 double play.

Speaking of threats...expect more rain!

UPDATE - The game is scheduled to resume at 9:25 p.m. The tarp is currently being yanked away and field preps have begun.

RAIN DELAY -The skies have officially opened up and the umps have called a delay to this one with on and no out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tarp is on the field. We will keep you updated about any restart times or additional delays.

The weather has been strange here as the rain stopped as quickly as it started. Tarp being removed.

More rain, tarp back on. Delay is currently at twenty minutes and counting. Sox would be blessed if this one gets called.

Bottom 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Ellsbury gets the Sox first hit of the night, a solid, lined single that was just out of the reach of Escobar at shortstop.

Top 4th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Aceves gets Hechavarria looking at a 3-2 slider on the back door for the first out of the inning.

I want to keep giving rain updates, but then I keep getting the Eurythmics stuck in my head and I don't want that at all...but yeah, a little more rain is falling.

Gose, who had worked himself up to .207 after his second inning single, strikes out to inch back towards the Mendoza line.

Davis grounds out to Pedroia to end the inning, the first 1-2-3 by the Red Sox tonight.

Bottom 3rd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Laffey gets the Sox 1-2-3 for the second time tonight. Pods grounds out to first, Iglesias grounds out to second and Ciriaco flies out to center. Still no hits for Boston as Laffey has thrown 38 pitches thus far.

Top 3rd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Lind gets a lead off single for the Jays but never advances past first. Escobar flies out to center, Johnson grounds into a fielders choice 5-4 and Arencibia goes down on a 5-3 ground out.

Bottom 2nd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0:Laffey makes short work of the Sox once again, inducing Cody Ross to ground out to short, then striking out Mauro Gomez before allowing a base on balls to Ryan Lavarnway.

Mike Aviles, who is tonight's designated hitter for Boston...let that one soak in for a moment...he hit a foul pop down the right field line that looked like it may go foul, but Gose tracked it from a long way out in right and made a spectacular diving catch in front of the wall to end the inning.

Top 2nd: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0:Yunel Escobar smokes the first pitch of the inning, a 90-mile-per hour fastball, into the first row of Monster seats for his fifth home run of the year, and the Jays fourth home run in two days. He took advantage of the strong winds to left field here tonight.

Kelly Johnson follows up with a solid single up the middle as the rains started to pick up once again. With his 27th pitch of the game Dice-K plunks J.P. Arencibia to put men on first and second with no out. Adeiny Hechavarria makes him pay with a bounding chopper over the outstretched glove of Pedro Ciriciaco at third base, scoring Johnson to make it 2-0, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Anthony Gose, of .198 batting average fame, laces a single into center that plates Arencibia and Hechavarria. It is clearly not Matsuzaka's night.

Davis sends a line-drive missile to Ellsbury in center for the first out of the inning, but Gose (who stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error) tags and scores.
Rasmus rips a single down the first base line, prompting Bobby Valentine to make the move to the bullpen for Alfredo Aceves.

Matsuaka's line - 1 1/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, HR, 2 K, HBP, 42 pitches

Aceves is helped out in a big way by the absent-minded Rasmus who sprinted around second on a lazy fly to Ellsbury who made the catch and doubled Rasmus off of first to end the bleeding.

Bottom 1st: Blue Jays 0, Red Sox 0: Pedro Ciriaco rips a grounder right back at Aaron Laffey who is able to make the play for out number one. Then the rains picked up again and Ellsbury almost gets plunked with Laffey's first offering before striking out. Dustin Pedroia ends the inning with a shallow fly to center that Rasmus handles with ease.

Laffey was not throwing a hard fastball (high 80s), but it seems to be heavy on the hitters thus far.

Top 1st: Blue Jays 0, Red Sox 0: Matsuzaka needs 20 pitches to retire the Jays without harm . Rajai Davis missed an outside slider for strike three, Colby Rasmus grounded one right down the line to Loney who played it to Dice-K for our number two and

A good mix of fastball and break Edwin Encarnarcion walked on five pitches and Adam Lind struck out on a 90 mile-per-hour cut fastball.

The first pitch of the game from Dice-K came at 7:11 p.m., a 90 mile-per-hour strike to Davis. Game time temps are 77 degrees with a stiff wind coming out of the south at 19mph.

Also, the rains have started up here at Fenway, and the crowd is heading to the nearest dry spot. The umpires have gathered after the end of the inning.

Pregame: Good evening folks, Craig Forde here on fill-in duty tonight. I will be providing you with live updates throughout the evening. Heavy cloud cover keeps quickly rolling over Fenway, but we have had only a small spitting of rain thus far. Nothing nearly as threatening as last night and hopefully things remain dry here and we get underway at 7:10 p.m. as planned. We’ll have more updates as we get closer to game time. It’s Dice-K versus Aaron Laffey in a battle of the two last place teams in the American League East.

Game over: Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 5 After going 1-8 on the road trip, the Sox continue their slide and have now dropped four straight games to the Blue Jays for the first time since 2007. Even worse, they have lost four straight games to the Blue Jays at home, a first since going 0-6 in 1989. The game was played in front of a "paid attendance" of 37,156 for the 783rd consecutive sellout at Fenway in three hours and eight minutes.

At 63-76, the Sox are virtually tied for last place with the 62-75 Blue Jays.

Bottom 9th: Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 5: Gomez celebrated his birthday by launching a two-out, two-run homer over the Monster seats, bringing the Sox within two runs. But it wasn't enough as the next batter, Posednik, struck out to end the inning.

Top 9th: Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 3: Daniel Bard has now given up a home run in each of his three appearances since returning to the majors.

Sierra led off with a walk and then left the game for pinch runner Anthony Gose, who promptly stole second and third. Bard then struck out Davis. Gose got caught in a rundown between third and home that left Lawrie standing at third. Lawrie then scored when Rasmus made up for missing out on the earlier home run, hitting one to right field.

Bard then struck out Encarnacion, but the damage had been done.

Bottom 8th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 3: Steve Delabar pitched the eighth for the Blue Jays, relieving Oliver (two-thirds an inning, one hit) and immediately gave up a home run, as Pedroia slammed one over the Monster seats and onto Lansdowne.

The Sox, however, had nothing to follow that. Ellsbury struck out, Ross walked and Loney hit into a double play.

Top 8th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Rich Hill relieved Carpenter (who gave up one walk and threw one strike out in one inning) and retired the Blue Jays in order. Lind grounded out to second and Arencibia to shortstop and then Johnson flew out to right.

Also, Lavarnway came into the game for Saltalamacchia.

Bottom 7th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 2: Alvarez left the game after getting Aviles to pop out to shortstop and walking Ciriaco. He pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, walking two batters and striking out one.

Darren Oliver came in to face Mauro Gomez, pinch hitting for Kalish. Ciriaco showed off his speed stealing second and then scoring on a Gomez's single to center.

Davis then robbed Posednik of a hit with a nice catch against the wall and doubled up on Gomez who had rounded second, for the third out.

Fun fact: today is Gomez's 28th birthday.

Top 7th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: The Sox have now retired the last eight Toronto batters.

Chris Carpenter came in for the top of the seventh and got Lawrie to ground out to shortstop, struck out Rasmus and induced a groundout to third from Encarnacion.

Mortensen left the game after pitching two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out four batters.

Bottom 6th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: The Sox also went down in order. Ross and Loney both grounded out to shortstop and then Saltalamacchia hit his third fly out to left of the night.

Top 6th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Mortensen struck out the side: Johnson, Sierra and Davis. He has struck out four of the seven batters he has faced tonight.

Bottom 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1: Pedroia recorded his 400th career RBI as the Sox finally got on the board in the fifth inning.

Ciriaco started the inning with a groundout to third. Kalish bunted and just beat out the throw for a hit, then advanced to third on a grounder into right field by Posednik. Pedroia almost hit into a double play as Lawrie got the ball over to Johnson at second to get Posednik, but Encarnacion couldn't dig out the ball at first. In the meantime, Kalish sprinted home, giving Pedroia his 400th RBI. Ellsbury followed all of that by striking out looking - the first of the game for Alvarez.

Top 5th: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 0: Rasmus almost started the inning off with another homer, but fell just short in the triangle and had to settle for a triple. That hit knocked Doubront out of the game after throwing 88 pitches, giving up five runs on six hits (two of which were home runs), striking out four batters and walking two.

(For the record, Bobby Valentine was met with a few boos on his way to the mound.)

Clayton Mortensen entered the game and got Encarnacion to hit a broken-bat line drive to second. Escobar, however, followed that with a soft line drive into short right field to score Rasmus. Mortensen then struck out Lind and got Johnson to ground out to third.

Bottom 4th: Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 0: The Sox started out with some excitement as Ross hit a double off the wall and then advanced to third on a grounder to second by Loney. But then he got stuck there as Salty flew out to left and Aviles grounded out to second. Henderson Alvarez has now induced nine ground ball outs and three fly outs.

Top 4th: Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 0: Doubront started off strong, inducing pop flies from Adam Lind and Arencibia but then walked Johnson and then gave up a bomb to Sierra. Davis followed that with a single, advancing to second on an error by Ciriaco, before Doubront struck out Lawrie to get out of the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Blue Jays 2, Red Sox 0: Posednik has Boston's first hit of the game, a line drive into left, but nothing comes of it as Pedroia follows with a fielder's choice to shortstop. Ellsbury hit a grounder to second to end the inning just as Ryan Kalish started it.

Top 3rd: Blue Jays 2, Red Sox 0: Toronto expands its lead with a home run from Encarnacion, his 38th of the season and the 20th Doubront has given up.

Bottom 2nd: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 0: Sox don't have a hit in the second inning either. James Loney grounded out to first, Jarrod Saltalamacchia flew out to left, Mike Aviles walked but then was left on base when Pedro Ciriaco flew out to short left field.

Top 2nd: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 0: Feliz Doubront struck out two in the second: J.P. Arencibia to lead off and Rajai Davis for the third out. In between, Kelly Johnson grounded to second (Pedroia again flashing some leather) and Moises Sierra walked.

Bottom 1st: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 0: The Red Sox can't get a hit in the first. Scott Posednik grounded out to shortstop, Pedroia reached on Escobar's error, Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to left, Ross almost hit the hot dog guy with a foul ball and then grounded to shortstop and Pedroia was out at second.

Top 1st: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 0: Brett Lawrie hit a double up the first-base line, advanced to third on a dribbler up the middle (on which Dustin Pedroia made a nice play) by Colby Rasmus, then scored on Edwin Encarnacion's sac fly.

Both Pedroia and Cody Ross had a chance on a goofy-looking blooper to short right by Yunel Escobar - Ross slid and tipped the ball up then Pedroia got a bit of glove on it but didn't really have a chance. The hit ended up being inconsequential as Escobar was stranded at first.

Pre-game update: The game is now scheduled to being at 8:25.

Pre-game update: The tarp is coming off the field, but a start time has not yet been announced.

Pre-game: It's a rainy evening at Fenway and the start has been delayed. We don't have a new start time yet, but will let you know when we do.

I'm Diana C. Nearhos and I'm filling in at the Globe tonight and will be bringing you updates all game long, and all delay long for that matter. Follow along and feel free to comment below, I'll address your comments as much as I can.

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

RED SOX (63-75)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
Kalish DH
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (10-7, 5.03)

BLUE JAYS (61-75)
Lawrie 3B
Rasmus CF
Encarnacion 1B
Escobar SS
Lind DH
Arencibia C
Johnson 2B
Sierra RF
Davis LF
Pitching: RHP Henderson Alvarez (7-12, 5.04)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Alvarez: Pedroia 4-12, Saltalamacchia 1-11, Ellsbury 3-9, Aviles 2-7, Ross 2-7, Podsednik 0-3, Kalish 1-2.

Blue Jays vs. Doubront: Johnson 3-10, Encarnacion 4-8, Escobar 3-8, Davis 0-8, Rasmus 3-8, Lind 0-4, Mathis 2-3

Stat of the Day: At 4.77, the Red Sox have the second-worst team ERA at home. Only the Colorado Rockies are worse, at 5.88.

Notes: The Red Sox begin a six-game homestand tonight. After three games vs. Toronto, the Yankees are at Fenway Park starting Tuesday. ... Doubront has not won a game since July 18 ... Pedroia is batting .367 over the last 30 days with 40 hits (including 11 doubles) and 15 RBIs ... The presence of former Sox pitching coach John Farrell, the Blue Jays' manager, at Fenway will be a hot topic throughout the weekend. The Red Sox were interested in Farrell as manager prior to hiring Bobby Valentine, and his name is frequently brought up in speculation about next season ... Saltalamacchia needs three home runs to tie Carlton Fisk's record for home runs in a season by a Red Sox catcher. Salty has 23. ... The PawSox lead the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees 2-0 in their International League playoff series with Game 3 tonight.

Game over: Red Sox went 1-8 on the West Coast trip by virtue of the loss tonight. The Red Sox couldn't handle flamethrower Tom Wilhelmsen in the ninth except for a lead off walk by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The game was played in 2:47 before 13,037. The Sox have an off-day Thursday and then take on Toronto for the battle of last place in the AL East.

Bottom 8th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1 Strong inning for Alfredo Aceves and another gem by Loney at first.

Top 8th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1 James Loney takes a weak swing for strike three against Lucas Luetge stranding Jacoby Ellsbury (single) at second base.

Bottom 7th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1 A combo of Andrew Miller and Alfredo Aceves offset the M's. Cook, who did a nice job, was out after six.

Top 7th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1 Mike Aviles walked and stole second base, but Scott Podsednik flied to left to end the threat. Aviles walked with one out. Bobby Valentine had sent out Ryan Kalish to pinch hit for Pedro Ciriaco, but M's manager Eric Wedge brought in lefty Charlie Furbush and Valentine countered with Mauro Gomez. But Gomez struck out for the second out.

Bottom 6th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1 James Loney made a nice diving stop of Dustin Ackley's inning-ending grounder. Loney may not be quite Adrian Gonzalez at first, but he's not far behind.

Top 6th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 1 Sox pulled closer when Cody Ross doubled into the right field corner scoring Jacoby Ellsbury, who reached on a fielder's choice. Sox, however, couldn't get the tying run in with one out.

Bottom 5th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 0 Cook allowed a two-out single up the middle to Eric Thames, but held the status quo.

Top 5th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 0 Sox offense not getting it done against Kevin Millwood, who has not had a win in his last six decisions. But the Red Sox offense make kings of these types of guys. They went down 1-2-3.

Bottom 4th: Mariners 2, Red Sox 0 Good times didn't last long for Aaron Cook, who allowed two runs. The first three M's reached with a pair of singles and a walk. After Cook got Brendan Ryan to pop out to second base, Dustin Ackley singled up the middle to score two runs.

Top 4th: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Bases loaded, two outs and Ryan Lavarnway grounded out to end the inning. Sox loaded them up with two gone when Ross singled, Loney reached on an infield hit and Salty walked.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Aaron Cook struck out the side, giving him a season-high five for the game. He also walked two in the inning.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Sox go three-up, three-down as their offense, which enjoyed a little spark in one inning of Tuesday's 4-3 win over the M's has recoiled once again.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Aaron Cook gave up a couple of singles that found holes to Jesus Montero and Mike Carp, but secured the final out on a Brendan Ryan fly to right to keep the game scoreless.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Sox had two runners on with one out after a Cody Ross single and a walk by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, But Ryan Lavarnway knocked into a 6-4-3 double-play.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Kyle Seager singled to right with two outs vs. Aaron Cook, who has not won in his last four decisions. Cook, who is 3-8 with a 5.35 ERA, is pitching for a job next season but hasn't made a convincing case of late. He got out of the first, however.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Kevin Millwood retired the Red Sox in order in the first. Scott Podsednik flew out to center, Dustin Pedroia lined out to shortstop and Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to right field.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (63-74)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-8, 5.35)

MARINERS (66-71)
Ackley 2B
Robinson LF
Seager 3B
Jaso C
Montero DH
Thames RF
Carp 1B
Wells CF
Ryan SS
Pitching: RHP Kevin Millwood (4-12, 4.38)

Game time: 10:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Millwood: Podsednik 9-30, Pedroia 4-19, Ellsbury 3-13, Aviles 3-11, Loney 4-7, Kalish 1-3, Ross 1-3.

Mariners vs. Cook: Figgins 0-10, Ryan 1-6, Olivo 1-3, Ackley 0-3, Jaso 1-3, Montero 0-3, Seager 0-3, Smoak 0-3, Wells 0-3.

Stat of the Day: Red Sox pitchers have a 1.48 ERA in eight games against Seattle this year. Since 1921, it is their lowest mark in a season series of at least six games against any opponent.

Notes: The road trip comes to an end tonight for the Sox, who snapped a seven-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 4-3 win. ... The Sox are 1-7 on the trip, getting outscored 61-20. ... Cook is 1-7, 5.67 in his last 10 starts. But he pitched perhaps the best game of the year for a Red Sox starter when he beat Seattle on June 29 at Safeco. Cook threw a two-hit shutout without a walk and struck out two. He threw 58 of 81 pitches for strikes. Seattle hitters are an aggregate 3 of 39 against Cook in their careers. ... Millwood is 0-4, 5.97 in his last six starts and hasn't won since July 28. ... Pedroia has a 14-game hit streak. He is 24 of 61 in the streak with nine extra-base hits.

Song of the Day: "Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones.

Game over: Boston's long seven-game losing streak is finally over after their comeback win over the Mariners. They were down 3-0 at one point, but a three-run homer by Cody Ross and Ryan Lavarnway's solo shot, all in the sixth inning, was the difference. Jon Lester (9-11) pitched the first six, but the Sox got excellent relief from Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow, Vicente Padilla and Andrew Bailey to close out the win. Bailey allowed a two-out triple to Eric Thames, but got Kyle Seager to fly out to right to end the game. The game was played before 12,754.

Top 9th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 Sox had a chance to add some wiggle room here but came up short. Ciriaco beat out an infield hit and went to second on Jose Iglesias's sacrifice bunt. After pinch-hitter Mauro Gomez's fly ball to right moved Ciriaco to third, the M's decided to walk Dustin Pedroia intentionally and pitch to Jacoby Ellsbury with finesse specialist lefty Oliver Perez on the mound. Ellsbury took three of the weakest swings you'll ever see and the M's escaped.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 James Loney started a 3-6-3 double-play on Mike Carp's grounder. Jose Iglesais dug out a low throw at second and quickly threw to first to convert the twin-killing.

Top 8th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 Loney, Salty and Lavarnway got down in order.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 Nice work by Junichi Tazawa escaping a jam created by Craig Breslow, who allowed two hits and left the game with one out. Tazawa retired the dangerous Jesus Montero and Justin Smoak.

Top 7th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 The Red Sox rallied again when Dustin Pedroia singled and Jacoby Ellsbury walked with two outs, but Cody Ross struck out.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 In his final inning, Lester retired the bottom of the M's order. Lester went six innings, allowed three runs, nine hits, walked two and struck out four. He threw 111 pitches.

Top 6th: Red Sox 4, Mariners 3 The long ball returned to the Red Sox arsenal as Cody Ross banged a three-run homer, his 20th, to tie and Ryan Lavarnway homered off the left field scoreboard to take the lead. All four runs came against righty Blake Blevan. The Sox strung together back-to-back hits by Dustin Pedroia (extending his hitting streak to 15 games) and Jacoby Ellsbury. Ross now has 72 RBIs.

Bottom 5th: Mariners 3, Red Sox 0 Lester got out of a two-on, one out jam by striking out Justin Smoak and Miguel Olivo.

Top 5th: Mariners 3, Red Sox 0 Jose Iglesais broke a 0-for-17 with double over third baseman Kyle Seager's head with two outs. Per usual, he didn't score.

Bottom 4th: Mariners 3, Red Sox 0 Nice catch by Jarrod Saltalamacchia on a foul pop on which he reached into the first row of the stands to the left of home plate to retire Dustin Ackley for the final out. earlier in the inning, Saltalamacchia threw out Trayvon Robinson trying to to steal.

Top 4th: Mariners 3, Red Sox 0 James Loney stroked his second hit in as many at-bats, but the pathetic Boston offense couldn't get him in.

Bottom 3rd: Mariners 3, Red Sox 0 Boston's ace, Jon Lester, allowed back-to-back homers to Franklin Gutierrez and Kyle Seager. Jesus Montero followed with a single. Pedro Ciriaco started a nice 5-4-3 double-play to get out of the inning.

Top 3rd: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0 The Red Sox are retired in order by Blake Bevan.

Bottom 2nd: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0 Jon Lester got out of a situation where Jarrod Saltalamacchia committed a throwing error on an attempted steal and then Jacoby Ellsbury got off another weak throw in trying to make a play at third base. Lester retired Dustin Ackley anyway for the third out.

Top 2nd: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0 Typical Red Sox inning. A leadoff double by James Loney did not yield a run. Jarrod Saltalamacchia moved the runner to third on a ground out, but DH Ryan Lavarnway grounded out as the runner had to stay put, and Pedro Ciriaco flew out.

Bottom 1st: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0 The M's got on the board first (no surprise), but Red Sox fans should be excited Jon Lester allowed only one run. Dustin Ackley reached on an infield single, and after two outs and a stolen base, Jesus Montero singled to right field to drive in the run. Justin Smoak followed with a broken bat single to center, but Lester retired Miguel Olivo on a force play at second to end the M's threat.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Mariners 0 Scott Podsednik led off with a single and got to second on a stolen base with two outs, but Cody Ross grounded out to end the threat.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game this evening:

RED SOX (62-74)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Ciriaco 3B
Iglesias SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (8-11, 5.01)

MARINERS (66-70)
Ackley 2B
Gutierrez CF
Seager 3B
Montero DH
Smoak 1B
Olivo C
Robinson LF
Wells RF
Ryan SS
Pitching: RHP Blake Beavan (9-8, 4.95)

Game time: 10:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Beavan: Pedroia 3-9. Ellsbury 2-8, Aviles 2-4, Salty 3-5, Ross 0-1, Loney 0-1.

Mariners vs. Lester: Figgins 7-25, Gutierrez 4-20, Olivo 2-12, Montero 3-9, Smoak 2-7, Ryan 2-6, Saunders 3-6. Thames 1-6, Ackley 1-4, Seager 0-4.

Stat of the Day: The Sox are 52 of 233 (.223) on the road trip with seven extra-base hits. Players not named Dustin Pedroia are 41 of 208 (.197) with four extra-base hits.

Notes: Is tonight the night? Lester has pitched well in his last four starts (3-1, 3.21) and is 3-2, 3.48 in eight career starts against the Mariners. He also had a strong start against them on May 14 at Fenway (9 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). ... But can the Sox get him a few runs? They have scored 16 runs in the last seven games, five in the last three. ... The Sox are 7-23 against the AL West. ... The seven-game losing streak is the longest since a nine gamer in 2001. ... Ellsbury (4 of 24) and Ross (4-23) have three runs and two RBIs in the losing streak. ... Beavan faced the Sox on May 15, allowing three runs over four innings.

Song of the Day: "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons.

Game over: Red Sox 4, Mariners 1: At least they were competitive today. But that's seven losses in a row, the longest skid since a nine-game losing streak from Aug. 25 - Sept. 4, 2001.

The Sox have been outscored 58-16 on the trip.

Tough loss for Buchholz (11-5). Vargas (14-9) was the winner. Pedroia was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Top of the 9th: Mariners 4, Red Sox 1: Pedroia walked and stole second in the eighth but Ross grounded back to the mound. Rich Hill and Chris Carpenter worked the bottom of the inning.

Top of the 8th: Mariners 4, Red Sox 1: Buchholz struck out the side. He has fanned eight. The errors have killed him in a game he otherwise has pitched very well in.

Vargas is done and Josh Kinney is in.

Top of the 7th: Mariners 4, Red Sox 1: Buchholz has held the line and, in fact, has a quality start. But the Red Sox haven't scored since the first inning,

Top of the 6th: Mariners 4, Red Sox 1: The Sox wasted a leadoff single by Aviles. Buchholz then retired the Mariners in order.

Top of the 5th: Mariners 4, Red Sox 1: So much for the good times.

Gutierrez singled before Buchholz hit Seager. Jaso then singled in a run, as did Smoak. When Thames popped to center, Jaso held at third. But Ellsbury made a wild throw to the first base side of the plate that Lavarnway let get past him and a run scored. Ellsbury was charged with the error.

Olivo singled. When Peguero followed with a grounder to first, Iglesias held onto the ball after looking at second and threw late to first. He got an error as another run scored.

Ryan grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Iglesias ranged deep into the hole and made a quick throw across his body to start it. Great play after an inning full of terrible ones by the Sox.

Top of of the 4th: Red Sox 1, Mariners 0: Buchholz has retired seven straight.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 1, Mariners 0: Buchholz blew away Smoak and Thames then got Olivo to pop to left. He looks pretty sharp so far.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 1, Mariners 0: The Red Sox still have a lead. This is amazing.

OK, enough jokes. Kalish made a nice running catch in left to end the first inning. He then singled in the second but was stranded when Iggy struck out looking.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 1, Mariners 0: Pedrioa doubled to center with two outs and scored on a single by Ross. That's 1,000 career hits for Pedroia and a a 14-game hit streak. The Sox have their first lead since Tuesday.

Glory be.

Pre-game: Good afternoon from beautiful Safeco Field. It's a sunny day in Seattle as the Red Sox try to break their losing streak.

Hope you are enjoying Labor Day. We'll have updates all game long. Feel free to follow along and leave your comments.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (62-73)
Ciriaco 3B
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Gomez 1B
Lavarnway C
Aviles DH
Kalish LF
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (11-4, 4.50)

MARINERS (65-70)
Ackley 2B
Gutierrez CF
Seager 3B
Jaso DH
Smoak 1B
Thames RF
Olivo C
Peguero LF
Ryan SS
Pitching: LHP Jason Vargas (13-9, 3.90)

Game time: 4:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Vargas: Pedroia 2-12, Ellsbury 2-7, Ross 3-7, Aviles 1-6, Loney 2-5, Salty 0-2.

Mariners vs. Buchholz: Figgins 3-12, Jaso 1-9, Gutierrez 0-2, Olivo 1-3, Saunders 0-2.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 21-36 since July 1. The Mariners are 31-24.

Notes: Buchholz has faced the Mariners only twice in his career and not since Sept. 15, 2010. He is 1-0, 2.92 against them. ... Vargas has faced the Sox twice this season, allowing 11 runs on 18 hits over 12.1 innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. ... The Sox have lost six straight and 11 of 14. They are 4-2 against Seattle this season, going 2-2 at Safeco Field in a series that ran from June 28 to July 1. ... The Sox have been outscored 54-15 on their road trip. ... Sox pitchers have a 7.08 ERA in the last 13 games. ... The Sox have lost 19 of their last 28 road games. ... Pedroia starts the day with a 13-game hit streak (20 of 54) and hits in 26 of his last 27 games.

Song of the Day: "Even The Losers" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Game over: A's 6, Red Sox 2: That's six losses in a row for the first time since the 2011 team started the season 0-6.

The Sox have dropped 11 of 14 and are basically in shambles, getting outscored, 54-14, on this road trip so far.

Pedroia was 3 for 4 and is now hitting .288. He doubled in the ninth and scored on a sac fly by Gomez.

Anderson (3-0) was the winner and Matsuzaka (1-4, 6.15) the loser.

The crowd of 25,314 was chanting "sweep, sweep" as the game ended.

Top of the 9th: A's 6, Red Sox 1: The Sox have five hits, two by Pedroia. Melancon just threw a scoreless inning. The bullpen (4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K) has done a nice job today.

Top of the 8th: A's 6, Red Sox 1: The Sox continue to get good work from the their bullpen as Tazawa struck out two. Pedroia also made a terrific play to rob Donaldson of a hit. He has played his heart out despite the mess around him.

Top of the 7th: A's 6, Red Sox 1: The Sox scored! The Sox scored!

With Ciriaco on first, Podsednik and Pedrioa singled to load the bases. Ross followed with a single to left. Ciriaco singled but when Podsednik tried to score, he was gunned down by Cespdes. The Cuban has shown a terrific arm in this series.

Breslow pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning.

Top of the 6th: A's 6, Red Sox 0: The Sox are getting two-hit by Anderson. They have been outscored, 33-3, in this series.

Top of the 5th: A's 6, Red Sox 0: Matsuzaka is done after 3 2/3 innings and 97 pitches. The A's have left the bases loaded twice. Miller fanned pinch hitter Chris Carter to avoid further damage. Like it matters given how inept the Red Sox lineup is.

Matsuzaka's line: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 HR.

Top of the 4th: A's 5, Red Sox 0: Since the Sox are already on the West Coast, can they sent Dice-K back home now and save time?

Two walks, three singles, and a sac fly accounted for two more runs. He is already at 78 pitches, as well.

Top of the 3rd: A's 3, Red Sox 0: Dice-K allowed another rocket, this one from Stephen (brother of J.D.) Drew.

Top of the 2nd: A's 2 Red Sox 0: Pedroia extended his hit streak to 13 games with a two-out single in the first. Then Matsuzaka walked Crisp before allowing a bomb to center by Smith.

The Red Sox have trailed in every game on this trip.

Pregame: Good afternoon from sunny Oakland. The Red Sox have Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound as they try to snap a five-game losing streak.

Oakland has won eight straight. The Sox have been outscored, 48-13, on the road trip. It has to change eventually, right?

The left side of the diamond should be interesting today. Pedro Ciriaco is starting in left field for the first time. And the third baseman is Mauro Gomez, whose natural position is DH.

When asked about Gomez playing third, Bobby Valentine said the scouting report is that he'll make the plays in front of him. Well, that's comforting.

Apparently the comments actually work. Click on the "comments" link on top of the post. I apologize for the tech issues lately. They're installing a new system.

Game over: A's 7, Red Sox 1: The Sox have lost five straight and 10 of their last 13 games. They have been outscored 48-13 on the first five games of their road trip.

The Athletics have won eight straight for the first time since 2006. Rookie righthander A.J. Griffin came off the disabled list and held the Sox to one run on three hits over seven innings. He had a perfect game into the fifth inning.

Griffin (4-0) struck out five without a walk. He has faced the Sox twice this season and given up three runs over 13 innings.

Top of the 9th: A's 7, Red Sox 1: Rich Hill, fresh off the DL, whiffed two. Then Andrew Bailey returned to the Oakland mound as a member of the Sox and fanned Cespedes.

14 strikeouts by Sox pitchers tonight. OK, seven runs on 11 hits, too. Trying to stay positive.

Middle of the 8th: A's 7, Red Sox 1: Carter’s home run off Daniel Bard in the seventh inning extended Oakland’s lead to 7-1. Bard allowed a single by Pennington then bounced back to strike out Norris and Brandon Hicks.

Rich Hill now coming in Griffin held the Sox to one run on three hits over seven innings. He struck out five without a walk. He has faced the Sox twice this season and given up three runs over 13 innings.

Top of the 7th: A's 6, Red Sox 1: Ciriaco reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single to left by Pedroia, who extended his hit streak to 12 games. Ciriaco looked out at the plate in a great throw by Cespedes.

Top of the 6th: A's 6, Red Sox 0: Pennington singled, stole second and scored on a single by Norris. Sox have been outscored 47-12 on this trip so far.

Middle of the 5th: A's 5, Red Sox 0: Salty broke up the perfect game with a bunt single against the shift. Crowd didn't like it. That's a little bush depending on your view.

Top of the 5th: A's 5, Red Sox 0: The Sox are getting perfect gamed and Griffin has thrown only 46 pitches. Aceves started the fourth inning and left two runners on.

Aceves had a brutal error when he tried to catch a foul pop and dropped the ball after pushing Salty out of the way.

After the inning, second baseman Dustin Pedroia confronted Aceves in the dugout and their conversation became heated. Third base coach Jerry Royster had to step between them.

Top of the 4th: A's 5, Red Sox 0: Here we go again. Crisp led off with a single and was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on a double by Gomes. With two outs, Cespedes singled in Gomes.

Cespedes then stole second and third before Carter walked. Inge followed with a blast over the head in Ross in right. He caught up to the ball and tried to make a backhanded catch over his shoulder. The ball hit his glove and bounced away for a two-run double. Ross banged his right shoulder hard into the wall but stayed in the game.

Norris followed with an RBI single.

Top of the 3rd: A's 1, Red Sox 0: The Sox haven't put anybody on base yet. Doubront worked around an E-5 and a walk in the second.

Bottom of the 2nd: A's 1, Red Sox 0: I am told by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that Coco Crisp has some sort of postgame victory dance related to a song from "Weekend at Bernie's" and that's why Terry Kiser ("Bernie") threw out the first pitch tonight.

Hey, at least they're having fun.

Top of the 2nd: A's 1, Red Sox 0: Coco Crisp had a leadoff homer. A's players who were once Red Sox now have 10 homers against the Sox this season.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, A's 0: Easy inning for Griffin, who retired the Sox in order on 12 pitches.

Pre-game: Good evening from Oakland Coliseum, where it's actually "Weekend at Bernie's" Day. Yes, that movie came out in 1989.

The Sox have lost six straight against the Athletics for the first time since 1969. It'll be Felix Doubront against rookie A.J. Griffin.

Follow along with the updates. It seems like the comments still aren't working. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (62-71)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Podsednik LF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Lavarnway DH
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (10-6, 4.79)

ATHLETICS (74-57)
Crisp CF
Gomes DH
Reddick RF
Cespedes LF
Carter 1B
Inge 3B
Norris C
Hicks SS
Rosales 2B
Pitching: RHP A.J. Griffin (3-0, 2.42)

Game time: 9:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Griffin: Gomes 1-3, Kalish 0-3, Salty 1-3, Aviles 0-2, Ross 0-2.

Athletics vs. Doubront: Cespedes 1-2, Gomes 0-2, Pennington 1-2, Reddick 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Sox are 7-20 against teams from the AL West this season. They have been outscored 157-105.

Notes: The Sox have lost four straight and nine of 12. They are 21-34 since July 1. ... Oakland has won seven straight. The A's are 6-1 against the Sox this season, winning six in a row. They haven't done that since 1969. ... Doubront is 0-2, 7.01 in his last five starts. ... Griffin is coming off the DL to make the start. He last pitched Aug. 4. The 24-year-old rookie faced the Sox on July 4 and allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. ... Pedroia has hits safely in 11 straight and 24 of 25. ... Loney has hit safely in all six games he has played for the Sox. ... Four former Red Sox — Reddick, Crisp, Kottaras and Moss — are 27-69 (.391) with five doubles, a triple, nine homers and 27 RBIs for the Athletics against the Red Sox in this season. ... Sox starters are 45-53, 5.00. ... The Sox have been outscored 41-12 on the road trip so far.

Song of the Day: "Something Is Not Right With Me" by Cold War Kids.

Game over: Athletics 20, Red Sox 2: In what has been a season full of cringe-worthy moments, this was the worst.

Brandon Moss, the former Sox prospect, was 4 for 5 with a home run, two doubles and a career-high four RBIs. George Kottaras, another former Red Sox player, homered twice and drove in five runs.

Oakland had 19 hits, four of them home runs.

The 20 runs were the most for Oakland since Sept. 30, 2000 when they beat Texas, 23-2. The Sox, incredibly, have allowed 13 or more runs six times this season.

It was the worst loss for the Sox since June 19, 2000, a 22-1 loss against the Yankees. They had not allowed 20 runs in a game since Aug 21, 2009, a 22-11 loss against the Yankees.

The Sox have lost four straight and nine of their last 12. They were 9-20 in August and going back to last Sept. 1 are 69-91.

Top of the 8th: A's 18, Red Sox 2: The A's scored nine runs off Craig Breslow and Mark Melancon. The capper came from, of course. Josh Reddick. His first career grand slam made it 18-2.

What an embarrassment. The 18 runs are the most for Oakland since Sept. 30, 2000 when they beat Texas, 23-2. The Sox, incredibly, have allowed 18 runs twice this season and 13 or more runs six times.

And the game isn't over.

Middle of the 7th: A's 9, Red Sox 2: Ciriaco singled before Iglesias was hit by a pitch. Pedro Figueroa relieved McCarthy and threw a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Mauro Gomez then drove in Ciriaco with a grounder to third base.

Top of the 7th: A's 9, Red Sox 1: Daniel Bard pitched the sixth inning and allowed a home run by Kottaras. It was Bard's first MLB appearance since June.

Top of the 6th: A's 8, Red Sox 1: Aceves hit Cespedes with two outs. Then Moss crushed a homer to right. He has a career-high four RBIs tonight.

Middle of the 5th: A's 6, Red Sox 1: Tazawa retired all four batters he faced. Aceves on now. Guess he really is getting stretched out.

Middle of the 4th: A's 6, Red Sox 1: Salty (No. 23) homered with two outs.

Top of the 4th: A's 6, Red Sox 0: Cook was brutal. After Drew hit a bomb to center that Ellsbury ran down, Reddick doubled to right. With two outs, Moss hit a ball over third base that was deflected and went for an RBI double. An RBI single by Gomez led to Junichi Tazawa coming in.

Cook is 1-6 (soon to be 1-7) with a 5.67 ERA in his last 10 starts. What would be the point of giving up another five or six more? Let Tazawa start. Or Aceves. Or anybody.

Top of the 3rd: A's 4, Red Sox 0: And so it begins. Cespede singled and scored on a double over Podsednik's head in left. Gomes then singled in a run. Donaldson followed with a rocket to left field.

Sox down 4-0 tonight. They were down 2-0 after one inning on Thursday, 4-0 after one inning on Wednesday and 2-0 after one inning on Tuesday.

Middle of the 2nd: Red Sox 0, A's 0: They did it again. Loney singled and went to second when Aviles singled with one out. Ciriaco then grounded to third before Iglesias lined softly to second. Sox already 0 for 4 with RISP.

Top of the 2nd: Red Sox 0, A's 0: Cook retired the A's in order. But two of the outs were fly balls. That's not a good sign for him.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, A's 0: Oh, those Sox. Podsednik and Pedroia (11-game hit streak) had singles. Ellsbury then grounded into a double platy before Ross flied to center.

Pre-game: Good evening from Oakland Coliseum. There are football yard lines on the field here and not much of a crowd. But the Athletics are leading the wild card race as the Sox come to town. It just like a movie with Brad Pitt, only real!

We'll have game updates deep into the night and it appears the comments section is back in order. Sorry about the tech issues.

Hang out, have fun. It's still a baseball game.

Good afternoon. Here is a preview of the game tonight:

RED SOX (62-70)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles DH
Ciriaco 3B
Iglesias SS
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-7, 4.76)

ATHLETICS (73-57)
Crisp CF
Drew SS
Reddick RF
Cespedes LF
Moss 1B
Gomes DH
Donaldson 3B
Kottaras C
Pennington 2B
Pitching: RHP Brandon McCarthy (7-5, 3.12)

Game time: 10:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. McCarthy: Pedroia 2-9, Aviles 0-7, Ellsbury 2-4, Loney 0-3, Ros 0-3, Salty 1-3, Podsednik 0-2.

Athletics vs. Cook: Drew 13-38, Gomes 7-14, Kottaras 2-8, Crisp 3-7, Moss 4-4, Rosales 1-3, Cespedes 1-3, Norris 0-3, Pennington 0-3, Reddick 1-2, Smith 0-3.

Stat of the Day: Pedroia has hit safely in 23 of the last 24 games at .357 (35 for 98) with 12 doubles, one triple, three homers, 15 RBI and 19 runs. Pedroia also has a 10 straight at 14 of 42. He leads the majors with 12 doubles and is tied for second in the AL with 16 extra-base hits in August.
Notes: The Sox have lost three straight and eight of 11. ... The Sox are 1-5 against the Athletics despite getting outscored only 27-21. ... The Sox are 35-36 against the Athletics the last eight years, 12-21 at Oakland Coliseum. ... Cook is 1-6, 4.91 in his last nine starts. He faced Oakland on July 4 and allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings. ... McCarthy is 2-3, 5.23 in eight career appearances against the Sox. He beat them May 2, allowing one run over 6.2 innings. ... Loney has hit safely in each of his first five games with Boston. He also has an RBI in each of his first four starts with the Sox, the first player to accomplish that feat since 1995 when Jose Canseco and Matt Stairs both did it.

Song of the Day: "Big Tears" by Elvis Costello.

Game over: Angels 5, Red Sox 2: The game ended with Mike Aviles on third as Ernesto Frieri got the save.

The Sox were outscored 47-29 by the Angels this season and have lost eight straight games against Los Angeles going back to last year. This is the first time the Sox have ever been swept in a season series of at least six games by any opponent.

Top of the 9th: Angels 5, Red Sox 2: Lester stayed in. Can the Sox find a way to make it worth it?

Top of the 8th: Angels 5, Red Sox 2: Greinke, in his last inning, allowed a single by Aviles. Lester then held the Angels down. But the Sox are running out of chances.

Lester is at 110 pitches and surely done for the night.

Top of the 7th: Angels 5, Red Sox 2: Loney hit his first homer for the Sox, a shot to right field. Lester then worked around a two-out walk.

Top of the 6th: Both sides went in order in the fifth inning. Sox have 3 hits.

Top of the 5th: Angels 5, Red Sox 1: Ross had a leadoff single but that was it for the ox, who have been held to three hits. Lester walked Wells, who went to third on a hit-and-run single by Iannetta. Wells scored with Aviles and Pedroia turned a double play on Trout.

Top of the 4th: Angels 4, Red Sox 1: So much for Lester having his act together.

Hunter, Pujols, Trumbo and Callaspo (pinch hitter for an injured Kendrick) had consecutive singles to account for two runs. Kendrick left the game with a sore right knee.

Middle of the 3rd: Angels 2, Red Sox 1: Lester set down the side on three fly balls. Pedroia then doubled with one out. But Ellsbury grounded out and Loney lined to left. He stung the ball but Wells made the catch while falling down.

Middle of the 2nd: Angels 2, Red Sox 1: Greinke loaded the bases with one out as Aviles singled before Salty and Lavarnway walked. Aviles clocked a sac fly to center. With Salty at third, Ciriaco struck out swinging.

Top of the 2nd: Angels 2, Red Sox 0: The first inning was unkind again. After the Sox went in order, the Angels came out swinging against Lester.

Trout walked before Hunter singled. Pujols then hit a lightning bolt down the line at third that scored two. Lester set down the next three from there but the Sox are already down.

Pre-game: Good evening, gang. The Sox will try to salvage a game in the series against the Angels tonight. The good news is that their hottest starter, Jon Lester, is on the mound.

We'll have updates all game long, so hang out and join the conversation.

Game over: Angels 10, Red Sox 3: Zach Stewart’s first impression was not a good one. He gave up nine runs in three innings as the Sox were beaten, 10-3, before a crowd of 37,841.

You have to go back to April 26, 1902 to find a pitcher who gave up more runs in his debut with Boston. That was Pep Deininger of the Boston Americans, who allowed 11 runs against the Washington Senators.

The Sox are now 0-5 against the Angels this season and have lost seven straight against Los Angeles dating to last season.

Top of the 9th: Angels 10, Red Sox 3: Jason Isringhausen allowed singles by Lavarnway and Gomez (3 for 4) but the Sox could not score. Aceves then worked a scoreless inning thanks to a terrific play by James Loney at first base to rob Trumbo of a hit.

Top of the 8th: Angels 10, Red Sox 3: Wilson was replaced by Jordan Walden and he retired the Sox in order. Alfredo Aceves then worked out of a jam in the bottom of the inning.

Pedroia and Ellsbury are out of the game.

Top of the 7th: Angels 10, Red Sox 3: Wilson left two runners stranded in the sixth as Gomez and Podsednik had singles. Andrew Miller loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning but struck out Morales and got Trumbo to fly to left.

Top of the 6th: Angels 10, Red Sox 3: Trumbo walked and took third on a hit-and-run single by Kendrick.

Callaspo grounded into a double play, which allowed Trumbo to score. Iglesias made a nice turn, getting the feed from Pedroia and making a strong throw while getting taken out.

Middle of the 5th: Angels 9, Red Sox 3: Good stat padding going on. Scotty Pods and Ciriaco singled. Podsednik took third when Ellsbury grounded into a force. When Ellsbury stole second, Podsednik scored when the throw got away. Pedroia then singled in Ellsbury.

Ross lined to left and Lavarnway fanned looking.

Top of the 5th: Angels 9, Red Sox 1: Tazawa retired the side in order, fanning Hunter and Morales. He has shown some potential this season. Tazawa has fanned 27 in 29 innings.

Middle of the 4th: Angels 9, Red Sox 1: Aviles singled, but that was it. Tazawa has replaced Stewart.

His line: 3 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR. 72/36.

Top of the 4th: Angels 9, Red Sox 1: This game is officially out of hand.

Morales doubled and scored on a two-out double by Callaspo. Aybar then doubled in a run before Iannetta homered.

Poor Zach Stewart has allowed nine runs on 10 hits, seven of them for extra bases. Tazawa is warming up. Hard to imagine sending Stewart out for more of this.

Middle of the 3d: Angels 5, Red Sox 1: Wilson retired the side in order. He hasn't won a game since June 26. This sure looks like the one.

Top of the 3d: Angels 5, Red Sox 1: The Rally Monkey may get a night off. Aybar doubled, took third on a fly ball to right by Trout (despite a strong throw from Ross), and scored on a single by Hunter.

That's six hits in two innings off Stewart.

Middle of the 2d: Angels 4, Red Sox 1: Gomez singled, went to third on a single by Aviles, and scored on a sac fly by Podsednik after Iglesias struck out.

Top of the 2d: Angels 4, Red Sox 0: The scouting report on Zach Stewart is that he pitches to contact.

Yes, he sure does.

Trout singled and scored on a double by Hunter. Pujols then singled in a run before Morales homered to right. That was a lot of contact.

Sleep well, all.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Angels 0: Pedroia and Ross worked two-out walks. Ryan Lavarnway had a shot to make it hurt but hit a fly ball down the line in right that Hunter tracked down with his speed.

There was a minor earthquake in California today, a 4.1 centered about eight miles away from Anaheim in Yorba Linda. I felt in in my car while stopped at a light and will readily admit it was a little unsettling.

Lavarnway, who was raised in Woodland Hills, Calif., laughed at me.

"That was nothing," he said. "If you were driving and not stopped, you would have never noticed it."

Maybe so. But I'll be happy to get back on solid ground in Massachusetts.

Pregame: There's plenty of room at the Hotel California and here at Angel Stadium as the Red Sox prepare to face C.J. Wilson and the Angels.

The Sox have won seven of their last eight games here despite the presence of the dreaded Rally Monkey.

If you're staying up late, we'll have updates all night long. Please feel free leave your comments.

Game over: Angels 6, Red Sox 5 Aceves (2-9) hit Erick Aybar with a pitch with one out. After Aybar stole second, Alberto Callaspo walked. Trout, the young MVP candidate, was next.

Aceves got ahead of him 0-and-2. His next pitch, a fastball, was lined into center to drive in a run. Callaspo went to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Torii Hunter.

Aceves has blown eight saves.

Middle of the 9th: Red Sox 5, Angels 4: Kalish led off with a single against Kevin Jepsen. After failing to get a bunt down, Iglesias grounded into a double play. Ciriaco then grounded out.

Aceves stays in to try to finish it off.

Top of the 9th: Red Sox 5, Angels 4: Uneventful inning for Aceves. Looks like he will stay in there for the 9th, too, as nobody is warming up.

Middle of the 8th: Red Sox 5, Angels 4: Missed chance there for the Sox.

Pedroia reached on an error then was thrown out trying to steal second. Lavarnway doubled off the wall in center with two outs, a real rocket. Loney walked to extend the inning but Salty struck out.

Aceves in. Buchholz's line: 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HR. 109 pitches, 65 strikes.

Top of the 8th: Red Sox 5, Angels 4: Trout looped a single into right field with one out and took off for second with the bounce skipped past Kalish.

Hunter curiously tried to bunt and popped the ball up a few feet. Lavarnway made a terrific diving catch for the second out. The Sox decided to pitch to Pujols and he flied to right to end the inning.

Middle of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Angels 4: Ciriaco singled with two outs and stole second. But Scotty Pods fanned.

Buchholz out for the bottom of the inning. Red Sox need him to clear this inning, especially with Bailey not available.

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 5, Angels 4: Buchholz's streak continued when Hunter flied deep to right field. Then Buchholz allowed a cutter to drift over the middle of the plate and Pujols hit it deep over the fence in center for his 29th home run.

Trumbo walked with two outs and scored on a double to the gap in left field by Kendrick. The Red Sox tried to make a play at the plate and Kendrick took third. Izturis extended the inning by drawing a walk but Buchholz got Aybar to ground to first.

Buchholz threw 31 pitches in that inning.

Middle of the 6th: Red Sox 5, Angels 2: Ellsbury singled, stole second and went to third when the throw went into center. Lavarnway then hit a fly ball to deep left to drive in the run.

Very efficient offense by the Sox against a tough pitcher tonight.

Top of the 6th: Red Sox 4, Angels 2: Buchholz is mowing 'em down. That's 10 straight and 15 of 16. He has thrown only 65 pitches, too.

Middle of the 5th: Red Sox 4, Angels 2: Quick inning for Weaver as Ciriaco lined to center and Trout made a diving catch before Podsednik and Pedroia hit fly balls to left.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 4, Angels 2: Easy inning for Buchholz, who has retired seven straight and 12 of 13.

Middle of the 4th: Red Sox 4, Angels 2: Rough inning for Weaver. Pedroia (single), Ellsbury (single) and Lavarnway (walk) loaded the bases. Singles by Loney and Salty scored runs. Lavarnway then scored when Kalish grounded into a double play. Iggy had a chance to drive in a run but grounded to shortstop.

Top of the 4th: Angels 2, Red Sox 1: Clean inning for Buchholz, who looks like he has settled in.

Middle of the 3rd: Angels 2, Red Sox 1: Weaver set down Iggy (F-8), Ciriaco (K) and Scott Pods (4-3) in order.

Top of the 3rd: Angels 2, Red Sox 1: Much better inning for Buchholz, who allowed a single by Iannetta with two outs then struck out Trout looking.

Trout is one of those players you have to see in person to really appreciate. His physicality is impressive. It's like watching an SEC linebacker play baseball.

Middle of the 2nd: Angels 2 Red Sox 1: Salty slugged No. 22 when he drove a 3-2 Weaver curveball into the bleachers in right.

You'd like to see Salty up his OBP, but his power isn't easily ignored. Especially for a catcher. Interesting guy to ponder.

Top of the 2nd: Angels 2, Red Sox 0: Buchholz's second pitch, a belt-high heater on the inner half of the plate, was lined over the wall in left by Trout for his 25th home run. The 21-year-old is the youngest player (and first rookie) to get to 25 homers and 40 steals.

Hunter walked and took third on a single by Pujols. Trumbo's sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

In his last 6.1 innings against the Angels, Buchholz has allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits.

Middle of the 1st: Red Sox 0, Angels 0: Weaver dispatched the Red Sox easily. Podsednik grounded to second, Pedroia struck out and Ellsbury flied to center. 10 pitches, 8 strikes.

Now we'll see what Buchholz learned from his last start.

Pre-game: Good evening from beautiful Angel Stadium. The Big A is a great place to catch a game and tonight it'll be Clay Buchholz against Jered Weaver in what should be a good pitching matchup.

Hang out for updates and feel free to chip in with your comments. If you're staying up back home, we'll be here letting you know what is going on.

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

RED SOX (62-67)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Lavarnway C
Loney 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Kalish RF
Iglesias SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (11-4, 4.47)

ANGELS (66-62)
Trout CF
Hunter RF
Pujols DH
Morales 1B
Trumbo LF
Kendrick 2B
Izturis 3B
Aybar SS
Iannetta C
Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver (16-3, 2.74)

Game time: 10:05 p.m

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Weaver: Pedroia 4-28, Loney 8-23, Ellsbury 5-22, Salty 3-12, Podsednik 4-14, Aviles 3-8, Ciriaco 1-3, Lavarnway 1-3, Ross 0-3.

Angels vs. Buchholz: Wells 5-26, Hunter 4-21, Izturis 9-21, Aybar 3-21, Callaspo 4-17, Kendrick 4-15, Morales 4-8, Trout 0-2, Iannetta 2-2, Pujols 2-2, Wilson 0-2.

Stat of the Day: The Sox will play 22 of their remaining 33 games on the road.

Notes: The Sox have won two straight and three of their last four and tonight start a nine-game trip to Los Angeles, Oakland and Seattle. ... The Angels are in trouble, now 10 games out in the division and 4.5 in the wild card. The Angels are 18-24 since the All-Star break. ... Buchholz and Weaver faced each other at Fenway last Wednesday The Angels won the game 7-3 as Weaver allowed one run over seven innings. Buchholz was hit hard, giving up seven runs on 12 hits over 5.1 innings. Weaver is 3-4, with a 4.23 ERA in 12 career starts against the Sox. Buchholz is 5-3, 4.81 in eight starts against the Angels. ... Hot Sox: Podsednik has hit in seven straight at 12 of 29. He has hit safely in 25 of 29 games he has started this season at .393. .... Ellsbury has hit in seven straight and 12 of the last 15. He has eight extra-base hits and eight RBIs in those 15 games. ... Ross is 9 of his last 22 with six RBIs in five games. ... The Sox were swept by the Angels in three games at Fenway last week.

Song of the Day: "Already Gone" by the Eagles.

Final: Red Sox 5, Royals 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched a gem, allowing no earned runs in seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks while Cody Ross drove in three runs as the Red Sox head out west with some momentum. The Royals scored an unearned run in the first and nothing else. The Red Sox countered with a Jacoby Ellsbury home run in the first and added two in the third on a Ross two-run single and two more in the sixth.

Bottom of 8th, Red Sox 5, Royals 1: Red Sox go down quietly, although James Loney ended the inning with a well-struck liner to deep left.

Top of 8th, Red Sox 5, Royals 1: Clayton Mortensen comes on to relieve Daisuke Matsuzaka and proceeds to allow consecutive one-out singles, prompting Bobby Valentine to go with Vicente Padilla, who ends the trouble by getting Salvador Perez to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Bottom of 7th, Red Sox 5, Royals 1: Luke Hochevar stays in the game and induces consecutive ground balls before a Scott Podnesnik single. Dustin Pedroia ends the inning with a grounder to shortstop.

Top of 7th, Red Sox 5, Royals 1: Dice-K has tossed seven sparkling innings, allowing one run and five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. He allowed a one-out single to Eris Hosmer but struck out Johnny Giovotella while Jarrod Dyson flied out into the left-field corner. Matsuzaka has thrown 101 pitches.

Bottom of 6th, Red Sox 5, Royals 1: Luke Hochevar still can't solve Cody Ross, who belts a double off the Green Monster to score Jacoby Ellsbury, who doubled. Ross now has three RBIs while Ellsbury has a home run, double and has scored two runs. James Loney follows Ross with a dunker over shortstop to score Ross for his second RBI for the Red Sox.

Top of 6th, Red Sox 3, Royals 1: When it appeared that Dice-K was ready to relent runs, he responded by getting two significant outs to end a KC threat. After Alex Gordon doubled and Billy Butler walked, Salvador Perez laced a lazy fly ball to right field. With runners at the corners and two out. Matsuzaka struck out Mike Moustakas to end the inning.

Bottom of 5th, Red Sox 3, Royals 1: Luke Hochevar has now retired six straight batters since the Red Sox two-run third. He gets Mike Aviles to bounce out to third, strikes out Pedro Ciriaco and then gets Scott Podsednik to ground to first to end the inning. Hochevar has four strikeouts and one walk.

Top of 5th, Red Sox 3, Royals 1: Dice-K strikes out Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer -- his third and fourth strikeouts -- before a Green Monster double by Johhny Giovotella. Jarrod Dyson grounds out to first base to end the threat.

Bottom of 4th, Red Sox 3, Royals 1: Red Sox go down quietly in order, after James Loney pops out to short, Jarrod Saltalamacchia bounces out to first and Mauro Gomez fouls out to catcher.

Top of 4th, Red Sox 3, Royals 1: Matsuzaka is working on a solid start, getting the first two out before a Salvador Perez single. Pedro Ciriaco made a nice bare-handed grab of a Mike Moustakas grounder for the third out.

Bottom of 3rd, Red Sox 3, Royals 1: After Pedro Ciriaco struck out, Scott Podsednik and Dustin Pedroia follow with consecutive singles. Jacoby Ellsbury flies to deep left field but both runners eventually advance on a passed ball during Cody Ross' at-bat. Ross follows with a shot that caroms off the top of the Green Monster, scoring two runs. Ross was thrown out trying to reach second base.

Top of 3rd, Royals 1, Red Sox 1 Matsuzaka continues to remain steady, allowing only a single to Johnny Giovotella, who reached second on a wild pitch with two out. Alcides Escobar left Giovotella stranded with a routine fly ball to right field.

Bottom of 2nd, Royals 1, Red Sox 1 Luke Hochevar induces James Loney to line out to shortstop and Jarrod Saltalamacchia to foul out to third before walking Mauro Gomez. Mike Aviles ends the inning with a broken-bat grounder to third.

Top of 2nd, Royals 1, Red Sox 1 Matsuzaka is beginning to calm down, retiring the side in order, helped by a nice running catch from shortstop Mike Aviles on a Salvador Perez pop-up in foul territory. Jacoby Ellisbury follows with a catch near the left-center field wall of a Lorenzo Cain liner to end the inning.

Bottom of 1st, Royals 1, Red Sox 1 Scott Podsednik begins the Red Sox half of the inning with a strikeout and Dustin Pedroia is robbed of extra bases on a marvelous catch by center fielder Jarrod Dyson, who practically climbed the ball to make the grab. Jacoby Ellsbury follows with a solo homer, his second, that crawled over the short-right field fence near Pesky Pole to even the game.

Top of 1st, Royals 1, Red Sox 0 Daisuke Matsuzaka begins the game by walking Jarrod Dyson, who takes exactly one pitch to steal second and advance to third on Dustin Pedroia allowing the late throw to roll into shallow center field. One out later, Dyson scored on a sacrifice line out by Alex Gordon. Billy Butler ended the frame with a fly ball to center field.

Final: Red Sox 8, Royals 6: The Red Sox earned at least a split of this four-game series against the Royals with an 8-6 victory Sunday before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,188.

Felix Doubront, activated from the disabled list (right knee contusion) Saturday, went five innings and allowed four runs on six hits, including a three-run homer by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth.

Pedro Beato picked up the win in his Sox debut after being acquired from the New York Mets in a trade for Kelly Shoppach.

Pedro Ciriaco and Dustin Pedroia each homered while newcomer James Loney, acquired Saturday in the blockbuster nine-player trade with the Dodgers, recorded an RBI single in the fifth that enabled the Sox to tie it, 4-4. The Sox tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the fifth, which provided the buffer they needed to withstand a two-run eruption by the Royals in the eighth.

Pedroia's solo homer (12th of the season) gave the Sox a needed insurance run. Mark Melancon came on in the ninth and recorded his first save of the season.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 8, Royals 6: Laser Show! Pedroia hammered a 1-and-0 pitch from Louis Coleman for a leadoff solo homer to the Green Monster seats that gave the Sox some breathing room. It was Pedroia's 12th homer of the season.

Coleman got out of the inning when he struck out the next three batters he faced. Mark Melancon was summoned to close out the game in the ninth.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 7, Royals 6: Beato scuffled when he gave up back-to-back singles to Butler and Perez before walking Francoeur to load the bases for Johnny Giavotella. Craig Breslow inherited the potentially flammable situation from Beato.

Breslow struck out Giavotella, got Hosmer to fly to right on a sacrifice fly (that scored Butler from third) before giving up an RBI single to Abreu that cut it to 7-6 and put runners on the corners with two outs.

Breslow got out of the innning when he came back from a 3-and-0 count to strike out Cain looking at an 84 slider.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 7, Royals 4: The Sox got an insurance run when Scott Podsednik came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded and reached on a fielding error by Alcides Escobar (his second of the game). It allowed Cody Ross, who reached on a leadoff single to center off reliever Jeremy Jeffress, to score from third.

With the bases still loaded, Ciriaco chopped a hit-and-run infield single and beat out the throw from third to allow Lavarnway to score from third, making it 7-4. It left the bases loaded for Jacoby Ellsbury, who came in to face Francisley Bueno, who entered the game in relief of Jeffress (0.2 IP, 2 R/0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and got Ellsbury to pop up to first to get out of the inning.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 5, Royals 4: Beato got two quick outs before allowing Alex Gordon to reach on a single to short. But catcher Ryan Lavarnway threw out Gordon as he attempted to steal second to end the inning.

Bottom of 6th: Red Sox 5, Royals 4: Jacoby Ellsbury chased Tim Collins, who relieved Will Smith (5 IP, 5 R, 9H, 2 BB, 1 K) in the sixth, after ripping an RBI single over the first baseman's head to score Mauro Gomez, who reached on a fielding error by shortstop Alcides Escobar, with the go-ahead run.

RHP Aaron Crow entered in relief of Collins and got Dustin Pedroia to hit a chopper back to the mound to end the inning.

Top of 6th: Royals 4, Red Sox 4: Beato, an imposing specimen on the mound, submitted a nice 1-2-3 inning in his Fenway Park debut in relief of Doubront. Beato struck out Abreu with a 93 fastball to end the inning.

Bottom of 5th: Royals 4, Red Sox 4: A lot of fireworks in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with Pedro Ciriaco's solo homer to left that pulled the Sox within 1. After Jacoby Ellsbury singled to right, Dustin Pedroia was called out at first after hitting a hard groundball to third that was bobbled by Royals third baseman Tony Abreu.

Although TV replays clearly showed Pedroia had beaten Abreu's throw to first, first base umpire Dan Bellino called Pedroia out, which drew an immediate (and heated) protest from manager Bobby Valentine, who was ejected for the fifth time this season. The Fenway Park crowd registered their loud vocal support for their manager when Valentine lit into Bellino before departing the game.

After Ellsbury stole third, Ross walked to put men on the corners for Loney, who delivered an RBI single to center that tied it, 4-4, marking his first hit with the Red Sox.

Pedro Beato was summoned from the bullpen to relieve Duobront (5.0 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR) after he threw 98 pitches (67 strikes).

Top of 5th: Royals 4, Red Sox 2: With Pedro Beato, just called up Sunday from Pawtucket, warming up in the bullpen -- and Andrew Miller, Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa all begin to get limber -- Duobront submitted a 1-2-3 inning himself. He struck out Butler for the third time in the game, getting Perez to fly to right, and Francoeur to ground out to third to end the inning.

Bottom of 4th: Royals 4, Red Sox 2: Smith got three groundball outs to retire the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion.

Top of 4th: Royals 4, Red Sox 2: With two outs, the Royals rallied for four runs on four consecutive hits. Lorenzo Cain delivered the crushing blow with his 3-run homer off Doubront to give the Royals a 4-2 lead. Doubront, who had been activated from the 15-day DL (right knee contusion) Saturday, had thrown 84 pitches through the first four innings, having thrown three scoreless frames before allowing four in the fourth.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 2, Royals 0: Duobront preserved the shutout after he got out of a jam and struck out Butler (this time, swinging) with men on the corners to end the inning.

Top of 3d: Red Sox 2, Royals 0: The Sox went down in 1-2-3 fashion with Loney again providing the final out of the inning on his groundball out to second.

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 2, Royals 0: Mike Aviles belted a towering RBI double off the wall of Will Smith, scoring Mauro Gomez (walk) from first to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. The Sox threatened to tack on another run when Scott Podsednik reached on an infield single to short, putting men on the corners. Both were stranded, however, when Ciriaco and Ellsbury hit flyball outs to end the inning.

Top of 2d: Red Sox 1, Royals 0: After Salvador Perez led off with a single to the gap between third and short, which eluded Ciriaco's outstretched glove, Doubront retired the next three batters he faced. He sandwiched a pair of strikeouts of Jeff Francoeur (swinging) and Eric Hosmer (looking) around a fly to center by Johnny Giavotella.

Bottom of 1st: Red Sox 1, Royals 0: Cody Ross ripped an RBI single to left, scoring Pedro Ciriaco from third after he singled and advanced on Dustin Pedroia's one-out double down the line to shallow right. James Loney, making his Fenway debut with the Red Sox after being acquired from the Dodgers Saturday along with a pair of minor leaguers and a pair of players to be named later, wound up hitting into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Top of 1st: Royals 0, Red Sox 0: Little in the way of issues for Doubront, who struck out DH Billy Butler (looking) to end the inning after allowing one hit.

Pregame Welcome to Fenway Park where the Red Sox host the Kansas City Royals in the third game of this four-game series. LHP Felix Doubront (10-6, 4.70) will take the mound and oppose LHP Will Smith (4-5, 5.40).

Feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

Game over: Royals 10, Red Sox 9 (12 innings): The Sox went in order before a smattering of fans remaining from the crowd of 37,103.

Greg Holland (7th save) closed it out for Francisley Bueno (1-0) as Junichi Tazawa (0-1) takes the loss. The Sox blew a 9-3 lead in this game, failing to score in the final eight innings.

The Sox (60-67) are 0-6 at home in extra innings, which seems almost impossible to do. They also have lost three games this season when they had at least 18 hits. That also would seem hard to do.

Since at least 1919, it was only the fourth time the Sox lost at home when having at least 20 hits.

Middle of the 12th: Royals 10, Red Sox 9: With two outs, Tazawa walked the hard-to-walk Jeff Francoeur. Hosmer doubled him to third. Abreu then delivered an RBI single to left on an 0-2 pitch.

Tazawa showed some good stuff tonight. But those are two inexcusable mistakes.

Top of the 12th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Facing Bueno, Gomez whiffed. Salty singled to center. Jose Iglesias, who ran for Lavanway in the 9th inning, batted as the DH and grounded into a 1-6-3 DP.

Obviously David Ortiz is not available or he would have hit in that spot.

Middle of the 11th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Tazawa retired the Royals in order with two strikeouts.

Sox are 0-5 in extra innings at home this season. That seems pretty hard to do.

Top of the 11th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Sox missed a big chance there.

Ciriaco singled to right, took second on a wild pitch and then went to third on a terrific bunt by Scotty Pods.

The Royals, smartly, intentionally walked Pedroia. Lefty Francisely Bueno came on to face Ellsbury. When Ellsbury grounded to first, Hosmer threw out Ciriaco at the plate.

Che-Hsuan Lin, who came in to replace Ross defensively, struck out. He was overmatched.

Tazawa now pitching. Yes, that guy's name is Francisely.

Middle of the 10th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Padilla worked around a leadoff single by striking out Abreu and Cain to end the inning.

Now Ciriaco leads off against Herrera, who has already gone 1.1 innings.

Top of the 10th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: No dice. Lavarnway singled with two outs but Aviles lined to center. Extra innings, here we come.

Vicente Padilla is in. Somebody call in extra security.

Middle of the 9th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Bailey retired the Sox in order despite two deep fly balls.

Gomez, Salty and Lavarnway next. Sox need to get this over with soon. The bullpen is beaten up and Felix Doubront comes off the disabled list tomorrow.

Somebody hit one out, boys. Then we can all go home.

Top of the 9th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Breslow retired the Royals in order in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Podsednik singled off Worcester's Tim Collins and was doubled off when Pedroia lined a seed to first.

Ellsbury doubled off the wall then stole third. Ross, facing hard-throwing Kelvin Herrera, got ahead 3-0 but flied out on a 3-2 pitch to center.

Andrew Bailey coming in.

Top of the 8th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: Aviles singled with one out off Aaron Crow and was thrown out stealing. Then Ciriaco struck out.

Middle of the 7th: Royals 9, Red Sox 9: That was ugly. Andrew Miller started the inning and pitched like the Andrew Miller of 2011.

With two outs and a runner on first, he walked Dyson and Escobar to loaded the bases. Gordon followed with a two-run single. Mark Melancon came in and allowed an RBI double by Butler. Perez then followed with an RBI single.

In came Craig Breslow. He got Moustakas to fly to deep right and Ross misplayed the ball into a two-run triple that tied it. The Sox walked Francoeur to get to Hosmer and he grounded out to finally end the inning.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Adrian Gonzalez belted a three-run homer in first at-bat. Why can't the Red Sox get guys like that?

Top of the 7th: Red Sox 9, Royals 3: Cook went six innings and allowed three runs. That's about as good as the Sox could expect on three days' rest.

Middle of the 5th: Red Sox 9, Royals 3: Cook allowed singles by Abreu and Escobar but kept the Royals off the board. Under the circumstances, he has done well.

Top of the 5th: Red Sox 9, Royals 3: Ciriaco walked before two-out singles by Ellsbury, Ross and Gomez scored two runs. That's four RBIs for the great Gomez.

Top of the 4th: Red Sox 7, Royals 3: Sorry for the delay in the updates. Had to finish the story on the trade. Busy day here at the Fens.

Anyway, Pedroia doubled in the bottom of the third. Ellsbury walked and Ross singled to load the bases. Gomez, making people forget about Gonzalez, singled in two runs. Ross went to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ross.

Cook, meanwhile, has shut down the Royals since the first inning.

Top of the 3rd: Red Sox 4, Royals 3: That was fast. Big Mauro Gomez belted his first homer. After singles by Salty and Lavarnway, Mike Aviles belted one over the wall.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers just Tweeted out of a photo of Gonzalez, Beckett and Punto posing with Magic Johnson. Boston loves you now, Magic.

Top of the 2nd: Royals 3, Red Sox 0: The Sox went in order against Guthrie.

Middle of the 1st: Royals 3, Red Sox 0: Not a good start for Cook on short rest. Dyson and Escobar singled and scored on a double off the wall by Gordon. Butler than had an RBI single.

Roster moves made: The Red Sox activated Felix Doubront from the 15-day disabled list, placed Daniel Nava (left wrist) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Jose Iglesias, Che-Hsuan Lin and rJunichi Tazawa from Triple-A Pawtucket.

James Loney is expected to arrive on Sunday.

Pre-game: Good evening from Fenway Park, where it feels like Christmas morning. The new-look Red Sox entertain the Royals with Aaron Cook on the mound.

Hang out here for updates all game long.

Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (60-66)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Gomez 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-7, 4.79)

ROYALS (55-69)
Dyson CF
Escobar SS
Gordon LF
Butler DH
Perez C
Moustakas 3B
Francoeur RF
Hosmer 1B
Abreu 2B
Pitching: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 3.23)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Stat of the Day: The all-time series between the Sox and Royals is 217-217.

Notes: David Ortiz is out of the lineup after playing one game on his strained right Achilles tendon. ... Cook is starting in place of Beckett. He started on Tuesday and threw 85 pitches, so he may be a little limited today. ... Guthrie is 3-8, 4.50 in 19 career appearances against the Sox, 17 of them starts. ... Podsednik has hit safely in 10 of 11 starts in Boston this season, including seven multi-hit efforts. In 13 home games this season, he is 18 for 40 (.450) with four doubles. He has a .388 career average (33 for 85) at Fenway, hitting safely in 20 of 24 games. ... Pedroia has hit safely in 19 of 22 games in August at .348 (31 for 89) with nine doubles, 13 RBI and 18 runs. ... Ciriaco is 28 of his last 76 (.368) with six doubles and eight RBIs.

Song of the Day: "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" by Billy Joel.

Final: Angels 14, Red Sox 13: The Sox were swept in excruciating fashion, 14-13, by the Angels in 10 innings Thursday night before an announced Fenway Park crowd of 37,829. The Sox coughed up a 6-0 lead in the third after the Angels rallied for eight runs, then came back to tie it, 9-9, with a pair of runs in the sixth, before breaking the stalemate with a pair of runs in the eighth to take an 11-9 lead.

The Angels rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to seize a 12-11 lead, before Cody Ross tied it in the bottom of the frame, 12-12, with a solo homer that sent it into extras. The Angels tallied a pair of runs in the top of the 10th, but with two outs the Sox managed only a run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Dustin Pedroia (4-for-6, 5 RBI, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 runs scored) that scored Pedro Ciriaco, who reached on a two-out single.

Ernesto Frieri put the wraps on this 4 hour 34 minute marathon by striking out Adrian Gonzalez on three pitches. The teams combined for 27 runs, 38 hits (20 by the Angels) and 5 homers (Sox 3; Angels 2).

Top of 10th: Angels 14, Red Sox 12: Incredible! Kendry Morales broke a 12-12 tie with his lead-off solo homer to right off Aceves, who turned it over to Craig Breslow after giving up a single to Erick Aybar.

Wells doubled to left off Breslow, scoring Aybar with an insurance run. Wells, however, wound up getting thrown out at third by Saltalamacchia. Breslow got out of the inning with strikeouts of Iannetta (looking) and Hunter (swinging) to end the inning. The running (combined) total: 26 runs, 36 hits (20 by the Angels), 5 homers (Sox 3; Angels 2).

Bottom of 9th: Angels 12, Red Sox 12: Unbelievable. Cody Ross tied it when he belted a solo homer (his 19th of the season) to the Green Monster seats off reliever Ernesto Frieri, who entered the ninth in relief of Scott Downs. By that juncture of the game, both teams had combined for 24 runs and 33 hits, including four homers (three by the Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia, Mike Aviles, and Ross).

Top of 9th: Angels 12, Red Sox 11: The Angels rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth against Sox closer Alfredo Aceves, who gave up a solo homer to Vernon Wells, which appeared to barely clear the wall in left.

After Mike Trout reached on a single to right and went to second on an error by right fielder Cody Ross, Torii Hunter ripped an RBI single to left, which scored Trout from third. Trout beat a throw to the plate from Podsednik in left to tie it, 11-11.

After Howie Kendrick walked, Mark Trumbo hit an RBI single to center, scoring Hunter with the go-ahead run.

Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 11, Angels 9: Replays clearly showed Mike Aviles had beaten a throw from second baseman Howie Kendrick to first. But first base ump Jordan Baker ruled differently and called Aviles out on the play.

It loomed large given the fact Scott Podsednik and Pedro Ciriaco each reached on a pair of back-to-back singles. Had he been called safe, Aviles probably would have scored the go-ahead run.

Jepsen turned it over to LHP Scott Downs, who faced Jacoby Ellsbury with two outs and two runners in scoring position. Ellsbury delivered by ripping a 3-and-2 pitch from Downs to right for an RBI single that scored Podsednik from second with the go-ahead run and advanced Ciriaco to third.

Pedroia came up with runners on the corners and padded Boston's lead with an RBI chopper down the line to third that eluded Erick Aybar and allowed Ciriaco to score to make it 11-9 before Downs got out of the inning by getting Gonzalez to fly to center.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 9, Angels 9: After surviving a hairy, bases-loaded jam in the seventh, there were no such issues for Padilla in a tidy 1-2-3 eighth.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 9, Angels 9: Nothing doin' for the Sox in the bottom of the 7th as Kevin Jepsen retired the side in 1-2-3 order on a pair of fly ball outs to left by Gonzalez and Ross and a called third strike on pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who remained in the game at catcher for Lavarnway.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 9, Angels 9: Mike Trout sent Andrew Bailey from the game after he hit a tying RBI single to center that scored Kendry Morales to tie it, 9-9. Vicente Padilla entered the game in relief of Bailey, who gave up back-to-back singles to Morales and Aybar before getting Wells to fly to left and Iannetta to strike out (looking).

Padilla got himself out of a jam when he issued a walk to Hunter that loaded the bases for Kendrick, who struck out swinging to end the inning.

Kevin Jepsen was summoned to relieve Walden (0.2 IP, 1 R, 2 H) in the bottom of the 7th.

Bottom of 6th, 2 out: Red Sox 9, Angels 8: Mike Aviles belted a solo home run to left off Jason Isringhausen, who entered the sixth in relief of C.J. Wilson (5 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6K, 1 HR) to help the Red Sox tie it. It was Aviles' 12th homer of the season, which improved upon his previous career high (10).

Isringhausen handed it over Jordan Walden after issuing a walk to Scott Podsednik, who wound up getting thrown out by Iannetta stealing second.

After Pedro Ciriaco greeted Walden with a double off the The Wall, Jacoby Ellsbury followed with an RBI double off The Wall to score Ciriaco with the go-ahead run, making it 9-8. Walden got Pedroia to fly to center to end the inning.

Andrew Bailey will relieve Melancon (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) in the top of the 7th.
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Bottom of 5th: Angels 8, Red Sox 7: The Red Sox got one run back when Dustin Pedroia reached on an error by Angels' third baseman Alberto Callaspo and went to second on a passed ball.

After Gonzalez struck out for the second out of the inning, Cody Ross rifled an RBI single to right, scoring Pedroia. Ryan Lavarnway stranded Ross at first when he struck out swinging.

Top of 5th: Angels 8, Red Sox 6: Mark Melancon entered the game in relief of Junichi Tazawa and retired three of the four batteres he faced, allowing Chris Iannetta to reach on a single to center before getting Trout to fly to center to end the inning.

Bottom of 4th: Angels 8, Red Sox 6: Wilson again retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion. He has retired the last seven consecutive batters he's faced, recording two strikeouts in that stretch.

Top of 4th: Angels 8, Red Sox 6: Tazawa, who mercifully extricated the Sox from their ruinous third inning, reciprocated with a 1-2-3 inning of his own.

Bottom of 3d: Angels 8, Red Sox 6: The Red Sox were rendered mute in their response to LA's eight-run outburst at the top of the frame when Wilson retired them in 1-2-3 fashion, striking out Cody Ross (looking), Ryan Lavarnway (swinging), and inducing Mauro Gomez to fly to right.

Top of 3d: Angels 8, Red Sox 6: All of Morales's good work in the first two innings was unraveled in the third when he surrendered six runs (two earned) on six hits and a pair of walks, both coming with the bases loaded. He departed after Erick Aybar reached on an error by third baseman Pedro Ciriaco, who bobbled Aybar's grounder to third.

The Angels scored eight runs in the inning overall, the last five with two outs.

After Vernon Wells drew a walk from relief pitcher Clayton Mortensen (2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk) that scored Alberto Callaspo from third to pull the Angels within 6-4, Chris Iannetta, of Providence, R.I., tied it 6-6 with his 2-RBI single to right, scoring Kendry Morales and Aybar. Mike Trout's RBI single to right scored Wells with the go-ahead run, 7-6, and Torii Hunter padded it with an RBI single to right off Mortensen, making it 8-6. Hunter appeared to get caught in a run down between first and second, but escaped when Mike Aviles inexplicably threw to third in an attempt to pick off Trout.

Hunter, as a result, safely reached second on the throw to third, where Trout was also safe.

Junichi Tazawa came in and recorded that elusive third out by inducing Howie Kendrick to ground to second.

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 6, Angels 0: The Sox erupted for five runs on five hits, the biggest of which was a 3-run homer by Dustin Pedroia, who was halfway to the cycle after doubling in his first at-bat of the game off C.J. Wilson. Scott Podsednik and Jacoby Ellsbury also had RBI singles in the inning before Pedroia tattooed a Wilson fastball into the Green Monster seats.

Top of 2d: Red Sox 1, Angels 0: Another strong inning for Morales, who gave up a pair of hits in the inning but struck out Vernon Wells with a 96 fastball to end the inning. A vast improvement over his last start last Friday in New York, where Morales gave up five runs on six hits, including four homers.

Bottom of 1st: Red Sox 1, Angels 0: Dustin Pedroia reached on a two-out double to center, then came home on Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single to center off C.J. Wilson to give the Sox an early one-run lead.

Top of 1st: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: Strong start for Franklin Morales, who got the first two outs of the inning before allowing Howie Kendrick to reach on a single to left. Morales got out of the inning after getting Mark Trumbo to pop to second.

PregameWelcome to Fenway Park where the Red Sox (59-65) will attempt to avert getting swept by the Angels in the finale of this three-game set. Franklin Morales will go to the mound to oppose C.J. Wilson.

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

Game over: We knew the Red Sox would be a factor in this wild card race. They have managed to keep the Angels alive. Clay Buchholz was extremely disappointing looking more like the pitcher he was the first half of the season. A poor effort by the Red Sox all around. Looks like a team that's packed up and gone home with the exception of Dustin Pedroia, who plays hard all the time. Sox put two on in the ninth but Adrian Gonzalez flew out to left. The game was played in 3:14 before 37,373.

Top 9th: Angels 7, Red Sox 3 Mark Melancon mows those Angels down.

Bottom 8th: Angels 7, Red Sox 3 Sox show a little life with emphasis on little. Dustin Pedroia hustled out an infield hit and scored on a Cody Ross double to right and a throwing error by Torii Hunter.

Top 8th: Angels 7, Red Sox 2 One of the weirdest caroms off the wall you'll ever see, I thought with the ball darting sideways toward right center on Chris Iannetta's drive. Then WBZ's Jon Miller said he saw the same carom in batting practice earlier by an Angel hitter. So they practice this stuff? Anyway, it went for a triple, but Tazawa escaped.

Bottom 7th: Angels 7, Red Sox 2 Looks like Scott Podsednik cares - three hits and a steal. Ellsbury takes an 0-for-4.

Top 7th: Angels 7, Red Sox 2 The rare three-up, three down by the Halos.

Bottom 6th: Angels 7, Red Sox 2 A couple of Ks by Ross and Salty and a ground out by Lavarnway. Team looks like it's completely beat.

Top 6th: Angles 7, Red Sox 2 Buchholz, Boston's ace, threw another meatball to Howie Kendrick who lined it in to the Monster seats. Buchholz, who allowed 12 hits and was charged with seven runs, was replaced Junichi Tazawa. The righty struck out Chris Iannetta, then allowed an infield single to the speedy Mike Trout to load the bases. Torii Hunter singled in two more runs.

Bottom 5th: Angels 4, Red Sox 2 Quicky inning for the Sox - Ellsbury, Pedroia and Gonzalez - three up and three down.

Top 5th: Angels 4, Red Sox 2 Good Houdini act by Buchholz. Gave up a single to Iannetta and a walk to Trout. Long fly ball to right center by Torii Hunter advanced the runners. Wells, who came into the game for Pujols (right calf strain), grounded to third where Ciriaco gunned down a run at the plate. Buchholz then retired Morales to get out of the inning.

Bottom 4th: Angels 4, Red Sox 2 It's become laughable that Adrian Gonzalez has taken to fake the bunt against the shift when it would be almost impossible for him to beat it out considering he jogs to first base. Nice two-out rally for Sox. Ryan Lavarnway, DHing tonight, flashes a little power with a double high atop the centerfield wall scoring Jarrod Saltalamacchia who singled to left with two outs. Mike Aviles then doubled just over Vernon Wells' glove in left scoring Lavarnway. Ciriaco, another guy who hustles, beat out an infield single to put runners at first and third. Podsednik grounded out to end the inning.

Top 4th: Angels 4, Red Sox 0 Clay Buchholz not himself tonight. He hasn't allowed four runs since July 14 vs. Tampa Bay. Pujols doubled and was knocked in after a ground out by Kendry Morales, on a single up the middle by Mark Trumbo. On the ground ball out, Mike Aviles had a play at third and looked over there but didn't throw and elected to take the safer out at first. It wound up costing Boston a run. After Jarrod Saltalamacchia caught Mark Trumbo stealing, Howie Kendrick doubled to right and rode home on an Izturis single up the middle. Pujols did not come out after the inning replaced by Trumbo, who switched from left to first and Vernon Wells went to left.

Bottom 3rd: Angels 2, Red Sox 0 Not a great night for Jacoby Ellsbury, who hit third in the order Tuesday night and second tonight. He knocked into a DP in the first and popped out to right with two on in the 3rd. Dustin Pedroia lined out to left to end the threat.

Top 3rd: Angels 2, Red Sox 0 With the way Weaver looks the two runs the Angels just scored off Buchholz may be tough to overcome. The Angels strung together three singles by Maicer Izturis, Erick Aybar and Chris Iannetta to produce one run. Mike Trout's 6-4-3 double-play grounder got the second run in.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Angels 0 Not hearing a lot of good sounds when the Sox make contact with Weaver's pitches tonight. They go down again in the second as Cody Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway look pretty over-matched.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Angels 0 Solid inning for Buchholz, who was relaxing before his outing by strumming on his guitar which has become a ritual for him.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Angels 0 One guy who can never be accused of dogging it is Dustin Pedroia. He was struck out by Jered Weaver, but Chris Iannetta let the ball get by him and Pedroia ran hard to first and beat the throw. He also stole second base, but he was stranded.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Angels 0 When Clay Buchholz pitches you know the Red Sox have a chance. Buchholz got out of the first inning even after allowing a two-out single to Albert Pujols, who was thrown out trying to stretch his hit off the wall into a double by leftfielder Scott Podsednik.

By Alex Prewitt, Globe Correspondent

Final: Angels 5, Red Sox 3: The Sox mounted a late comeback, aided by four scoreless innings from their bullpen and a two-run homer by Salty in the sixth, but stranded two on base in the eighth and could never get over the five-run lead the Angels got on starter Aaron Cook. Los Angeles pounding out 11 hits (all groundball singles, except for Trumbo's monster blast in the fifth) off the righty, who dropped to 3-7 on the year.

Clay Buchholz and Jered Weaver will square off Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m.

Thanks for reading my final live blog as the Globe's summer intern. Postgames notes will follow. Always a pleasure bringing you the updates.

Bottom 9th: Angels 5, Red Sox 3: Ernesto Frieri notched his 15th save after Podsednik lined out to the track in right-center, Ciriaco grounded out to the mound, and Pedroia grounded out to third. Game over.

Top 9th: Angels 5, Red Sox 3: With Alfredo Aceves on for the ninth, Gonzalez made a nice scoop on an Aybar bunt attempt, Ianetta flied out to the track in deep center, Trout walked, and promptly got gunned down at second by Salty on a pitchout. Trout had gotten caught stealing three times before Tuesday night, and has an AL-high 39 stolen bases.

Bottom 8th: Angels 5, Red Sox 3: Downs got Gonzalez to ground out, then was lifted in favor of Kevin Jepsen. Jepsen induced a grounder to third from Ross, but put runners on first and second after walking Salty and giving up a Nava single. Aviles ripped one on a 2-2 count, but it went right to Kendrick at second. Inning over, Sox strand two.

Oh, right. Her name is Caroline. Now I remember.

Top 8th: Angels 5, Red Sox 3: Padilla sets down Trumbo, Kendrick, and Callaspo in order -- the first two on groundouts to Aviles, and Callaspo on a strikeout looking.

Time to sing about that sweet woman whose name I forget.

Bottom 7th: Angels 5, Red Sox 3: Santana finished his night when Aviles grounded out to first. With Jordan Walden in relief, Podsednik doubled to the base of the Monster, moved to third on a Ciriaco grounder, and scored on a wild pitch.

Pedroia ripped a single off the Monster, ending Walden's day in favor of Scott Downs for the lefty-on-lefty matchup. Ellsbury cranked one off the end of the bat, but flied out to right-center.

Santana's line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 100 pitches, 62 strikes.

Top 7th: Angels 5, Red Sox 2: Six up, six down for Mortensen, this time against the heart of the Angels order. Hunter grounded out to Aviles deep in the hole, and both Pujols and Morales struck out swinging.

Time to sing the song of a demanding yet indifferent individual who can't even say please when asking for peanuts and Cracker Jack.

Bottom 6th: Angels 5, Red Sox 2: Finally, some offensive life. Salty homers for the first time since July 27, stroking one to deep right, scoring Ross, who walked. Hunter could have had a shot at robbing it, but he overran the ball.

Nava struck out to end the inning.

Top 6th: Angels 5, Red Sox 0: Perfect inning for Mortensen in relief, getting Aybar on a weak groundout to the mound, striking out Ianetta swinging, and getting Trout to fly out to center.

Bottom 5th: Angels 5, Red Sox 0: Santana works around a Podsednik single with an Aviles popout, a Ciriaco strikeout, and a Pedroia groundout.

Cook is done. Clayton Mortensen on for the Sox.

Cook's line: 5.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 85 pitches, 55 strikes.

Top 5th: Angels 5, Red Sox 0: Trumbo demolished a full-count hanging sinker over the Volvo sign atop the Monster, clear out of Fenway for his 30th homer of the season, scoring Morales, who singled.

Kendrick and Callaspo both grounded out after, as Cook received a few boos exiting the field.

Bottom 4th: Angels 3, Red Sox 0: While the Angels get groundball singles, the Sox are finding no luck through the air. Ross popped out to first, Salty lined out to second, and Nava struck out swinging.

Top 4th: Angels 3, Red Sox 0: Pitching to contact got Cook in some trouble. Trumbo struck out swinging to lead things off, but the Angels strung together three straight singles to put another run on the board. Kendrick was driven in by Aybar, who got caught in a rundown for the second out, putting Callaspo on third in the process. Ianetta singled off the glove of a diving Aviles to score Callaspo.

Cook missed big on a sinker to Trout, who singled for the second time tonight, and Hunter sailed a long fly just foul of Pesky's Pole before grounding into an inning-ending fielder's choice. Angels had five hits that inning, and two runs to show for it.

Bottom 3rd: Angels 1, Red Sox 0: Podsednik weakly grounded out to second, and Ciriaco grounded one up the middle that Santana couldn't handle. It was ruled a single. Pedroia reached on a fielder's choice, beating out the double play ball on Ciriaco's hard takeout slide at second. On a 2-2 count, Ellsbury ripped a single to right, putting runners on the corners, but Gonzalez struck out swinging to strand them.

Top 3rd: Angels 1, Red Sox 0: Ianetta shattered his bat on a leadoff groundout to second. Trout bounced a groundball single up the middle, then moved up when Cook threw the ball away trying to pick him off at first. Hunter struck out -- Cook has a season-high 3 Ks now -- but Pujols poked an RBI single up the middle after Cook had him in an 0-2 hole.

Morales flied out to left to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: Gonzalez lined out to deep left to lead things off. Ross then flared a liner over the head of Pujols, hustling into second when the ball settled into the rightfield no-mans land.

Salty walked on four pitches. Nava, fresh off his return from a DL stint, popped out into foul territory behind third, and Aviles popped out into shallow right.

Top 2nd: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: Cook has tied his season high with two strikeouts, fanning Aybar swinging to end the inning. Trumbo led off with a scorching single up the middle, but Cook induced a double play from Kendrick. He walked Callaspo before Aybar struck out.

Bottom 1st: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: A very merry Aaron Cook-like first inning for Santana. Ciriaco grounds out to short, Pedroia to third, and Ellsbury to first.

Top 1st: Angels 0, Red Sox 0: After striking out -- yes, a strikeout, just Cook's eighth of the season -- Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate Mike Trout, and getting Hunter to ground out to short, Cook left a sinker high and inside, and Pujols cranked it off the Monster for a two-out double. Morales hit a high chopper to the mound to strand Pujols.

More pregame: A nice, touching tribute for Pesky before first pitch. Both teams lined up on their respective baseline, the Sox all wearing No. 6 uniforms. After a moment of silence, a trumpeter played "Taps" at shortstop. Then broadcaster and emcee Dave O'Brien said, "Rest in peace, No. 6."

Pregame: The Sox return to Fenway after a 4-6 road trip and a day off during which they fired their pitching coach and determined a surgery date for Carl Crawford. Now they send Aaron Cook (3-6, 4.58 ERA) to the mound with the Angels in town. Every Boston player will wear No. 6 tonight in honor of the late Johnny Pesky. Los Angeles counters with Ervin Santana (6-10, 5.59 ERA), coming off a four-hit, one-run effort against Cleveland on Aug. 15.

Enjoy the game and comment away, folks, as always. On a personal note, tonight is Alex the Intern's last assignment with the Globe. Thanks for being great readers throughout the summer. No seriously. It's been awesome.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (59-63)
Ciriaco 3B
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia C
Nava DH
Aviles SS
Podsednik LF
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-6, 4.58)

ANGELS (62-60)
Trout CF
Hunter RF
Pujols 1B
Morales DH
Trumbo LF
Kendrick 2B
Callaspo 3B
Aybar SS
Iannetta C
Pitching: RHP Ervin Santana (6-10, 5.59)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Santana: Podsednik 8-29, Crawford 10-32, Pedroia 3-21, Ellsbury 5-18, Punto 7-16, Gonzalez 2-10, Aviles 0-7, Valencia 1-7, Ross 0-3, Salty 0-2.

Angels vs. Cook: Pujols 6-17, Callaspo 2-10, Hunter 3-9, Aybar 1-6, Izturis 3-6, Morales 1-6, Wells 0-5, Kendrick 0-4, Wilson 0-.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 15-3 against the Angels the last two seasons.

Notes: Two underachieving and expensive teams meet tonight. ... The Sox are 13 games out of first and seven games out in the wild card. The Angels are 9.5 games out in the West and four out in the wild card. ... The Sox have lost eight of 12. The Angels have lost four straight. The Sox are 16-20 since the break, the Angels are 14-22. ... The Sox are 29-34 at home with losses in six of their last eight games. ... Cook is 2-1, 2.86 in three career starts against the Angels. His last one was 2010. ... Santana is 2-3, 4.27 in 10 starts against the Sox. ... Gonzalez is hitting .369/.411/.654 since the All-Star break with 29 extra-base hits and 40 RBIs. He is tied for fifth (with Albert Pujols) in the AL with 85 RBIs.

Song of the Day: "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" by Elvis Costello.

By Alex Prewitt, Globe Correspondent

Final: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: The Sox couldn't muster enough off Kuroda to overcome two Jeter doubles and two Ichiro solo homers. Beckett takes the loss again, giving up a two-out RBI double to Granderson in the first, a wild pitch that allowed Jeter to score in the second, and, of course, those two blasts by Ichiro. The score is flipped from Saturday night, and the Yankees take the series.

Gonzalez's homer in the seven provided the sole run for the Sox, who have Monday off before opening up a series at Fenway against the Angels.

Thanks for reading. Postgame notes to follow. Have a good night.

Top 9th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: Crawford, in what could very well be his final at bat of the season, singled up the middle to lead things off, but Pedroia grounded into a double play. Gonzalez ripped two foul balls down the right-field line, then struck out swinging on a 83-mph slider. Game over.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: Miller got Ibanez to fly out to center, then gave way to Junichi Tazawa, who got Martin on a grounder to third. Ichiro then beat out Ciriaco's deep throw for an infield single, and McGehee grounded into a fielder's choice to end things.

Rafael Soriano on to close. We are three outs away and under three hours, by the way.

Kuroda's line: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 112 pitches, 75 strikes.

Top 8th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: Kuroda continues to cruise. Ciriaco lined out to center, Punto got caught looking, and Ellsbury flied out again to center.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: Miller rung up Granderson and Chavez on breaking balls after Cano walked. Swisher flied out to right to start the inning.

Kuroda remains in the game with Ciriaco-Punto-Ellsbury due up.

Top 7th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 1: Gonzalez cranks a solo shot to right to put the Sox on the board. Lavarnway singled up the middle, snapping a 1 for 19 streak against right-handers, but Salty flied out to left and Podsednik flied out to center.

Time to stretch.

Beckett is done for the day. Andrew Miller on for the Sox.

Beckett's line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 1 WP, 98 pitches, 58 strikes.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0: Beckett again leaves a fastball over the middle of the plate, and Ichiro again cranks it over the right-field wall. He takes the curtain call after the seventh multi-homer game of his career.

Top 6th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0: Kuroda hasn't allowed a run in his past 16.1 innings, and has allowed just four hits -- all singles -- in that span after getting Punto (grounder to second), Ellsbury (flyout to center), and Crawford (deep fly to the right-field warning track) in order.

Bottom 5th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0: Jeter moves to 3 for 3 tonight with a single to lead things off, and after Swisher struck out swinging, Cano snapped an 0 for 16 with a single up the middle, and Granderson walked to load the bases.

Beckett then fell behind 3-0 on Chavez, who either got the green light or ignored the stop sign and skied a popout in foul territory to Gonzalez at first. Ibanez got under one and flied out to center to end the inning, getting Beckett out of a potentially big jam.

Top 5th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0: The Sox got a runner in scoring position for the first time tonight on a bizarre play. After Salty singled, Podsednik hit a high chopper towards Cano at second. Cano appeared to tag him, and Salty appeared to run out of the baseline, but was ruled safe. Either way, Ciriaco grounded out to short to end the inning.

Bottom 4th: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0: Ichiro demolished a 1-2 fastball into the right-field second deck for a solo homer, his second with the Yankees. Beckett's given up seven two-strike homers this season.

Top 4th: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: The Sox again go down in order against Kuroda. Crawford and Pedroia both ground out to second, and Gonzalez bounces out to Swisher at first unassisted.

Bottom 3rd: Yankees 2, Red Sox 0: Jeter hammered another Beckett pitch over the middle of the plate to centerfield for his second double of the night, upping his career average against the righthander to .330. After Swisher walked, the two executed a double steal, and Jeter scored on a wild pitch, moving him to one shy of Craig Biggio for 13th all-time in runs.

Beckett then rung Cano up on a full-count two-seamer, intentionally walked Granderson to put runners on the corners, took enough time between pitches to cause Yankees fans to start the wave in the third inning, and struck out Chavez on a full count.

Top 3rd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: After Podsednik flied out to deep left, Kuroda struck Ciriaco out, so the world has license to officially implode. Punto singled, becoming the first Sox batter to reach base, but Ellsbury struck out to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Solid inning for Beckett, who gets Ibanez (grounder to second), Martin (strikeout swinging), and Ichiro (flyout to right) in order.

Top 2nd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Six outs, and the Sox haven't gotten the ball out of the infield. Gonzalez pops out to Jeter, Lavarnway goes chasing an outside breaking pitch, and Salty weakly bounces out to second.

Bottom 1st: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Beckett gets behind after the first inning. We know, revolutionary stuff here. Jeter led off with a double to deep center, but Beckett nearly got out of it with a groundout by Swisher and a strikeout to Cano. One strike away from stranding Jeter on third, Granderson, hitting cleanup for the first time since 2009, instead ripped a double down the right-field line. Chavez nearly extended the damage, but flied out to the warning track in left.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0: Three groundouts, and Kuroda is through a perfect first after setting Ellsbury, Crawford, and Pedroia down in order.

Pregame: Good evening. The Sox send Josh Beckett (5-10, 5.19) in Sunday night's rubber match at Yankee Stadium, with a two-fold opportunity to take the series and get the right-hander back on track. New York counters with Hiroki Kuroda (11-8, 3.06).

Updates go here, comments go below, and everyone will have a jolly old time. Enjoy the game.

Final: Red Sox 4, Yankees 1: Turns out that Lester's strong outing in Cleveland wasn't a fluke, at least not today. He picked up the win with seven strong innings against the same Yankees lineup that banged out five homers the night before.

Saturday afternoon, we saw Pedro Ciriaco go 4 for 4 and own New York pitching again. We saw an all-Yale battery. And we saw Adrian Gonzalez provide the difference with his two-run homer in the first.

Thanks for reading. Postgame blogs and notes to follow.

Bottom 9th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 1: After allowing a deep single to the pinch-hitting Chavez that landed at the left-field wall -- Crawford made a strong throw to hold Chavez at first -- Aceves settled down, getting Ibanez to bounce into a fielder's choice, striking out Granderson (2 for 2 up until that point), and getting Martin to fly out to right to end the game and pick up the save.

Top 9th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 1: Podsednik singled and moved up on Ciriaco's double (he's 4 for 4 tonight), and later scored on Eppley's wild pitch. But after Punto walked, Ellsbury grounded out and Ciriaco got thrown at home with the infield in on Crawford's fielder's choice. Former Sox pitcher Derek Lowe came in and got Pedroia to ground out to second.

For what it's worth: Ciriaco is hitting .517 lifetime against the Yankees, the best of any player besides Barry Bonds with at least 25 plate appearances over the past 55 years.

Aceves on to close.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Bailey blew Jeter away with a 95-mph fastball but gave up Swisher's third hit today and got lifted in favor of Craig Breslow for the lefty-lefty matchup.

With the all-Yale battery working together, Breslow induced a double play from the struggling Cano to end the inning.

Top 8th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a one-out double, but after Gonzalez was intentionally walked, Cody Epply came on and struck out Ross looking and got Lavarnway to ground out into the shift to stop the rally and keep the deficit at two.

Lester is done. Andrew Bailey on for the Sox in a big situation.

Lester's line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 105 pitches, 61 strikes.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Huge inning for Lester. Granderson doubled to lead off the inning and advanced on the throw when Martin grounded out to third. But a shallow flyout to Nix in right wasn't enough to score him, and neither was a weak Ichiro groundout to first.

Lester is likely done after seven and his pitch count at 105 as he slowly walked off the mound, tossed a ball to two kids behind the dugout, and was greeted by fist bumps as he went down the stairs.

Top 7th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Ciriaco dropped a perfect bunt down the third-base line, and moved up to second when Punto grounded to first. That ended the day for Phelps, who gave way to Boone Logan. The lefty then struck out Ellsbury on three straight pitches.

The line for Phelps: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 95 pitches, 63 strikes.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Lester works a perfect six against the middle of the Yankees order, his first three-up/three-down inning this afternoon. Cano and McGehee both grounded out to second, and Jones flied out to left.

Top 6th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Phelps has seven strikeouts today, one away from his career-high, after fanning Ross (for the third time today) and Lavarnway, leaving Gonzalez on first after he singled. Pedroia led off the inning and nearly decapitated Phelps, but Cano was there up the middle with the shift on.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: It's the Nick Punto Glove Show at third base today. He has seven assists this game, getting Nix on a routine ball to lead off the inning and making a nice stop on a hard-hit Jeter grounder. Lester did the rest, stranding Ichiro, who singled and stole second, with a cutter that broke down and in to fan Swisher.

Top 5th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: The bottom of the Sox order gets the run back. Ciriaco continues to rake against the Yankees, reaching on a single, and Punto cranked an RBI double down the right-field line, and moved to third when Jones booted the ball by the wall. With Punton 90 feet from a three-run Boston lead, Ellsbury and Crawford both grounded out to first.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1: After Jones sharply grounded out to short, Lester had McGehee literally dropping to his knees on a curveball in the dirt to fan him for the second time today. But Granderson demolished his 32nd homer of the year to deep center to put the Yankees on the board. Punto's great diving stop on Martin ended the inning.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Phelps has retired seven straight, avenging Gonzalez's homer with a weak grounder to second, striking out Ross swinging for the second time today, and inducing an inning-ending flyout from Lavarnway.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Ichiro grounded out to third, Jeter bounced out to short, and after Swisher singled and moved up on a wild pitch, Cano got under a curveball and flied out to center.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Solid inning for Phelps, who gets Ellsbury (lineout to third), Crawford (strikeout looking), Pedroia (popout to right) in order.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Lester again walked the leadoff hitter, but this time got Martin to bounce into an awkward double play. Punto got high-hopped at third, and his throw pulled Pedroia off the base, but the Sox completed it and bailed out Lester. Punto then made a long throw to nail Nix for the third out.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Leading off the inning, Lavarnway nearly took off Phelps' head, but the pitcher ducked in time and Cano made a nice backhanded stop up the middle. After Podsednik flied out to left, Ciriaco singled down the right-field line and promptly stole second, Boston's second swiped base today off Martin. Punto then got rung up with Ciriaco in scoring position.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Lester opened the game with a five-pitch walk to Jeter, and got visits from both Pedroia and Lavarnway after falling behind 2-0 against Swisher, who eventually ripped a line-drive single to left.

After that? Lester mowed through Cano with a nasty cutter that broke away from the left-hander, got Jones on a weak grounder to third, and got McGehee flailing at another cutter tailing low and inside.

Save that hiccup in the beginning, when Lester had a major problem finding the zone, he settled down and looked strong.

Top 1st: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Sox strike first thanks to two of their hottest hitters. Crawford poked a single through the infield and Gonzalez ripped an opposite-field two-run homer, his 14th of the season, and 39th RBI since the All-Star break.

Pregame: The Yankees tagged Franklin Morales for four solo homers in Friday night's series-opening win, and will field the exact same lineup Saturday against the Sox and starter Jon Lester (6-10, 5.20 ERA). New York counters with David Phelps (3-3, 2.53 ERA), making his second straight start (and fifth of his career) after allowing six hits and two runs over five innings against Texas on Aug. 13.

Come for the baseball, stay for the comments, eventually leave for things that aren't baseball and comments. Enjoy the game.

Final: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4: Yankees take the series opener behind four solo homers off Morales, but it was Nix chasing an 0-2 slider from Mortensen and flaring it into right that gave New York the go-ahead run. Another solo shot, Swisher's second of the night, provided the final difference.

Pedroia had a three-run homer in the third that brought the Sox back into the game, and nearly had a game-tying bomb in the eighth, but instead flied out to the track in center.

Thanks for reading. Postgame notes to follow.

Top 9th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4: Ross fanned for the second time tonight, Salty got under a popout to short, and Aviles popped out to McGehee, who reached into the Sox dugout to get it and end the game.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4: Miller struck out Granderson swinging, then Andrew Bailey entered and got Martin to fly out to deep left and dialed up a high fastball to get Nix whiffing.

Rafael Soriano on to close for the Yankees.

Top 8th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4: Crawford doubled on a pretty weird play. He lined one up the middle that Robertsen kicked into shallow right field, allowing Crawford to move up a base. Pedroia then crushed a ball to deep center that Granderson tracked down at the track, and did a jump-360 in frustration after rounding first. Gonzalez grounded out to Swisher to strand Crawford in scoring position.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4: Swisher went deep for the second time tonight, this time from the left side of the plate (12th time in his career he's homered from both sides in the same, one behind teammate Mark Texeira for most all-time). He dumped one into the Yankees bullpen off Mortensen to give New York a little cushion.

Andrew Miller entered, and sandwiched a Jones single around two nice sliding stops from Pedroia. David Robertson is entering for the Yankees.

The line for Hughes: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 108 pitches, 72 strikes.

Top 7th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4: That's eight straight retired for Hughes, and six outs left for the Sox after Aviles, Podsednik, and Ciriaco all ground out to various parts of the infield. Shortstop, pitcher, and third base, respectively, if you must know.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4: After Morales carried a four-hitter into the sixth (granted, all four were homers), the Yankees offered up some station-to-station hitting. McGehee singled, and moved to third on a Granderson single to deep right that chased Morales in favor of Clayton Mortensen.

Mortensen got a huge full-count strikeout on Martin, had Nix 0-2, and got him to chase an outsider slider, but Nix poked a go-ahead single into right field. Ichiro then struck out to end the inning, and the Yankees are back on top.

The line for Morales: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 4 HR, 92 pitches, 57 strikes.

Top 6th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 4: Gonzalez grounded out to Jeter with the shift on, Ross likewise bounced out to shortstop, and Salty popped out to shallow right. Hughes has retired six straight, and is keeping his pitch count in check after ballooned in the third inning.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 4: Nix and Ichiro both went down quickly, but Jeter hit his 10th homer of the season (and 250th of his career) on a two-out, full-count slider to tie things up. Morales has now allowed four solo homers tonight, the second time this season he's allowed four bombs to the Yankees in a single game.

After Swisher walked, Cano lined out to Ellsbury to end things.

Per the Yankees, by the way, they now have 10 players with 10-plus homers. That ties the franchise record set in 1998.

Top 5th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Ciriaco and Crawford sandwiched an Ellsbury single by each flying out to Ichiro in left. Ciriaco's was routine, and Ichiro made a nice sliding catch on Crawford's shallow ball. Pedroia then grounded to Cano for an inning-ending fielder's choice.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Sox flashing some serious leather tonight after McGehee struck out looking to lead off. Ciriaco charged on a grounder to get the speedy Granderson, and Aviles dove to snare a Martin up the middle. Morales has retired six straight now.

Top 4th: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Hughes rebounded from his four-run third by striking out Ross and Salty swinging to start off the fourth. After a single by Aviles (2 for 2 tonight), Podsednik popped out to second.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Podsednik made a very nice leaping catch at the wall in right to rob Cano of a probable two-run homer after Jeter reached on an Aviles throwing error. Jones made good contact, but harmlessly flied out to center.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Sox take the lead when Pedroia cranks a three-run homer to left on his birthday.

Before that, Aviles singled just over the glove of a leaping Cano, and Hughes snared a Podsednik comebacker, only to yank his throw into centerfield, allowing Aviles to scoot to third. He scored when Ciriaco beat out a potential double-play ball at first.

Ciriaco took off on four straight full-count pitches on Ellsbury, who fouled all four off before eventually walking on a 10-pitch at bat. With runners on first and second, Crawford fouled out to third before Pedroia stepped in for his 10th homer of the season.

Gonzalez lined out to first to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Yankees 3, Red Sox 0: Granderson and Martin both yanked fastballs down the right-field line for back-to-back solo homers. After a brief respite to clear the mud from the mound and in the batter's boxes, Morales struck out Nix looking and got Ichiro on a flyout to center.

Top 2nd: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Gonzalez skied an infield popup that Martin dove into no-mans land to catch after an McGehee lost it in the rain. Ross then flied out to right, and Salty struck out swinging on an outside fastball.

Bottom 1st: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0: Swisher fouled off three straight pitches then tagged a hanging slider off Morales into the left-field seats for his 17th homer of the season to get the Yankees on the board early. Morales then struck out Cano looking on three pitches and got Jones to ground out to Ciriaco at third.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0: Hughes spins a perfect first inning. Ellsbury grounded out to short, Crawford whiffed on a 93-mph high fastball, and Granderson tracked down a deep liner from Pedroia.

Also, it's raining pretty hard now in the Bronx.

Pregame: Good evening, good readers. The Sox are at Yankee Stadium for a three-game series, and send Franklin Morales (3-3, 3.29 ERA) to the mound. New York counters with Phil Hughes (11-10, 4.44 ERA). Stick around, leave your comments, enjoy the game.

Game over Alfredo Aceves picked up his 24th save with a perfect 9th. He struck out Chris Davis, Mark Reynolds and Matt Wieters in a strong performance. The game was played in 3:22. Sox now off to New York. Buchholz won his 11th game going 8 innings.

Top 9th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Leadoff double by Adrian Gonzalez leads to nothing against Orioles closer Jim Johnson. Gonzalez went the other way and hit deep down the left field line. But Johnson struck out Ross and Salty and got Punto to line to right.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Buchholz got through the 8th inning after allowing a one-out double to McLouth.

Top 8th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Sox just trying to run out the clock on this game. They would love to score another run or two, but may have to settle for a three-run lead.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Buchholz gave up a one-out walk, but it didn't hurt him. He's pitched through seven with a three-run lead. It'll be interesting to see how much longer Buchholz goes. He pitched a complete game 3-2 win August 10 vs the Indians in which he threw 104 pitches. Buchholz had thrown more than 100 pitches, but no more than 108 pitches in his last five outings.

Top 7th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Salty singled but the Sox failed to add to their lead.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Buchholz struck out the side in a strong statement after the Red Sox had taken the lead in the top of the inning.

Top 6th: Red Sox 6, Orioles 3 Huge rally by the Red Sox was punctuated by a two-out, two-run singled by Gonzalez who was thrown out between second and third as the third Sox run scored. With one out, No. 9 hitter Podsednik doubled to left field. After Ellsbury walked, Crawford grounded into a force at second base. He stole second base and Podsednik scored on Pedroia infield hit to third. Gonzalez then knocked in a run before Ross produced the third run as Gonzalez was eliminated on the basepaths.

Bottom 5th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 3 Buchholaz walked JJ Hardy with one out, but escaped without any harm to preserve the tie.

Top 5th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 3 The Sox tied things up when Dustin Pedroia doubled in Carl Crawford (single). Pedroia advanced to third on a wild pitch by Tillman. And Pedroia scored on Gonzalez' sac fly to center on a close play at the plate which Pedroia barely beat out.

Bottom 4th: Orioles 3,Red Sox 1 The red-hot Mark Reynolds singled to center, but Machado knocked into a double play to end the inning.

Top 4th: Orioles 3, Red Sox 1 Sox put two on but again came up short. Cody Ross doubled and with two outs, Pedro Ciriaco walked. But Podsednik struck out to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Orioles 3, Red Sox 1 Clay Buchholz hit Adam Jones with a pitch, but Buchholz got Matt Wieters to knock into a 4-6-3 double-play.

Top 3rd: Orioles 3, Red Sox 1 The Red Sox hit three fairly deep fly balls for outs from Crawford, Pedroia and Gonzalez.

Bottom 2nd: Orioles 3, Red Sox 1 Mark Reynolds has sick power. He clobbered his 12th homer on the first pitch from Clay Buchholz. The Sox turned a nifty 2-5-3 double-play following a Manny Machado double and then Cody Ross threw out a runner at the plate all to keep this game close.

Top 2nd: Orioles 2, Red Sox 1 The Red Sox put together a two-out rally when Nick Punto walked, Pedro Ciriaco beat out an infield single to short and Scott Podsednik drove in a run with a single to center. Jacoby Ellsbury, DHing last night, sent a long drive to right, but it was caught at the wall by Nick Markakis.

Bottom 1st: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0 The Orioles got to Clay Buchholz quickly when Nick Markakis and JJ Hardy each singled, and after Nate McClouth's ground ball advanced the runners, Adam Jones singled them in with a perfectly placed hard-hit ball down the first base line and into rightfield.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 A double to right field by Carl Crawford was wasted as Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez (strikeout) left a big run stranded on second against Chris Tillman.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of tonight's series finale in Baltimore:

RED SOX (57-61)
Ellsbury DH
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia C
Punto 3B
Ciriaco SS
Podsednik CF
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (10-3, 4.24)

ORIOLES (64-53)
Markakis RF
Hardy SS
McLouth LF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Davis, DH
Reynolds 1B
Machado 3B
Quintanilla 2B
Pitching: RHP Chris Tillman (5-2, 3.40)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Tillman: Crawford 7-14, Pedroia 2-4, Ellsbury 1-3, Gonzalez 1-2, Valencia 1-3, Aviles 1-2.

Orioles vs. Buchholz: Markakis 3-27, Jones 4-18, Witers 6-21, Andino 2-14, David 3-11, Reynolds 1-8, Hardy 4-10, Betemit 2-5, Teagarden 0-5.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 34-46 vs. righthanded starting pitchers this season.

Notes: This is Buchholz's fourth start against the Orioles this season. He's 1-0 with a 5.00 ERA in 18 innings, and won his last outing vs. the Orioles on June 7 ... A loss would make the Red Sox .500 on the road this season. They have lost 11 of their last 18 on the road ... Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched 5.2 innings for Pawtucket on Wednesday and allowed 5 runs and five hits to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, who won 5-1. Matsuzaka took the loss ... The Orioles are looking for their second sweep of the Red Sox this season. The Orioles won three straight at Fenway Park May 4-6.

Game over: The Sox had no chance against Pedro Strop and Jim Johnson (35th save) the final two innings and bowed to the Orioles for the second straight night. Manny Machado made a great diving stop at third to rob Nick Punto to end the game.The Sox are four games under .500 and fading fast. The game was played in 2:53 before 22,269.

Top 8th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3 Both Bobby Valentine and Adrian Gonzalez were ejected when Gonzalez argued too much about Pedro Strop's quick pitch delivery in which does not have a discernible stop. Strop has a quick-pitch component where he just winds and throws. Gonzalez argued that Strop was basically balking, but home plate umpire Mark Everitt disagreed and threw out Gonzalez who kept chirping on the bench while Valentine came out to defend him and got himself tossed.

Bottom 7th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3 Craig Breslow pitches a strong inning to keep the Sox within two runs.

Top 7th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3 The Sox got one back when Carl Crawford's ground ball out scored the third run after Nick Punto reached on a throwing error by JC Romero and Jacoby Ellsbury singled. The inning ended on a nice play at third by Manny Machado, who made a strong one-hop throw from deep third base to retire Dustin Pedroia.

Bottom 6th: Orioles 5, Red Sox 2 What an awful inning for Aaron Cook. He went from pitching a no-hitter to falling apart. Cook had allowed three singles with one out, producing a run, but then he fielded Adam Jones' tapper to the mound on what would have been a likely double-play and fired it into centerfield scoring the tying run. He them allowed a ground rule double to Matt Wieters scoring the go-ahead run. Andrew Miller came on to retire the lefthanded Chris Davis, but Junichi Tazawa came on and Mark Reynolds doubled to left field scoring two more runs. What a disaster.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 0 A Jarrod Saltalamacchia single is all the Sox could muster.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 0 Cook started with another leadoff walk - this one to Matt Wieters. But once again he got out of it. He got a great assist from Dustin Pedroia, who again came out of his body to make a sensational dive to stop Chris Davis' ball from heading into right field and threw him out. Cook struck out Mark Reynolds with one of his first breaking balls of the night, and then retired Manny Machado with a ground ball out.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Orioles 0 No. 8 and No. 9 hitters Scott Podsednik and Nick Punto stroked singles and the first run scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's ground rule double to right center. Punto then scored on Carl Crawford's fly ball to center.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox Orioles 0 Aaron Cook walked leadoff man Nick Markakis to start the inning and then got three ground ball outs. Adam Jones looked as if he might have beaten Mike Aviles' throw to first which would have scored a run, but first base umpire Laz Diaz made the out call much to the dismay of the Orioles.

Top 4th: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Adrian Gonzalez stroked a one-out single, but the Sox are unable to do much after that as Gonzalez gets the desired outs vs. Cody Ross, who struck out for a second time, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia who flew out to center.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Cook keeps rolling with two more ground outs and a liner to short as he takes care of the bottom of the Orioles order with ease.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Gonzalez retires the side No. 9 hitter Nick Punto and then Ellsbury and Crawford.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Aaron Cook's got the sinker working - three ground ball out by the O's.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Aviles and Scott Podsednik go down in order against Miguel Gonzalez.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Aaron Cook suffered a major cut to his left knee the last time he faced the Orioles when he was spiked while covering homeplate in the third inning back on May 5 in an 8-2 loss. Tonight he started well throwing a 1-2-3 inning with two ground ball outs.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Orioles 0 Might as well start like you finish - leave runners on base. The Red Sox had runners at first and third thanks to walk by Carl Crawford and a single by Dustin Pedroia, but Cody Ross struck out to get Miguel Gonzalez out of the jam.

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

RED SOX (57-60)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, DH
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, SS
Scott Podsednik, RF
Nick Punto, 3B

Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-5, 4.70)

ORIOLES (63-53)
Nick Markakis, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nate McLouth, LF
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Chris Davis, DH
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Manny Machado, 3B
Omar Quintanilla, 2B

Pitching: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (4-2, 3.42)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Gonzalez: Aviles 0-2, Pedroia 0-2, Gonzalez 0-1.

Orioles vs. Cook: Reynolds 5-20, McLouth 3-15, Betemit 5-9, Andino 0-2, Davis 2-2, Hardy 0-1, Jones 1-2, Markakis 1-2, Wieters 1-2.

Stat of the Day: Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 37 against the Orioles after a 2-for-5 performance Tuesday. That is the longest such streak by a Red Sox player against any team and the longest ever against the Orioles franchise.

Notes: The Orioles are 7-3 against Boston this year ... The Red Sox are 4-9 in August ... Miguel Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last three starts ... Cook allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Orioles in a May 5 start ... Cook will make his first appearance tonight since beating the Rangers Aug. 6, when he allowed one run over seven innings ... Reliever Andrew Bailey was activated off the disabled list before Tuesday's game, walking one batter and striking out another in his Red Sox debut.

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

RED SOX (57-59)
Ellsbury CF
Ciriaco DH
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Lavarnway C
Crawford LF
Aviles SS
Valencia 3B
Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (5-9, 4.97)

ORIOLES (62-53)
Markakis RF
Hardy SS
McClouth LF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Davis DH
Reynolds 1B
Machado 3B
Quintanilla 2B
Pitching: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (10-7, 3.79)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Chen: Aviles 0-5; Gonzalez 2-6, Pedroia 2-6; Ross 1-2; Saltalamacchia 1-3; Shoppach 0-1

Orioles vs. Beckett: Markakis 14-50; Jones 11-38; Hardy 5-19; Wieters 5-19; Andino 6-15; Reynolds 3-15; Davis 4-14; Betemit 1-8; McLouth 1-6; Quintanilla 0-6

Stat of the Day: Adrian Gonzalez has had a hit in every game in August except one. He is batting .422 so far this month, and .309 overall.

Notes: The Red Sox will wear black armbands on their uniforms in honor of former player and manager Johnny Pesky, who passed away on Monday at age 92 ... The Orioles will hold a moment of silence in Pesky's honor before tonight's game ... The Red Sox will hold a public tribute for Pesky at Fenway Park later this season, but do not have details yet ... Beckett is coming off a terrible last start when he gave up eight runs in five innings to the Rangers. He lost to the Orioles in June despite only allowing five hits and two runs ... Reliever Andrew Bailey is expected to be activated off the disabled list before the game. Bailey has not played in the majors after having thumb surgery, but made six rehab appearances in the minors ... The Orioles lead the season series, 6-3 ... Orioles 3B Manny Machado was named AL co-player of the week along with Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez ... Jacoby Ellsbury has a 36-game hitting streak against the Orioles, dating to April of 2009 ... Today is Clay Buchholz's 28th birthday.

Game over Not many opportunities for a Red Sox laugher but this was one of them. The Sox stroked 15 hits and scored 14 runs, highlighted by an 8-run fifth inning to bury the Indians. The Sox and Indians split the four-game series. Jon Lester improved to 6-10 and went six innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts. The Sox smacked seven doubles and a two-run homer by Adrian Gonzalez, who knocked in four runs. Carl Crawford had three hits - all doubles - and knocked in three runs. Mike Aviles reached base five times and scored three runs. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia also had three hits. The game was played in 3:20 before 27,448.

Top 9th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Interesting inning. Clay Mortensen got to hit and struck out against Joe Smith. The Sox lost the DH when Saltalamacchia moved from DH to first base.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Bobby V made some serious changes in the defense. Jarrod Saltalamacchia went from DH to first base. Pedro Ciriaco went from second base to centerfield. Nick Punto went from first base to second base. Clay Mortenson was pitching. Ciriaco, who has been working out in the outfield, caught the first two outs of the inning. Cody Ross caught the third out after Mortensen allowed a basehit..

Top 8th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Danny Valencia was the only Sox starter without a hit and he knocked into a 4-6-3 DP to end the inning after Aviles singled and reached base for the fifth time.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Lester's line: 6IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 12Ks. Tazawa replaced him. Lou Marson reached on an infield hit on a nice play in the hole by Aviles, who also made a strong throw to first base. Carrera doubled to left center, but Marson looked like he was trying to score, but put on the brakes and went back to third base. Tazawa then stranded runners in scoring position.

Top 7th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 The Sox need one more run to match their single-game high June 20 vs. Miami when they won 15-5. The Sox have most of their scrubs in. Pedro Ciriaco is at second, Nick Punto at first, Scott Podsednik in left. Ryan Lavarnway is catching. Ciriaco beat out an infield hit and after he erased on a fielder's choice by Punto, Punto was awarded second on a throwing error by the second baseman, but Sox couldn't score.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Lester is on his way to his 12th quality start in 24, not a great ratio, but he's pitching well today. He's got 12 strikeouts and Junichi Tazawa is warming so this might be the end of his day.

Top 6th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Mike Aviles stroked the team's seventh double, but the Sox can't add another run.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 No lack of run support for Jon Lester this time.The 14 runs is equal to the total number of runs of support he received (while he's been in the game) in his last six starts.

Top 5th: Red Sox 14, Indians 1 Not many of these lopsided games for the Sox this season, so this one has been different. The Sox tacked on eight more runs off relievers Josh Tomlin and Frank Hermann. Tomlin is a pitcher who the Red Sox wanted from Cleveland when they were shopping Kevin Youkilis. Tomlin surrendered an infield single to Dustin Pedroia, a walk to Adrian Gonzalez and a nice opposite-field single by Cody Ross scoring Pedroia. Gonzalez scored on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's infield single. We should not that it was hustle that got both Pedroia and Salty basehits and extended this inning. After Mike Aviles walked to load the bases, newly-acquired third baseman Danny Valenica, who was 0-2 in his previous at-bats, got the third run of the inning in a on a sacrifice fly to left field for the first out of the inning. With two outs, Jacoby Ellsbury drilled a double to the rightcenter gap scoring two more. Crawford followed with his third double, another gapper to rightcenter, scoring Ellsbury. The doubles just kept on coming. Gonzalez stroked another right-center gap double scoring two more.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 6, Indians 1 Lester got them out again, adding another K, his seventh. Jack Hannahan hit a deep fly to center but Jacoby Ellsbury caught it on the warning track.

Top 4th: Red Sox 6, Indians 1 The Red Sox tacked on a run basically because Mike Aviles was ripped at being hit in the hand by a Kluber pitch and went on a mission to score. he stole second base and tried to steal third, but was driven in by Kelly Shoppach's single. One unusual sighting was to see Carl Crawford not run all out on a ground ball out. Crawford usually runs out everything to put pressure on the defense.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 5, Indians 1 Lester struck out the side amid a two-out single by Carlos Santana. There was a 2-1 pitch Lester thought he should have had and stared down home plate umpire Marty Foster.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 5, Indians 1 Sox go down in order. Cody Ross has struck out twice, completely fooled by Kluber in both at-bats.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 5, Indians 1 Lester walked No. 9 hitter Ezequiel Carrera, but that was his only difficult moment in this inning, capping it off with a strikeout of leadoff hitter Jason Donald.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 5, Indians 1Carl Crawford had visions of Tampa Bay in his head as he stroked a double to rightcenter scoring a pair of Boston runners. Mike Aviles singled to lead off the inning against Kluber, and after the next two Sox were retired, Jacoby Ellsbury placed a single to left, setting up Crawford's big hit and his second double in as many at-bats.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 3, Indians 1 Jon Lester has a three-run lead before he even set foot on the mound but once he did the first two Indians batters singled to create first and third with no outs.Shin-Soo Choo struck out. Carlos Santana got one run in with a sacrifice fly to center easily scoring Jason Donald, who had singled to left to start the rally. Shelley Duncan had an outstanding at-bat against Lester and earned a walk on a 3-2 count before Brent Lillibridge ended the 27-pitch inning with a force play at second base..

Top 1st: Red Sox 3, Indians 0 Back to back doubles by Carl Crawford and Dustin Pedroia produced the first red Sox run off Indians starter Corey Kluber with one out. Adrian Gonzales followed with a towering home run to right field. Kluber settled down and struck out both Cody Ross and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Good morning. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (56-59)
Ellsbury CF
Crawfotd LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia DH
Aviles SS
Valencia 3B
Shoppach C
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (5-10, 5.36)

INDIANS (53-61)
Donald 2B
Cabrera DH
Choo RF
Santana 1B
Duncan LF
Lillibridge SS
Marson C
Hannahan 3B
Carrera CF
Pitching: RHP Corey Kluber (2-2, 6.10)

Game time: 1:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Kluber: No history.

Indians vs. Lester: Cabrera 2-13, Choo 1-11, Hannahan 6-14, Kotchman 2-12, Duncan 4-11, Marson 3-9, Donald 3-6, Brantley 1-5, Lillibridge 0-4, Santana 0-2, Carrera 0-1.

Stat of the Day: Lester was 75-31 (.708) with a 3.47 ERA in the first 149 games of his career in the majors. He is 6-13 (.316) with a 5.37 ERA in the 29 games since.

Notes: The Red Sox are seeking a split of the series. The have lost four of their last five games and eight of the last 11. They start the day a season-worst 12 games out of first place and six games out in the wild card. ... Lester has not won a game since June 27 against Toronto. But he is 4-1, 3.53 in 10 career starts against Cleveland. In two starts last season, he threw 13 scoreless innings and allowed only six hits while walking four and striking out 16. The Sox are 8-15 in games Lester has started this season. ... Kluber will be making his sixth MLB appearance and third start. The 26-year-old was 11-7, 3.59 in 21 starts for Triple A Columbus before being promoted earlier this month. He faced Pawtucket on April 29 so presumably the Sox will have some sort of decent scouting report. ... Red Sox DHs have gone 95 at-bats without a home run since David Ortiz went on the disabled list. ... The Sox are 73-87 in the last calendar year.

Song of the Day: "Southern Man" by Neil Young.

Game over: A punchless team tonight succumbed to Zach McAllister and the Indians. The Red Sox had taken a 2-1 lead with their only legitimate rally in the fourth, but even there came up short. Franklin Morales ran up his pitch count early and the Sox bullpen was mediocre. The one guy who came to play, as usual, was Dustin Pedroia with great defense and a ninth-inning single. Adrian Gonzalez made a bid for the wall in left in the ninth, but fell short. The game was played in 2:40 before 27,894.

Bottom 8th: Indians 5, Red Sox 2 Craig Breslow came on. He struck out Choo, but then allowed a double to Carlos Santana that jetted passed Carl Crawford to to the wall after it took a funny hop when it landed in the outfield. Ezequiel Carrera singled to left on a 2-2 pitch to score the insurance run.

Top 8th: Indians 4, Red Sox 2 The Red Sox really make make mediocre pitchers look good. McAllister got through the eighth. It was the longest he'd ever pitched in his career.

Bottom 7th: Indians 4, Red Sox 2 Lillibridge continued his assault on the Red Sox. He doubled to center, advanced to third on a ground ball out and scored on a suicide squeeze by Lou Marson. Dionald singled and then Ellsbury saved further damage against Mark Melancon by making a spactacular sliding catch on the wearninbg track to rob Cabrera.

Top 7th: Indians 3, Red Sox 2 Red Sox back to their old ways offensively - 1-2-3 - without much of a fight.

Bottom 6th: Indians 3, Red Sox 2 Dustin Pedroia is coming out of his body tonight defensively. Another great diving stop on Jason Donald's grounder heading into center field, got up and threw him out. But Morales was tiring. He walked Cabrera and hit Choo in the back with a pitch. He was up to 103 pitches at this point. Bob McClure paid a visit to the mound with Andrew Miller and Mark Melancon warming in the pen. The Indians worked a successful double-steal and when Morales went 3-1 on Carlos Santana, the Sox ordered an intentional walk. That was all for Morales. Miller came on with the bases loaded and got Brantley to line out to left. With Crawford's bad elbow he didn't even attempt to throw to the plate, scoring the go-ahead run. Melancon replaced Miller and retired Duncan on a hard-hiot ball up the middle that Mike Aviles made a nice stop on to force the runner at second base.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Indians 2 Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to left, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple when Brent Lillibridge took centerfielder Michael Brantley's throw which was wide of third and dove to tag ellsbury on the leg before Ellsbury could get to the bag. Speed kills. The Sox went out after that.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Indians 2 Guess Lillibridge is coming back to haunt the Red Sox. He singled to center scoring Michael Brantley to tie it up. Morales got himself in trouble by balking Brantley to second. Brantley then took off for third on Shelley Duncan's ground ball out before Lillibridge struck. Morales got out of further difficulty when he retired Kotchman and Marson (on a called third strike with a 96 mph heater).

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Indians 1 Bottom of the Sox order goes down in order. Lavarnway now 2-for-18.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Indians 1 What can you say? An absolutely superb diving play on a Carlos Santana grounder which Dustin Pedroia turned into an inning-ending double-play. Choo had walked twith one out against Morales.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Indians 1 Got to admit, it was like a track meet out there, but strange table-setting methods by the Red Sox. After Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to the leftcenter gap, Carl Crawford, who spent hours practicing his bunting in spring training, laid down a hard one that pitcher Zack McAllister fielded, turned to third where he could have had Ellsbury dead had their been someone covering. Third baseman Brent Lillibridge had come in when Crawford bunted and couldn't get back. Every one was safe. Pedroia then grounded to third and Lillibridge had Ellsbury caught between third and home, but the shortstop, Asdrubal Cabrera, couldn't get over to third to catch Ellsbury getting back. Every one safe. Bases loaded. Adrian Gonzalez then put a nice inside-out swing on a McAllister offering and sent it off the left field wall. Ellsbury, Crawford and Pedroia all raced home just a few feet away from each other as if if were a 100-yard dash. Two of them scored, but Pedroia was tagged out. The Sox stranded Gonzalez at second, a run that may come back to haunt them.

Bottom 3rd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Why can't we get players like Brent Lillibridge? He homered to left in the third ending Morales' domination. Lillibridge was designated for assignment by the Sox and then traded to the Indians for Jose De La Torre (no relation to Joe). Morales got the next two outs on fly balls and then K'd Jason Donald on a 96 mph high fastball.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 Guess the Red Sox think Zack McAllister is Bob Feller. He's retired the first nine batters.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 Franklin Morales gets two outs via the fly ball and one more K. He's got four K's throwing a nice 95 heater and effective offspeed stuff.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 Adrian Gonzalez sent a deep drive to right but caught at the wall by Shin-Soo Choo. Jarrod Saltalamacchia sends a deep drive to left. Sox get nothing out of it, but if I were McAllister I'd be worried.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 Impressive performance by Franklin Morales to start the game. He struck out the side.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 Zack McAllister mows the Sox down in the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury struck out, Carl Crawford lined to shortstop and Dustin Pedroia grounded out to second base. Game began at 6:23 p.m.because of a Gaylord Perry tribute here before the game.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (56-58)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: LHP Franklin Morales (3-2, 3.14)

INDIANS (52-61)
Donald 2B
Cabrera SS
Choo RF
Santana DH
Brantley CF
Duncan LF
Lillibridge 3B
Kotchman 1B
Marson C
Pitching: RHP Zach McAllister (4-4, 3.60)

Game time: 6:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. McAllister: Pedroia 2-4, Aviles 1-2, Gonzalez 0-3, Ross 1-3, Salty 1-3.

Indians vs. Morales: Kotchman 2-6, Brantley 1-3, Carrera 1-2, Hannahan 1-2, Kipnis 0-1, Cabrera 0-1, Choo 0-1, Duncan 1-1, Santana 1-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 13-15 since the All-Star break. Eight of their losses are by two runs or less.

Notes: The Sox are 1-1 in the four-game series. ... Morales is 3-1, 3.06 in six starts this season. In three starts on the road, he has allowed two earned runs on nine hits over 17 innings. Opposing hitters are 31 of 167 (.186) against Morales since June 3 (14 appearances). ... McAllister, a former Yankees prospect, faced the Red Sox on May 12 and allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings. He struck out eight without a walk. McAllister had a rough time against the Twins on Monday, giving up nine runs (two earned) on six hits before getting taken out of the game in the second inning. ... Ross has hit safely in eight straight at 13 of 32 with four doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and four runs scored.

Song of the Day: "Stop Your Sobbing" by The Kinks.

Game over: A complete game victory for Clay Buchholz. An excellent outing, allowing only two hits. The Red Sox break their three-game losing streak. The game was played in 2:40 before 27,246.

Top 9th: Red Sox 3, Indians 2 Sox might have lost a significant player when Will Middlebrooks got hit in the hand with an Esmil Rogers fastball. Middlebrooks came out of the game, replaced by Nick Punto. Sox couldn't add to their slim lead and now it's up to Clay Buchholz..

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 3, Indians 2 Buchholz retired three straight batters. He went to 3-0 on Jack Hannahan, but recovered nicely as he threw a strike and then got him to line out to left field. He struck out Jason Donald to end the inning.

Top 8th: Red Sox 3, Indians 2 Just can't seem to add to this slim lead. first and second, one out and Adrian Gonzalez knocks into an inning-ending double-play. Ughh.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 3, Indians 2 Buchholz very economical tonight. He retired the side in the seventh and had thrown 77 pitches. Would be huge if he could pitch a complete game and save the bullpen.

Top 7th: Red Sox 3, Indians 2 Three up, three down for Sox against righty reliever Cody Allen, who relieved Seddon after six.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 3, Indians 2 Was there a worse defensive play all season by the Red Sox? Pedroia misfired on Jason Donald's ground ball toward the second base bag, going through Pedroia into short center. Mike Aviles retrieved the ball and tried to throw out the runner at first but threw it into the stands. Donald was awarded third, He scored on Carrera's sacrifice fly.

Top 6th: Red Sox 3, Indians 1 Cody Ross finally solved 28-year-old journeyman lefty Chris Seddon, slamming a two-run homer to centerfield (estimated 420 feet) his 18th. Dustin Pedroia had stroked his second hit, a single to center, but Adrian Gonzalez ran the count to 3-0 and then 3-1 before popping out to left.

Bottom 5th: Indians 1, Red Sox 1 Buchholz isn't giving the Indians much to hit. Another 1-2-3 inning including an inning-ending strikeout against Jack Hannahan.

Top 5th: Indians 1, Red Sox 1 Scott Podsednik returned to the Red Sox and beat out an infield hit with two outs. Podsednik was wearing Wade Boggs' No. 26, a number that should be retired. But Michael Brantley made a nice diving catch on Jacoby Ellsbury's short fly to center to end the inning.

Bottom 4th: Indians 1, Red Sox 1 Buchholz allowed a leadoff double to Cabrera, but stranded him (at third) with some nice pitching to keep the game tied. Buchholz is 9-3 with a 4.48 ERA and this is his 20th start. He received a no decision when he pitched seven innings and allowed one unearned run in a 6-4 Sox loss to the Twins on August 4.

Top 4th: Indians 1, Red Sox 1 Dustin Pedroia singled in Mike Aviles to tie the game. After leftfielder Ezequiel Carrera made a nice diving catch to rob Jacoby Ellsbury of extra bases, Aviles walked and advanced to third on pitcher Chris Seddon's throwing error on a pick-off. Pedroia singled through the shortstop hole. Pedroia then stole his 9th base of the season, but Adrian Gonzalez flew out to center. After Cody Ross was walked intentionally, Middlebrooks lined out to shortstop.

Bottom 3rd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Clay Buchholz has his act together. Another strong, dominating inning. He still awaits support.

Top 3rd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Ryan Lavarnway singled to right to lead off the frame, but was thrown out trying to take second when a pitch in the dirt got a away from carlos Sanatna. But Lavarnway was thrown out at second nonetheless.

Bottom 2nd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Clay Buchholz has retired the last five batters. He should continue this way against this weak Indians lineup, but the issue is when the Red Sox offense realizes that Chris Seddon isn't Steve Carlton.

Top 2nd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox are up there hacking like they want to get to the new casino downtown. What happened to patience? At least Will Middlebrooks took it to 3-2 before lining out to right. Six up, six down for the Sox so far.

Bottom 1st: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Asdrubal Cabrera took a 2-0 fastball by Clay Buchholz and drilled it over the rightcenter field fence. Yep, starting badly already.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 The Red Sox are turning lefty Chris Seddon into a star already. Seddon, whjo entered the game with a 7.70 ERA, easily retired the top of the Red Sox order, including No. 3 hitter Dustin Pedroia with a swinging third strike. Nice night here in Cleveland.

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

RED SOX (55-58)
Ellsbury CF
Aviles SS
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Lavarnway DH
Shoppach C
Podsednik LF
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (9-3, 4.48)

INDIANS (52-60)
Carrera LF
Cabrera SS
Choo RF
Santana C
Brantley CF
Duncan DH
Kotchman 1B
Hannahan 3B
Donald 2B
Pitching: LHP Chris Seddon (0-0, 8.31)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Seddon: Saltalamacchia 0-0 (BB).

Indians vs. Buchholz: Kotchman 6-14, Choo 1-6, Cabrera 2-5, Brantley 0-6, Hannahan 2-5, Marson 0-4, Kipnis 2-4, Santana 1-2.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox have not had a losing record since 1997. To finish 82-80, the will have to go 27-22 (.551) the rest of the way.

Notes: The Sox start the day 11 games out of first and 5.5 out in the wild-card race. They have lost three straight, seven of nine and 13 of 20. ... Cleveland has won two straight after dropping 11 in a row. ... The Sox are 12-15 since the All-Star break. Eight of those losses have been by two runs or less. The Sox are 23-29 in games decided by two runs or less this season. ... Buchholz is 5-1, 2.17 in nine starts since June 1. He is 1-1, 5.32 in four career starts against the Indians. ... Seddon, a 28-year-old journeyman, is making his second start of the season and the fifth of his career. He has 4.2 innings of experience against the Sox, none since 2010. ... Gonzalez has hit in nine straight at 16 of 34 with six doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs. He is now hitting .310 with an .825 OPS. Gonzalez's 74 RBIs are fifth among AL first baseman, just behind Prince Fielder (81), Albert Pujols (76), Edwin Encarnacion (75) and Mark Teixeira (75).

Song of the Day: "Lawyers, Guns and Money" by Warren Zevon.

Game over: An awful performance by the Red Sox tonight from Felix Doubront's fifth inning meltdown to Pedro Ciriaco's baserunning to the lack of clutch hitting. They drop to three games under .500 for first time since June 11th. The Indians won in 3:13 before 19,639.

Bottom 8th: Indians 5, Red Sox 3 Ezequiel Carerra reached on an infield single to second on a nice diving stop by Ciriaco, who couldn't pop up and make the throw. Lillibridge followed with a single to left field. Craig Breslow came on to pitch. Kotchman's sac bunt moved the runners into scoring position. Marson walked and Donald's fielder's choice got the insurance run across. Cabrera was walked intentionally to reload the bases for lefthanded hitting Choo. Breslow struck him out.

Top 8th: Indians 4, Red Sox 3 How often can you say pathetic? First and second one out and the Sox can't get a big hit. Gonzalez was hit in the leg with a pitch and left for pinch-runner Nick Punto. After Cody Ross singled, Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out for the third time and 101st time this season. Middlebrooks popped to right.

Bottom 7th: Indians 4, Red Sox 3 Junichi Tazawa was rolling with two quick outs and then got bogged down with a single by Choo and a walk to Santana. But another trip to the mound by pitching coach Bob McClure seemed to help again, as Tazawa got Brantley to ground out to first base to end Cleveland's threat.

Top 7th: Indians 4, Red Sox 3 Bad, bad baseball. Pedro Ciriaco led off with a double to right off Jimenez. Last batter he faced. Lefty Tony Sipp came on to strikeout Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford then knocked into a 6-5-6-4 double-play when his grounder to short caught Ciriacio between second and third. Ciriaco was tagged out in a rundown and Crawford tried to get get to second and was thrown out there.

Bottom 6th: Indians 4, Red Sox 3 Andrew Miller pitched a 1-2-3 inning as he handles the bottom of the Indians order with ease.

Top 6th: Indians 4, Red Sox 3 As one scout just pointed out to me, "This team is very easy to pitch to." Salty, Muiddlebrooks and Aviles were struck out in the sixth by Jimenez., who now has 10 strikeouts.

Bottom 5th: Indians 4, Red Sox 3 The good times didn't last long for Doubront. With one out, Marson singled and Donald walked. Cabrera then doubled down the left field line scoring Marson. Doubront walked the dangerous Shin-Soo Choo, which wasn't the worst thing in the world, but it did load the bases with one out. Santana took him to 3-2 before stroking a single through the shortstop hole, scoring the tying run. That was all for Doubront. Bobby Valentine summoned Andrew Miller to pitch to lefthanded hitting Michael Brantley, whose sacrifice fly to left got the go-ahead run in for the Tribe. Milelr retired Shelly Duncan with a tapper back to the mound.

Top 5th: Red Sox 3, Indians 1 Jacoby Ellsbury singled and stole second and was driven in by Dustin Pedroia's single. Ellsbury drew a throw to the plate, which enabled Pedroia to take second base. Jimenez struck Gonzalez out on a 3-2 pitch and Cody Ross flew out to deep right to end the threat.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Indians 1 Another rocking chair inning for Doubront as Brantley, Duncan, Lillibridge go down.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Indians 1 Just answered my own question. Yes, the Red Sox are supporting Doubront. After Dustin Pedroia singled, Adrian Gonzalez unloaded his 12th homer to rightfield on a 1-1 pitch that hung up nicely in the strike zone for Gonzalez to put a perfect swing on it. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Will Middlebrooks also singled but the Sox couldn't do more with it.

Bottom 3rd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Doubront's first 1-2-3 inning. Looks like he's settling down, but will he get any support from the Sox offense?

Top 3rd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Nothing doing against Jimenez so far. Jimenez has lost four straight starts with an 8.42 ERA. He's been been pretty awful lately, but the Red Sox are making him look terrific. Pedro Ciriaco, hitting ninth and playing second base, singled with one out, but the rest of Boston's order went out with a whimper.

Bottom 2nd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Doubront pitched to the bottom third of the order and had better success though Casey Kotchman singled through the left side of the infield. Mike Aviles made a nice play deep in the hole and threw out Brent Lillibridge for the first out. No. 9 hitter Lou Marson lined out to right, and Donald, who hit the home run to lead off the game, took a called strike on a 95 mph fastball to end the inning.

Top 2nd: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Jimenez strikes out the side - Cody Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Will Middlebrooks go bye-bye.

Bottom 1st: Indians 1, Red Sox 0 Nice way to start things off for Felix Doubront. He surrendered a leadoff homer to the opposite field to Jason Donald, who was a last-minute replacement for Jason Kipnis.Doubront wasn't fooling anyone, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a deep liner to center for an out and Carlos Santana singled on a hard liner to left before Michael Brantley doubled down the left field line. With runners at second and third, pitching coach Bob McClure visited the mound before Shelley Duncan came up to hit. That seemed to settle down Doubront, who got Duncan ona calle third strike to end the threat.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Indians 0 Not sure what more Jacoby Ellsbury can do. He walked vs. Ubaldo Jimenez to open the game, stole second and stole third with one out. Dustin Pedroia, DHing, struck out while Adrian Gonzalez grounded to third base. It's overcast and we mau get some rain during the course of this game.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (55-57)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia DH
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 2B
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (10-5, 4.56)

INDIANS (51-60)
Kipnis 2B
Cabrera SS
Choo RF
Santana DH,
Brantley CF
Duncan LF
Lillibridge 3B
Kotchmab 1B
Marson C
Pitching: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11, 5.29)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Jimenez: Gonzalez 5-27, Pedroia 3-8, Ross 1-5, Punto 1-5, Crawford 0-4, Middlebrooks 1-3, Salty 0-3, Ellsbury 0-1.

Indians vs. Doubront: Brantley 0-3, Cabrera 0-3, Kipnis 1-3, Santana 0-3, Choo 0-2, Duncan 0-1, Hannahan 0-2, Kotchman 0-2, Marson 1-2.

Stat of the Day: If the Red Sox were merely .500 (21-21) in the games started by Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, they would be 61-51 and leading the wild card.

Notes: The Sox have lost two straight, six of eight and 12 of 19. They stated the day 10 games out of first in the division and 5.5 games back in the wild card with 50 games left to play. ... The Indians snapped an 11-game losing streak on Wednesday when they beat the Twins, 6-2. ... The Sox are 3-1 against the Indians this season but only 11-11 against them since the start of the 2010 season. ... Doubront started against the Indians on May 12 and allowed one run over six innings. He is 5-0, 3.82 in six starts against AL Central teams this season. ... Jimenez has been a disaster for Cleveland since they obtained him from Colorado last season, going 12-15 with a 5.22 ERA in 33 starts. He is 0-4, 8.42 in his last five starts this season. ... Gonzalez is hitting .348/.380/.509 with 45 RBIs in the 59 games he has played since June 1. ... The Sox are 26-23 on the road.

Song of the Day: "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" by Bright Eyes.

By Alex Prewitt, Globe Correspondent

Final: Rangers 10, Red Sox 9: Josh Beckett got off the hook after allowing a season-high eight runs through five innings, and the Sox climbed back into things with a four-run seventh, but Alfredo Aceves inherited the go-ahead run in the ninth and allowed it to score on a sacrifice fly.

Adrian Gonzalez finished with three doubles and three runs scored, and Cody Ross and Will Middlebrooks each homered as the Rangers took the series.

The Red Sox drop to two games below .500 heading into a road trip, beginning tomorrow in Cleveland.

Thanks for reading. Postgame notes to follow.

Bottom 9th: Rangers 10, Red Sox 9: Ross ripped a double to left-field that took a weird hop off the wall after Gonzalez led off the inning with a foul popup to first. Kalish ran for Ross at second. With an 0-2 count and the tying run on second, Lavarnway struck out swinging on an outside slider.

Top 9th: Rangers 10, Red Sox 9: Mortensen put runners on first and third after Andrus walked and Hamilton singled, leaving a mess for Alfredo Aceves, who gave up the go-ahead sacrifice fly to Beltre. Cruz cranked a foul ball over the Monster that was upheld via review, and then walked on a full count. Young flied out to deep center, and Aceves got Murphy swinging on a curveball.

Sox are down one heading into their final at bats against closer Joe Nathan.

Bottom 8th: Rangers 9, Red Sox 9: Nothing going for the Sox, as Ellsbury flies out to center, Crawford grounds out to first, and Pedroia grounds out to short.

Top 8th: Rangers 9, Red Sox 9: Mortensen holds the lead, getting Soto swinging at a fastball and Kinsler to ground into a double play after Moreland walked.

Time to sing.

Bottom 7th: Rangers 9, Red Sox 9: Will Middlebrooks does it again. He blasted an 0-2 offering from Oswalt into the Sports Authority sign above the Monster, tying the game up after Gonzalez doubled home Pedroia, who singled, and Ross walked.

Alexi Ogando entered and dialed up a triple-digit fastball to strike out Lavarnway, got Shoppach looked at a 87-mph slider on the outside corner, and Ciriaco grounded out to short.

Top 7th: Rangers 9, Red Sox 5: Ellsbury made a great catch against the wall to rob Hamilton of a sure double, and Middlebrooks flashed some leather to his left on a Beltre grounder, but Cruz pushed the Rangers lead to four with a solo homer.

Young laced a single up the middle, and Murphy popped out into shallow left. Ciriaco and Crawford crashed into each other, but the shortstop made the catch to end the inning.

Bottom 6th: Rangers 8, Red Sox 5: A 1-2-3 inning for Oswalt, who got Ciriaco looking at a curve, Ellsbury swinging at a fastball, and Crawford to ground out to second.

Top 6th: Rangers 8, Red Sox 5: Well, that was short lived. Beckett gave up a lead-off single to Murphy and Soto parked his first homer with Texas, chasing Beckett to more boos from the crowd after he allowed a season-high eight runs.

Mortensen came in from the pen, fresh from a Pawtucket recall, and got Moreland (flyout to left), Kinsler (grounder to short), and Andrus (grounder to short) in order.

Becket'ss line: 5 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 3 HR, 86 pitches, 58 strikes.

Bottom 5th: Rangers 6, Red Sox 5: Crawford chugged his way to a stand-up triple to lead things off, and after Pedroia grounded out to third, Gonzalez drove him home with a deep double off the Monster, giving the Sox a response yet again. Harrison then walked the bases loaded, and got yanked for Roy Oswalt out of the bullpen.

Gonzalez then scored on a passed ball, but Shoppach struck out with runners on second and third to end the inning, but the Sox are within one.

Harrison's line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 97 pitches, 61 strikes.

Top 5th: Rangers 6, Red Sox 3: So much for that bottom-of-the-order success after Moreland hammered one into the camera area in centerfield, the first homer Beckett's allowed since May 10, a 12-start span. Middlebrooks made a great barehanded pickup on Kinsler's bunt attempt, but Andrus singled and Hamilton cranked his 30th homer of the year past Pesky's Pole.

Beckett walked Cruz after Beltre popped out foul, drawing a few scattered boos, and Young grounded out to second to end the inning.

All three hits that inning were on Beckett cutters, by the way.

Bottom 4th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 3: Lavarnway led off with a groundout to short, but Shoppach followed it up with a double to center on a ball that Hamilton misplayed and had it bounce off his glove. Ciriaco hammered a ball, but flied out to left, and Ellsbury sharply grounded out to second.

Top 4th: Rangers 3, Red Sox 3: Another perfect inning for Beckett against the bottom of the Texas order. Young flies out to right, Murphy grounds to Gonzalez, and Soto flies to center.

Bottom 3rd: Rangers 3, Red Sox 3: Cody Ross ties things up with a homer just inside the left-field foul pole, cranking a curveball atop the Monster after Pedroia flied out to right and Gonzalez grounded out to third.

Middlebrooks struck out looking on a fastball to end the inning.

Top 3rd: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2: Kinsler reached on a hit-by pitch that replays showed didn't actually hit him. Beckett exchanged some words with home-plate umpire Paul Nauert, the same Paul Nauert who ran Pedroia last night. After a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Andrus, Ellsbury made a strong throw on a Hamilton flyout that held Kinsler at third, but Andrus was able to tag up and move to second.

Middlebrooks snared a Beltre liner, and Beckett induced a Cruz grounder to get out of the jam.

Bottom 2nd: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2: After Shoppach struck out looking, Ciriaco ripped a double down the left-field line and moved up to third on an Ellsbury grounder, but Crawford stranded him with a groundout to second.

Top 2nd: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2: Beckett gets through a perfect third, and has retired six straight after those three early runs. Murphy grounds out to first unassisted, Middlebrooks ranged hard to his left to snare a Soto grounder, and Moreland flied out to Ross in right.

Bottom 1st: Rangers 3, Red Sox 2: Here come the Sox in response. Gonzalez got Boston back on the board with a line-drive double into the right-field corner, scoring Pedroia, who singled. Ross drove Gonzalez home with a single up the middle. It could have been more, had Murphy not robbed Crawford of sure extra bases at the wall after Ellsbury struck out on a foul-tipped fastball to lead off the inning.

Middlebrooks walked to put runners on first and second, but Lavarnway grounded out to short. Still, the Sox nearly erased that early deficit.

Harrison threw 35 pitches that inning.

Top 1st: Rangers 3, Red Sox 0: The enigmatic Josh Beckett strikes again in another dismal first inning. Kinsler fouled off a few pitches and drew a full-count walk, stole second, and moved up on an Andrus bunt single. Hamilton then blasted a 2-RBI triple to the wall in right-center, and scored on a Beltre sacrifice fly. Beckett settled down, getting Cruz swinging and Young looking, both on biting curveballs. Beckett's first-inning ERA, for reference, is now 10.42.

Pregame: The Sox wrap up a 10-game homestand Wednesday with a rubber match against the Rangers, sending Josh Beckett (5-9, 4.54 ERA) to the mound after the righty was pushed back from his last scheduled start with back spasms. Texas counters with lefty Matt Harrison (13-6, 3.17 ERA) who is looking for his 10th road victory this season, which would be a franchise record. In his past 13 starts, Harrison is 9-3 with a 2.11 ERA.

Bring in the noise, bring in the funk, and bring in the comments for the afternoon start. We've got your live updates, so read along.

Game over: Rangers 6, Red Sox 3: The Sox had their modest two-game winning streak snapped in a 6-3 loss to the Rangers before a Fenway Park crowd of 38,416, the largest of the season.

The Sox (55-56) rallied for three runs in the seventh on a 3-run pinch-hit homer by Will Middlebrooks to cut Texas' lead to 4-3, but that was as close as the Sox could get as the Rangers tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth inning.

Bottom of 9th, 2 out: Rangers 6, Red Sox 3: Pedroia wound up getting ejected by Nauert when he argued David Murphy had swung before getting hit by Craig Breslow's pitch. Nauert heard enough and gave Pedroia the heave-ho, marking the second ejection of his career. The Fenway crowd of 38,416 chanted "Bob-by! Bob-by! Bob-by!'' when Valentine came to his second baseman's defense and lit up Nauert.

After he got Mitch Moreland to fly to left, Breslow handed it over to Junichi Tazawa, who struck out Ian Kinsler with a 95-m.p.h. fastball up in the zone then gave up a run-scoring bloop single to right to Elvis Andrus, which scored pinch-runner Alvin Gentry from second, giving the Rangers a 3-run lead.

Tazawa got out of the inning when he got Adrian Beltre to fly to left, leaving the Sox down to their last three outs to make up a three-run deficit without their sparkplug second baseman.

Bottom of 8th: Rangers 5, Red Sox 3: Mike Adams entered the game in relief of Robbie Ross and struck out the first two batters he faced, getting Pedroia on a checked-swing called third strike by 1st base ump Paul Nauert, who was the subject of Pedroia's wrath as he walked all the way back to the dugout.

Somehow, Nauert averted throwing out Pedroia, even after he continued his withering rebuke from the dugout. Adams wound up getting out of the inning by striking out Ross (swinging).

Top of 8th: Rangers 5, Red Sox 3: Nelson Cruz's one-out RBI single to right scored Josh Hamilton, who drew a lead-off walk from Melancon, to give the Rangers a bit of a buffer after their calamitous seventh.

Melancon, however, came back and struck out the last two batters he faced, punching out Soto with an 82-m.p.h. curveball that ended the inning.

Bottom of 7th: Rangers 4, Red Sox 3: Will Middlebrooks, pinch-hitting for Nick Punto, hit a 3-run homer when he belted a first-pitch offering from Dempster that appeared to just reach the top of the wall, where some fans sitting in the Green Monster seats reached out to grab it.

After the play was reviewed by the umpiring crew and ruled a home run. All the runs in the inning were unearned after Ian Kinsler committed a fielding error trying to backhand Ryan Kalish's sharply-struck grounder. It enabled Kalish to reach and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who reached on a seeing-eye single to right, to advance to second.

Middlebrooks brought them all home with one prodigious swat of his bat. It was the first pinch-hit homer of his career, which chased Dempster (6.2 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 99 pitches) from the game.

Top of 7th: Rangers 4, Red Sox 0: Rangers tacked on another run against Lester. The Sox lefty scuffled in the seventh after giving up a one-out walk to Michael Young. He went to third on Geovany Soto's ground ball single to right, then scored on David Murphy's sacrifice fly to left.

Lester's night was done after 6.2 innings when he issued a two-out walk to Olt, prompting Bobby Valentine to summoned Mark Melancon, who gave up an RBI single off the wall to Kinsler that scored Soto from second. Melancon got out of the inning when Elvis Andrus grounded to short for the 6-4 force out at second on Kinsler.

Bottom of 6th: Rangers 2, Red Sox 0: Dempster continued to keep the Sox in check. After issuing a two-out walk to Pedroia, Dempster got Gonzalez to fly to right to end the inning. It marked the second time in the game Gonzalez came up to the plate with RISP and produced the inning-ending out for the Sox.

Top of 6th: Rangers 2, Red Sox 0: After David Murphy ripped a lead-off double to right, Ian Kinsler drove him home with a one-out single off the wall that just missed being a 2-run homer.

With two out, Lester just missed the corner on a 2-and-2 fastball to Hamilton to run the count rull. Hamilton made him pay on the next pitch by lacing an RBI single to right that scored Kinsler. He got out of the inning when Adrian Beltre flew to right.

Bottom of 5th: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Nothing doin' for the Sox as Dempster retires them in 1-2-3 fashion. Seems like he was a great pick-up for the Rangers.

Top of 5th: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Nice recovery by Lester. Just when it appeared he might stumble after giving up a two-out single to Michael Young, then allowing him to advance on a wild pitch to Geovany Soto, Lester rallied by striking out Soto on an 89 cutter.

Through five scoreless innings, Lester has allowed two hits, no walks, while striking out three. Through the first four innings, he faced the minimum of 12 batters, thanks to a second-inning double play, and has thrown 62 pitches (38 strikes).

Bottom of 4th: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: After entering the game 2-for-15 vs. Dempster, Ross doubled off the wall for the second time in as many at-bats in the game against the Rangers' righty. It was the 11th double in their last 12 innings for the Sox against Texas pitchers.

With two out, however, Ross wound up getting stranded when Saltalamacchia grounded to first.

Top of 4th: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Nick Punto assisted on all three outs in the fourth as Lester retired the Rangers on three groundball outs to third, giving him eight overall so far in the game.

Bottom of 3d: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Dempster retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion. He matched Lester, pitch for pitch, through three scoreless innings, as each pitcher threw 38 pitches.

Top of 3d: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Lester retired the Rangers in order. He was in complete control, striking out Texas 1B Mike Olt, the pride of UConn, who was making his first Fenway Park plate appearance. Olt went down swinging at a 78 curveball

Bottom of 2d: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Cody Ross hit a lead-off double off the wall, giving the Sox 10 doubles in their last 10 innings vs. Texas pitchers. But the Sox stranded him at third after Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out, Mike Aviles grounded to short, and Ryan Kalish grounded to first.

Top of 2d: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Lester made quick work of the Rangers when he got Michael Young to ground to short for an inning-ending double play.

Bottom of 1st: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Facing Rangers right-handed starter Ryan Dempster, who was acquired from the Cubs at the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, the Red Sox managed to cobble together a pair of back-to-back hits, including a one-out double off the wall by Carl Crawford.

Crawford, however, wound up getting picked off at second by Dempster. After Dustin Pedroia singled off the wall, Dempster got Adrian Gonzalez to ground to the mound to end the inning.

Top of 1st: Rangers 0, Red Sox 0: Jon Lester, who deserved to win his previous start after allowing 3 runs on 7 hits over 8 innings in a no-decision Aug. 2 vs. Minnesota, got off to a promising start with an efficient 12-pitch, 1-2-3 inning in which he struck out lead-off batter Ian Kinsler, got Elvis Andrus to ground to first, and Josh Hamilton to fly to left.

Pregame: Greetings from Fenway Park where the Red Sox (55-55) will attempt to extend their modest two-game winning streak when they host the Rangers (63-45) in the second game of this three-game set that will wrap up a 10-game homestand. The Sox will send LHP Jon Lester (5-9, 5.36) to the mound to face RHP Ryan Dempster (5-5,2.82), who was acquired from the Cubs 10 minutes before the 4 p.m. non-waiver trading deadline.

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

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (55-55)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross DH
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Kalish RF
Punto 3B
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (5-9, 5.36)

RANGERS (63-45)
Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Hamilton CF
Beltre 3B
Cruz RF
Young DH
Soto C
Murphy LF
Olt 1B
Pitching: RHP Ryan Dempster (5-5, 2.82)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Dempster: Gonzalez 2-17, Ross 2-15, Punto 0-4, Pedroia 0-3, Salty 1-4, Aviles 2-3, Crawford 1-3.

Rangers vs. Lester: Young 9-28, Kinsler 4-20, Hamilton 6-21, Andrus 5-16, Beltre 6-16, Napoli 6-15, Cruz 8-14, Murphy 209, Gentry 1-1.

Stat of the Day: Jarrod Saltalamacchia is only 9 of 45 (.200) against the Rangers since he was traded to the Red Sox. But seven of those hits have been for extra bases.

Notes: The Sox start the day nine games out of first and four games behind in the wild card. They have won two straight and are 4-4 on a homestand that has two games remaining. ... Lester is 3-2, 4.47 in nine career games against Texas. He faced them at Fenway on April 17 and got rocked (2 IP, 8 H, 7 R 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) in an 18-3 loss. Lester has looked better in his last two games this season (14 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 13 K) thanks to better downward action on his cutter and more of an attacking mentality on the mound. ... Dempster is pitching at Fenway for the first time since June 12, 2001 when he was a Marlin. He allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings that day. Troy O'Leary and Trot Nixon took him deep. Dempster faced the Sox (as a Cub) on June 15 at Wrigley Field. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing five hits. He walked two and struck out three. Dempster was pounded in his first start for the Rangers (4.2 IP, 9 H, 8 ER) by the Angels. ... Gonzalez is hitting .400 (60 of 150) in his last 38 games. He also has 24 RBIs in 22 games since the All-Star break, hitting .405 in that stretch. ... Crawford is 14 of his last 40 (.350) with eight extra-base hits and 12 RBIs. ... Aviles is 6 of his last 14 since missing five games with turf toe. ... Beltre has hit .310 at Fenway since the start of the 2010 season.

Song of the Day: "Love and Peace or Else" by U2.

Game over: Big win for the Red Sox who got back to .500, winning their second straight game. A lot of energy around the team the same day that ownership backed Bobby Valentine. Aaron Cook gave the Red Sox quite a boost with seven strong innings. Junichi Tazawa finished it off but allowed a solo homer to Adrian Beltre in the ninth. The game was played in 2:47 before 37,316.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 9, Rangers 1 Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an infield hit and then scored on Carl Crawford's double off lefty reliever Michael Kirkman. Adrian Gonzalez then knocked Crawford in with a single. Cody Ross hit a sacrifice liner to right to score pinch-runner Pedro Ciriaco.

Top 8th: Red Sox 6, Rangers 1 Junichi Tazawa took up where Aaron Cook left off - a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth. Cook, one run on six hits over seven innings,

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 6, Rangers 1 It's a good thing the Red Sox added an insurance run here because no lead is safe with the Rangers. Adrian Gonzalez knocked in Dustin Pedroia.

Top 7th: Red Sox 5, Rangers 1 Cook pitched well in his final inning, walking Soto but no harm. The veteran rigthhander had the sinker working and did the team a huige favor with his performance.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 5, Rangers 1 Ryan Kalish was thrown out trying to steal after a single. Mike Aviles also got on base, but the Sox failed to add to their lead.though Crawford's drive to left was caught at the wall on a leaping catch by Murphy.

Top 6th: Red Sox 5, Rangers 1 Cook keeps rolling, a 1-2-3 inning where he struck out Hamilton and got a pair of ground outs by Beltre and Cruz.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 5, Rangers 1 Darvish's best inning striking out Ross and Salty and getting Middlebrooks to pop out.

Top 5th: Red Sox 5, Rangers 1 Cook has settled down and the sinker is working. He walked Ian Kinsler but got Michael Young to rill back to the pitcher for the final out.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 5, Rangers 1 Sox rallied off Darvish. With one out, Ryan Kalish walked and Mike Aviles singled and Ellsbury knocked in a run with a double off the wall. After Crawford's sacrifice fly got the second run in, Dustin Pedroia doubled to left scoring the fifth Boston run.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Rangers 1 Aaron Cook allowed a ground rule double to Nelson Cruz, his second double in an as many at-bats and then picked the rightfielder off second base in a real bonehead play by Cruz. Cooks got out of the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Rangers 1 The Sox took the lead off Yu Darvish when the top of the order - Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford - hit doubles producing the tying run. Crawford came in on Adrian Gonzalez double to right field.

Top 3rd: Rangers 1, Red Sox 0 Cook was aided by another double play, this one by Adrian Beltre after a Josh Hamilton single.

Bottom 2nd: Rangers 1, Red Sox 0 Well, as has been the case a lot lately, the Red Sox had men on base and couldn't score. Cody Ross singled to right and Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked, but Will Middlebrooks struck out, Ryan Kalish knocked into a fielder's choice and Mike Aviles grounded out to short. The Sox got nothing.

Top 2nd: Rangers 1, Red Sox 0 Cook's sinker isn't sinking much. Nelson Cruz doubled to right and came in on David Murphy's single to center. Mike Napoli helped Cook's cause by knocking into a double-play. Cook walked Geovany Soto and then allowed a single to Mitch Moreland before Ian Kinsler grounded out to end the inning.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Rangers 0 The Red Sox were baffled by Yu Darvish as both Jacoby Ellsbury (a called third strike on 3-2) and Carl Crawford whiffed before Dustin Pedroia slammed a double to left. But Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to second to end the threat.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Rangers 0 Aaron Cook has a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts, but he retired the Rangers after allowing a double to right to No. 2 hitter Michael Young. Cook had drawn some interest from the Rangers before the trade deadline but nothing materialized.

Good afternoon. The Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak Sunday. The first-place Rangers are at Fenway Park tonight. Here's a preview of tonight's game:

RED SOX (54-55)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross DH
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Kalish RF
Aviles SS
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.24)

RANGERS (63-44)
Kinsler 2B
Young SS
Hamilton CF
Beltre 3B
Cruz RF
Murphy LF
Napoli C
Soto DH
Moreland 1B
Pitching: RHP Yu Darvish (11-7, 4.38)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Rangers vs. Cook: Beltre 6-13, Gonzalez 3-8, Hamilton 3-3, Napoli 2-9, Soto 1-5.

Red Sox vs. Darvish: No history

Stat of the Day: Red Sox starter Aaron Cook is 0-4 with a 5.79 ERA in his last five starts.

Notes: Adrian Gonzalez has six multi-hit efforts in his last nine games. He has 19 multi-hit games in his last 37 games since June 23. Since that date he leads the American League with a .393 average. ...The Rangers and Yankees are tied for the best record in the American League. ... Rangers starter Yu Darvish is 1-3 with a 6.82 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 20 walks over his last five starts. ... Alfredo Aceves earned his 23d save Sunday. ... The Red Sox are 28-32 at home.

Final: Red Sox 6, Twins 4

The Sox salvaged a 6-4 victory to snap a four-game losing streak after surviving a ninth-inning scare when the Twins rallied for three runs on a pair of homers off Vicente Padilla. It threatened to ruin the good work done by starter Franklin Morales and relievers Mark Melancon and Craig Breslow.

With no out, Alfredo Aceves, who absorbed Saturday night's 6-4 loss when he gave up four runs on four hits in the ninth including a three-run homer by Joe Mauer, picked up the save when he retired the three batters he faced, striking out Jamey Carroll to end the game before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,019.

Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 6, Twins 1: With Luis Perdomo on the mound for Jeff Manship (2 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB), the Sox tacked on an insurance run when Jacoby Ellsbury ripped an RBI sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ryan Kalish from third after he doubled to center and advanced on a stolen base.

Vicente Padilla took over for Craig Breslow (1/3 IP) in the ninth.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 5, Twins 1: After he got the first two outs of the inning, Melancon (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K) handed it over to Craig Breslow, who came in and got Joe Mauer to ground to short.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 5, Twins 1: With two men aboard, Cody Ross ripped an RBI single to center, scoring Carl Crawford, who singled to right and went to second on intentional walk of Gonzalez.

Saltalamacchia drove a ball to deep center and was robbed of a potential extra-base hit by Ben Revere's amazing over-the-shoulder snag on the warning track. Revere doubled up Gonzalez at second to end the inning.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 4, Twins 1: Strong 1-2-3 inning for Melancon, who struck out Brian Dozier (swinging) with a 95 cutter for the second out of the inning.

Highlight of the mid-inning: American Idol winner Kris Allen performing a beautiful rendition of "God Bless America." That's why he's an American Idol, folks.

Bottom of 6th: Red Sox 4, Twins 1: Sox get two hits in the inning from Will Middlebrooks (single to center) and Mike Aviles (single to left), but strand both runners when Ellsbury grounds to second.

Mark Melancon took over for Morales (6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 106 pitches) in the top of the 7th:

Top of 6th: Red Sox 4, Twins 1: A strong 1-2-3 inning for Morales. That would be his third quality start of the season. He has thrown 106 pitches (63 strikes) through six innings, the second most of the season he's thrown since 109 in a no-decision at Seattle June 28.

Jeff Manship took over for Nick Blackburn (5 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 4 K, 90 pitches) in the bottom of the 6th.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 4, Twins 1: Adrian Gonzalez hit an opposite-field 2-run HR into the Green Monster seats, scoring Carl Crawford, who reached on a single to center, to give the Sox a three-run cushion.

It was Gonzalez's 11th homer of the season. He was donating $5,000 to the Jimmy Fund for every HR he hit in the second half of the season. His total so far: $25,000.

Top of 5th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Ben Revere's RBI sacrifice fly to center scored Alexi Casilla, who drew a lead-off walk, with Minnesota's first run of the game to pull within 2-1.

Morales struck out Mastroianni for the second time in the game, this time swinging at an 94 fastball.

Bottom of 4th: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: RHP Nick Blackburn retired the Sox in 1-2-3 fashion, striking out Ryan Kalish (looking) for the second out of the inning.

Top of 4th: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: Another strong scoreless inning for Morales, who got two quick ground ball outs before allowing a single to Ryan Doumit. He got out of the inning after inducing Brian Dozier to pop to second.

Through four innings, Morales has allowed three hits and two walks while striking out three batters. He's thrown 71 pitches, 44 for strikes.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: Carl Crawford broke the ice when he grounded to short for an RBI that scored Mike Aviles (single to center) and Adrian Gonzalez hit an RBI single to shallow center that scored Jacoby Ellsbury (double to left) that gave the Sox a 2-0 lead.

The Sox could have padded that lead but stranded a pair of runners after Dustin Pedroia singled to right and advanced on Gonzalez's run-scoring hit to center.

Top of 3d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Morales allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, inducing Revere to ground into a force at second that wiped out Jamey Carroll, who drew a lead-off walk. After Darin Mastroianni singled to center, Morales picked him off at first on a nifty play he engineered with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who snuck behind Mastroianni to make the catch and apply the tag.

Morales got out of the inning when he fielded an infield chopper by Mauer on the first base line and applied the tag himself.

Top of 2d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0 A strong 1-2-3 inning for Morales, who punctuated the inning with a strikeout of Alexi Casilla, who chased an elevated fastball.

The Sox announced a minor trade, acquiring Twins 3B Danny Valencia in exchange for minor league OF Jeremias Pineda. Valencia was optioned to Pawtucket.

Bottom of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Carl Crawford, who celebrated his 31st birthday Sunday, was the first Red Sox to reach base when he reached on a one-out single to center. He stole second, but wound up getting stranded there when Dustin Pedroia grounded out to third and Adrian Gonzalez lofted a pop foul to third.

Top of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0 A promising but protracted start for Franklin Morales, who gave up a lead-off hit to Ben Revere (extending his career-high hitting streak to 19 games) then struck out Darin Mastrioanni and Joe Mauer (both looking) before allowing Josh Willingham to walk after a 10-pitch at-bat. Morales got out of the inning when he got Justin Morneau to ground to third.

Pregame Greetings from Fenway Park where the Red Sox (53-55) will attempt to snap a four-game losing streak by sending LHP Franklin Morales (2-2, 3.32 ERA) to the mound to oppose RHP Nick Blackburn (4-6, 7.43 ERA). We're moments away from the first pitch.

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

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

RED SOX (53-55)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross DH
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Kalish RF
Aviles SS
Pitching: LHP Franklin Morales (2-2, 3.32)

TWINS (47-60)
Revere CF
Mastroianni RF
Mauer C
Willingham LF
Morneau 1B
Doumit DH
Dozier SS
Casilla 2B
Carroll 3B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (4-6, 7.43)

Game time: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. Blackburn: Ellsbury 5-18, Shoppach 9-18, Crawford 1-14, Pedroia 4-15, Aviles 6-11, Gonzalez 3-7, Ross 1-4, Saltalamacchia 0-3

Twins vs. Morales: Mauer 1-4, Carroll 1-3, Doumit 0-2, Morneau 0-2, Span 1-1, Willingham 0-1, Valencia 0-0 (BB)

Stat of the Day: On Saturday, Pedro Ciriaco became the first Red Sox player to hit his first career home run as a pinch-hitter since Yamaico Navarro on July 2, 2011.

Notes: The season series with the Twins is on the line today, as the teams have three wins apiece. ... The Red Sox scored five runs off Blackburn in three innings April 24 in Boston. ... Blackburn has allowed six runs or more in three of his last five starts. ... Morales didn't allow a run against the Twins in two April relief appearances. ... Aviles's home run Saturday gave him a single-season career high 11 homers. ... Crawford celebrates his 31st birthday today. He is 10-for-30 with a double and 3 homers in his last seveb games on his birthday including 2 for 4 with a double last year. Crawford is the only modern Major Leaguer (since 1900) to record 200 doubles, 100 triples, 100 homers and 400 stolen bases before turning 31 years old. ... After Saturday's RBI double, Crawford now has seven extra-base hits in his last eight games. ... Bobby Valentine is three games away from 3,000 games managed in his career. ... RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday for Triple A Pawtucket. ... RHP Andrew Bailey is set to make a rehab appearance for Double A Portland.

Final: Twins 6, Red Sox 4: The Sox wasted seven strong innings from starter Clay Buchholz and a pair of solo homers by Mike Aviles and Pedro Ciriaco, whose pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the eighth broke a 2-2 tie, as the Twins rallied for five runs in the last two innings of the game, including four in the ninth, to extend the Sox losing streak to four consecutive games.

Alfredo Aceves (2-7) absorbed the loss after he gave up four runs on four hits in the ninth, including a three-run homer by Joe Mauer on a 3-and-2 pitch with two outs.

Top of 9th, 2 out: Twins 6, Red Sox 4 Alfredo Aceves, who was one pitch away from delivering the Red Sox a 4-3 victory, wound up giving up a three-run homer on a 3-and-2 pitch to Joe Mauer, which ended his night after allowing four runs on four hits in the frame.

Craig Breslow entered the game and got Morneau to fly to left to end the inning.

Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 4, Twins 2: The Fenway Park crowd of 37,914 chanted ``Pe-dro! Pe-dro! Pe-dro!'' after Pedro Ciriaco, pinch-hitting for lead-off hitter Ryan Kalish, belted a solo homer off lefty reliever Glen Perkins. It was the first homer of Ciriaco's career and gave the Sox a 3-2 lead.

Alex Burnett relieved Perkins with two out and Dustin Pedroia at second (hit by pitch, stolen base) when Cody Ross ripped an RBI single to right that scored Pedroia to give the Sox a two-run buffer.

Burnett struck out Saltalamacchia (looking, 94 fastball) to end the inning. Jacoby Ellsbury. who was a late scratch because of a "leg issue,'' entered the game in the top of the ninth for Ciriaco.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 2, Twins 2: Andrew Miller wasn't long for the game -- let alone the inning -- when he loaded the bases after walking Denard Span, giving up a base hit to Ben Revere and walking Joe Mauer.

It prompted Sox manager Bobby Valentine to summon Alfredo Aceves, who inherited loaded bases with no outs. Aceves got Morneau to loft an RBI sacrifice fly to right, enabling Span to tag up from third and score the tying run.

Aceves got out of the iherited jam when Ryan Doumit popped to short and pinch-hitter Josh Willingham grounded to short for a force out at second.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: The Sox stranded a runner when Saltalamacchia reached on a lead-off single to center. But Mr. De Vries got Aviles to fly to shallow right, struck out Shoppach (for the third time in as many at-bats) and got Punto to ground to second.

Andrew Miller was summoned to relieve Buchholz (7 IP, 1 unearned R, 1 BB, 3 K). He threw 103 pitches, 66 strikes.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: The defense came up big once again for Buchholz when they turned a 3-6-3 double play after Brian Dozier reached on an infield hit. Punto then robbed Jamey Carroll of a potential extra-bases hit when he poached a scorched liner to third. End of inning.

Buchholz has thrown more than 100 pitches for the night with 103, 66 for strikes.

Bottom of 6th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Mr. De Vries -- we'll just keep calling him that -- continued to keep the Sox off the board.

After giving up a solo homer to Aviles, Mr. De Vries has retired 14 of the next 16 batters he faced, striking out the side in the sixth, and allowing just one hit and a walk in that stretch.

Top of 6th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Buchholz was the beneficiary of some solid defense when he gave up a lead-off single to Justin Morneau, but got Ryan Doumit to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Buchholz got out of the inning by getting Mastroianni to ground to third.

Through six innings, Buchholz has allowed one run on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters. He's thrown 93 pitches, 60 for strikes.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Impressive inning for Mr. De Vries, who struck out the side, fanning Shoppach (84 slider), Punto (83 curveball), and Kalish (92 fastball) to give him four strikeouts for the game.

Top of 5th: Red Sox 2, Twins 1: Jamey Carroll scored Minnesota's first run of the night when he reached on sharply-struck single toward the hole between third and short. Nick Punto made a diving stab, but was unable to make the throw in time.

Buchholz commited his second throwing error of the game (and third overall of the season) when he missed wide on a pickoff attempt at first, enabling Carroll to advance to second. Carroll scored from second when Ben Revere reached on an infield nubber in front of the plate, which enabled Carroll to take third. He wound up scoring when catcher Kelly Shoppach made a throwing error to first.

Joe Mauer grounded to third to end the inning as the Sox clung to a one-run lead.

Bottom of 4th: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: De Vries retired the first two batters he faced, making it seven in a row since giving up the solo homer to Mike Aviles, before he issued a walk to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

But Aviles came up and flew to center on a towering fly ball to end the inning.

Top of 4th: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: Buchholz gave up a two-out double to Darin Mastroianni, then struck out Brian Dozier (swinging) to keep the Twins at bay for four consecutive scoreless innings.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: De Vries retired the top of the Sox' order in 1-2-3 fashion, as well.

Top of 3d: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: Nice 1-2-3 inning for Buchholz, who got through the top of Minnesota's order by sandwiching a pair of ground ball outs to short around a fly ball out to left. He's thrown 44 pitches (28 for strikes) through three innings.

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 2, Twins 0: Mike Aviles belted a solo homer into the Green Monster seats to give the Sox a 2-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the second.

Aviles's homer, on a 1-and-0 pitch from Twins starter Cole De Vries, was his 11th of the season, setting a new single-season career high for the Sox shortstop.

Top of 2d: Red Sox 1, Twins 0: Buchholz extricated himself from a bases-loaded jam when he gave up back-to-back singles to Justin Morneau, who advanced to second on Buchholz's throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first, and Ryan Doumit.

Buchholz clawed his way back by striking out Darin Mastroianni. Nick Punto then made a great diving stab at Brian Dozier's scorched liner. Buchholz walked Alexi Casilla to load the bases but got out of the inning unscathed by inducing Jamey Carroll to ground to first.

Bottom of 1st: Red Sox 1, Twins 0: Carl Crawford wasted little time giving Buchholz and the Sox some breathing room when he ripped an RBI double off the wall that scored Ryan Kalish, who drew a lead-off walk, from first base.

Top of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Clay Buchholz, looking to record his 10th win of the season, got off to a strong start with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the first batter he faced, Denard Span, on an 82-mile-per-hour changeup.

Pregame: Welcome to Fenway Park where the Red Sox (53-54) will attempt to climb to the .500 mark yet again this season by sending RHP Clay Buchholz (9-3, 4.75 ERA) to the mound to snap a three-game losing streak against the Twins and their RHP Cole De Vries (2-2, 3.98 ERA).

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

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

RED SOX (53-54)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Saltalamacchia DH
Aviles SS
Shoppach C
Punto 3B
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (9-3, 4.75)

TWINS (46-60)
Span CF
Revere RF
Mauer 1B
Morneau DH
Doumit C
Mastroianni LF
Dozier SS
Casilla 2B
Carroll 3B
Pitching: RHP Cole De Vries (2-2, 3.98)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN/WEEI

Red Sox vs. De Vries: No history

Twins vs. Buchholz: Morneau 5-11, Span 4-10, Mauer 3-7, Carroll 0-3, Casilla 3-3, Revere 2-3, Willingham 2-3, Valencia 0-2

Stat of the Day: Adrian Gonzalez raised his batting average by at least a point every game from July 27 to Thursday, going from .290 to .302. He was 12-for-25 during that stretch.

Notes: Buchholz has not lost a game since July 14. ... The Red Sox are back under .500 for the first time since July 28. ... The Twins have won consecutive games against the Red Sox for the first time since 2009. ... De Vries made his Major League debut on May 24 and lost to the White Sox. He has made 10 starts. .... Gonzalez leads baseball with a .416 average with runners in scoring position this season. ... The Red Sox are 32-16 when they score first. ... Despite dropping the last two games, the Red Sox lead the season series vs. the Twins, 3-2. ... Manager Bobby Valentine is four games away from 3,000 games managed in his career. ... Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday for the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Game over: Twins 6, Red Sox 5:

The Red Sox suffered yet another loss to the Minnesota Twins, this one in extra inning. The Sox squandered a 5-1 lead in the fifth and then failed to break a 5-5 stalemate, going 3-for-14 with RISP.

RHP Jared Burton retired the bottom of the Sox order in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the 10th before a Fenway Park crowd of 37,285.

Top of 10th: Twins 6, Red Sox 5: Jamey Caroll drove in the go-ahead run when he ripped an RBI single to center that scored Darin Mastroianni, who reached on a lead-off double to right. Carroll, who reached in all five plate appearances after drawing a walk in his first plate appearance, matched his career high with his fourth hit of the night.

Padilla limited the damage to one run when he struck out Revere (looking) to end the inning.

Jared Burton entered the bottom of the frame in relief of Jeff Gray (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K).

Bottom of 9th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5: After Gray struck out Ross and got Gonzalez to fly to center, Lavarnway came to the plate with a .000 batting average and an 0-for-7 skein. He snapped it with a towering double off the wall in left that kept the inning alive.

With pinch-runner Pedro Ciriaco in the game for Lavarnway, Middlebrooks came to the plate and fouled off six off the first seven pitches he faced before grounding out to third to send the game into extra innings. It made the Red Sox 3-for-14 with RISP.

Top of 9th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5 Miller seemed to be cruising along when he got the first two outs of the inning with relative ease. But when he struggled to get the third out, walking Willingham and hitting Morneau, it prompted Bobby Valentine to summon Vicente Padilla from the bullpen to face Danny Valencia, who struck out on three pitches -- all four-seam fastballs.

Bottom of 8th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5 Once again the Red Sox threatened when Crawford ripped a one-out single to right off reliever Alex Burnett and Shoppach followed with a sharply-struck single to left.

It put two men aboard for Aviles, who drew a walk that loaded the bases and ended Burnett's night. LHP Tyler Robertson entered the game to face Ellsbury, who got ahead of the count at 2-and-1, fouled off three sliders, then struck out swinging on a 90-m.p.h. two-seam fastball.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire summoned RHP Jeff Gray to face Pedroia, who stranded all three base runners when he took a called strike on the first pitch and flew to right on the next pitch to end the inning. Boston is 3-for-13 with RISP after eight innings.

Top of 8th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5 Andrew Miller was summoned from the bullpen to relieve Mark Melancon (1P, 1H, 1K), who gave up a two-out single to Jamey Carroll, who reached after hitting a scorched comebacker to the mound.

Miller came in and got Span to ground to second for the third out of the inning.

Bottom of 7th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5 The Sox squandered a huge scoring opportunity with two outs. After a pair of very questionable strikeout calls on Ellsbury and Pedroia by home plate umpire Mark Wegner, Ross reached on a double off the wall.

Gonzalez, who entered the game leading the majors with a .414 batting average with men in scoring position, was intentionally walked. Fien then induced Lavarnway (0-for-3 RISP) to hit a pop foul to the catcher to end the inning.

Top of 7th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5: After Breslow (1.1 IP, 1 H) gave up a two-out double to Morneau, Mark Melancon entered the game and ended the potential threat by striking out Valencia.

Casey Fien replaced Duensing (6 IP, 5 R, 10 H, 3 K, 90 pitches)

Bottom of 6th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5: A 1-2-3 inning for Duensing, who struck out the last two batters he faced: Shoppach and Aviles.

Top of 6th,: Red Sox 5, Twins 5: Tazawa was not long for the game when he was quickly relieved by newly acquired lefty Craig Breslow, who entered the sixth after Tazawa gave up a one-out double to Jamey Carroll.

Breslow got Span to hit a broken-bat ground out to second and got Revere to ground to third, running his scoreless streak to 2.0 innings in as many outings.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5: It looked like the Twins were going to give away the go-ahead run when Cody Ross reached on an error after his sharply-struck grounder found a way through the legs of third baseman Danny Valencia (five-hole). Ross went to second on an error by Mauer, who airmailed his throw to second after Gonzalez hit a nubber that died in front of the plate.

Duensing got out of the jam when DH Ryan Lavarnway grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Will Middlebrooks hit a pop foul to first.

Junichi Tazawa will take over for Doubront (5 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 2 K, 97 pitches) in the top of the 6th.

Top of 5th: Red Sox 5, Twins 5: The wheels started to wobble for Doubront when he issued a walk to Joe Mauer that loaded the bases for Josh Willingham, prompting a mound visit from pitch coach Bob McClure.

It didn't seem to help Doubront much when he walked Willingham, which enabled Span, who reached on a fielder's choice, and went to second on Ben Revere's single to left, to score from third on the walk.

When Doubront threw two more balls to the next batter, Morneau, prompting a mound visit from Pedroia, who attempted to settle down the young lefty. Even that didn't seem to help much when Morneau slapped a two-run single to shallow center, scoring Revere and Mauer, making it 5-4.

Danny Valencia tied it, 5-5, when his sacrifice fly to right (which was run down by Cody Ross) scored Willingham from third. Doubront, who gave up four runs on three hits and a pair of walks, got out of the inning when he got Mastroianni to fly to center.

Bottom of 4th, Red Sox 5, Twins 1: Duensing gets Pedroia, who singled in his first two at-bats, to ground into an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play.

Top of 4th: Red Sox 5, Twins 1: Doubront gave up a lead-off single to left to Justin Mourneau but retired the next three batters he faced, striking out Danny Valencia (looking), getting Darin Mastroianni to ground to firsta and Brian Dozier to ground out to short. Through four innings, Doubront has thrown 64 pitches (42 strikes), and has allowed one run on five hits and two walks.

Bottom of 3d: Red Sox 5, Twins 1: After Adrian Gonzalez broke a 1-1 tie with his RBI single to left that scored Dustin Pedroia from second, Carl Crawford delivered a huge blow against Brian Duensing when he belted a 3-run homer to the Sox bullpen in right.

The three runs were unearned after first baseman Justin Morneau misplayed a pop foul by Crawford and dropped it, giving the Sox left fielder a second chance. Crawford crushed the next pitch, an 89-mile-per-hour sinker from Duensing, for his third homer of the game, giving the Sox a 5-1 lead.

Top of 3d: Twins 1, Red Sox 1: Big double-play ball helped Doubront get out of the inning after he issued a one-out walk to Joe Mauer then induced Josh Willingham to hit into a 1-4-3 double play.

Bottom of 2d, 2 outs: Twins 1, Red Sox 1: Kelly Shoppach helped the Sox tie the game when his RBI single to center scored Carl Crawford, who reached on a two-out double to right.

Shoppach advanced to second on Aviles's ground ball single to center, but both wound up stranded on base when Ellsbury flew to left to end the inning.

Top of 2d: Twins 1, Red Sox 0: Justin Morneau, who reached on a lead-off double off the wall and advanced on Danny Valencia's sacrifice fly to right, scored Minnesota's first run on Darin Mastroianni's broken-bat RBI single up the middle just beyond the grasp of diving shortstop Mike Aviles.

Dubront earned a mound visit from pitching coach Bob McClure after issuing a walk to No. 9 hitter Jamey Carroll, which put two men aboard for Span, who wound up grounding out to second.

Bottom of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: With one out and runners on the corners after Jacoby Ellsbury beat out a broken-bat infield chopper to second for a base hit and then went to third on Dustin Pedroia's single to center, Adrian Gonzalez came up and grounded into 6-4-3 double play to strand both runners. That made it 10 consecutive scoreless innings against the Twins.

Top of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Great running grab by Jacoby Ellsbury in right center, which robbed Josh Willingham of a potential run-scoring hit with Ben Revere at third. Ellsbury's outstanding glove work enabled starter Felix Doubront to get out of the innning after throwing 19 pitches (12 for strikes).

Pregame

Greetings from Fenway Park where the .500 Red Sox (53-53) will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak in the second game of this four-game series against the Minnesota Twins (45-60). The Red Sox, who were shut out by Samuel Deduno in Thursday night's 5-0 setback, will send LHP Felix Doubront (10-5, 4.37 ERA) to the mound to oppose LHP Brian Duensing (2-6, 4.53).

As always, please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game. 1-

Here is a preview of the game:

RED SOX (53-53)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ross RF
Gonzalez 1B
Lavarnway DH
Middlebrooks 3B
Crawford LF
Shoppach C
Aviles SS
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (10-5, 4.37)

TWINS (45-60)
Span CF
Revere RF
Mauer C
Willingham DH
Morneau 1B
Valencia 3B
Mastroianni LF
Dozier SS
Carroll 2B
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing (2-6, 4.53)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Red Sox vs. Duensing: Aviles 4-14, Shoppach 0-8, Crawford 0-5, Ross 0-3, Ellsbury 1-2, Gonzalez 0-2, Salty 1-2, Pedroia 0-1.

Twins vs. Doubront: Carroll 1-2.

Stat of the Day: As of tonight's game, the season is two-thirds over.

Notes: The Sox are nine games out of first and four games out in the wild card with 56 games left. ... Doubront is making his first career appearance against the Twins. The Sox are 14-6 in the games he has started. ... Duensing is 0-1, 3.60 in four career outings (one start) against the Red Sox, a total of five innings. ... Gonzalez has multiple hits in five of the last six games. He has at least two hits in 18 of the last 34 games. Gonzalez has walked in each of the last three games after going 29 games without a walk. ... Aviles is back after missing five games with turf toe. ... The Twins have won five of their last seven. ... Revere has a 16-game hit streak, his career best. ... The Sox are 22-12 against lefthanded starters. ... The newest members of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, who were inducted this morning, will be recognized on the field before the game. They are Marty Barrett, Ellis Burks, Joe Dobson, Dutch Leonard and Curt Schilling along with former groundskeeper Joe Mooney and former owner John I. Taylor. Dobson, Leonard and Taylor were inducted posthumously.

Song of the Day: "Evenflow" by Pearl Jam.

Game over: Twins 5, Red Sox 0: The Red Sox suffered their second loss in a row, wasting an eight-inning effort by Jon Lester, who allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out seven before a crowd of 37,191.

The Sox dropped to 53-53.

Lester (5-9) suffered the loss while Minnesota starter Samuel Deduno (3-0) picked up the victory after throwing six shutout innings of two-hit ball at the Sox.

Top of 9th: Twins 5, Red Sox 0: With Aceves on the mound, the Twins tacked on a pair of insurance runs with two outs when Brian Dozier crushed a 2-and-0 fastball for a two-run homer, launching it into the Green Monster seats where it caromed off Sports Authority sign in left. Aceves got out of the inning, mercifully, when he induced Drew Butera to fly to center, leaving the Sox down to their last three outs to score five or more runs.

Bottom of 8th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0: Glen Perkins entered the eighth in relief of Casey Fien (1 IP, 1 K) , and proceeded to keep the Sox at bay with a 1-2-3 inning. Alfredo Aceves will enter the game in the ninth for the Sox in relief of Lester (8 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 7 K, 105 pitches, 69 strikes).

Top of 8th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0: Lester looked strong in the eighth, making a stab of Span's comebacker to the mound, getting Ben Revere to ground to first and striking out Josh Willingham to record his seventh punchout of the game. He has now thrown 105 pitches (69 for strikes) and has done everything humanly possible to help the Sox win -- except, that is, score some runs.

Bottom of 7th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0: Fien put the clamps on the Sox, retiring the side in order, sandwiching a pair of fly ball outs to center around a strikeout (looking) of Ryan Kalish.

Top of 7th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0: 1-2-3 inning for Lester. He's kept the Sox in it, but they have squandered several opportunities to score runs for him. Casey Fien will be the new pitcher for the Twins. Deduno's line: 6 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K, 101 pitches (50 strikes).

Bottom of 6th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0: The Sox appeared to have Deduno teetering when they put two runners aboard with two outs. Adrian Gonzalez, who broke up Deduno's no-hit bid with a double to left in the fourth, reached on a single to center. Ross drew a walk to put runners in scoring position, but the Sox failed to capitalize when Lavarnway flew to left to end the inning.

Top of 6th: Twins 3, Red Sox 0: The Twins tacked on another run after Lester gave up a pair of back-to-back doubles with two outs. After Justin Morneau doubled to left, Ryan Doumit followed with an RBI double to right that scored Morneau to make it 3-0.

Bottom of 4th: Twins 2, Red Sox 0: Sox squandered another scoring opportunity when they put two men aboard against Deduno. Adrian Gonzalez hit a one-out double to left, then after Cody Ross popped to third, Ryan Lavarnway drew a walk, putting two aboard for Will Middlebrooks, who stranded the runners when he flew to center to end the inning.

Top of 4th: Twins 2, Red Sox 0: Lester continued to keep the Sox in it, retiring the Twins in order.

Bottom of 3d: Twins 2, Red Sox 0: Deduno did not allow the Sox to muster any kind of a response with another 1-2-3 inning, retiring the last seven batters he's faced in a row.

Top of 3d: Twins 2, Red Sox 0: After he retired the first six batters he faced, Lester had his no-hit bid broken up by Brian Dozier's lead-off single up the middle. After Lester got the next two batters out, Denard Span ripped an RBI double to right scoring, Dozier. Span scored on Ben Revere's bloop single over shortstop Pedro Ciriaco to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Bottom of 2d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: The game seemed to shape up into a pitcher's duel when Deduno responded in kind with a 1-2-3 inning as well, getting three ground ball outs that retired Ryan Lavarnway, Will Middlebrooks and Ryan Kalish in order.

Top of 2d: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Lester stacked up another 1-2-3 inning on top of his first, striking out Ryan Doumit on a 76 curveball for the second out of the inning. Lester has now thrown 22 pitches (15 for strikes).

Bottom of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: The Sox stranded a pair of base runners in the bottom of the frame when Twins starter Samuel Deduno issued back-to-back walks to Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez before inducing DH Cody Ross to loft an inning-ending pop fly to short.

Top of 1st: Twins 0, Red Sox 0: Strong start for Jon Lester, who retired the side in 1-2-3 order, striking out the first two batters he faced. Both were looking at cutters. Lester threw 12 pitches in an efficient first inning.

Pregame Welcome to a hot and steamy Fenway Park where the Red Sox (53-52) will host the Minnesota Twins (44-60) in the first game of a four-game series. The Sox will send LHP Jon Lester (5-8, 5.49 ERA) to the mound to oppose RHP Samuel Deduno (2-0, 3.13).

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

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (53-52)
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross DH
Lavarnway C
Middlebrooks 3B
Kalish RF
Ciriaco SS
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (5-8, 5.49)

TWINS (44-60)
Span CF
Revere RF
Willingham DH
Morneau 1B
Doumit LF
Valencia 3B
Dozier SS
Butera C
Casilla 2B
Pitching: RHP Samuel Deduno (2-0, 3.13)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Twins vs. Lester: Mauer 7-20, Span 5-15, Morneau 5-19, Willingham 2-7, Carroll 1-9, Valencia 1-6, Casilla 0-3, Revere 1-3, Doumit 2-3.

Red Sox vs. Deduno: No history.

Stat of the Day: The Sox are 3-0 against the Twins this season and 18-10 against the AL Central this season.

Notes: Here's a crazy stat for you: The Red Sox haven't won consecutive games started by Lester since May 14 and 19. ... The Sox are 8-13 in games started by Lester. He showed some improvement against the Yankees on Saturday (6 IP, 4 H, 4 ER) in a victory against CC Sabathia. Lester is, oddly, 1-3, 4.96 against the Twins in his career. ... Deduno is a 29-year-old journeyman making his fifth big-league start. But the first four sure were good. Deduno has allowed two runs on eight hits in his last 13.1 innings. None of the Red Sox have faced him before. ... Middlebrooks has hit in nine straight at 13 of 33 with six RBIs. ... Gonzalez is .389/.407/.550 in his last 33 games. ... Lavarnway is starting a major league game for the first time since Game 162 last season. ... Ciriaco has hit safely in six straight at 9 of 23.

Song of the Day: "Summer Days" by Bob Dylan.

By Alex Prewitt, Globe Correspondent

Final: Tigers 7, Red Sox 5: Cook pitched well for the first four innings, getting grounder after grounder with his sinker, but unraveled in the fifth to the tune of back-to-back homers from Cabrera and Fielder.

The Sox eventually clawed their way back into it with a five-hit, three-run sixth that chased Porcello, and Crawford pulled them within one with a solo homer in the seventh, but Young's solo shot off the usually reliable Miller in the eighth provided the final margin.

So Boston takes two of three from Detroit, missing out on extending the winning streak with the hapless Twins coming to town tomorrow, and the Tigers avoid the sweep.

Postgame notes to follow. Thanks for reading, folks. Enjoy your night.

Bottom 9th: Tigers 7, Red Sox 5: Ciriaco struck out swinging, Ellsbury narrowly was called out on a grounder to short, and Crawford went down swinging on a 94-mph fastball.

Game over. Tigers win.

Top 9th: Tigers 7, Red Sox 5: Tazawa struck out Santiago swinging, got Jackson to fly out to right and, after a Berry single, worked a 10-pitch at bat against Cabrera and dialed up a fastball to 96 mph to strike him out swinging.

Bottom 8th: Tigers 7, Red Sox 5: With Benoit on the mound, Salty struck out for the second time tonight, this time getting caught looking at a 95-mph fastball. Middlebrooks popped out to Fielder in foul territory. Kalish grounded out to the mound.

Top 8th: Tigers 7, Red Sox 5: Detroit pumped the lead back up to two runs after Young hooked a homer around Pesky's Pole. Miller then struck Avila out looking and got pulled for Tazawa, who got Peralta on a grounder to end things.

Bottom 7th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 5: Crawford atones for three subpar at bats earlier tonight with a solo shot in the Sox bullpen. Dotel then came on in relief, and struck out Pedroia, got Gonzalez on a flyout to left, and Ross to sky a popout to second.

Top 7th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 4: Melancon walked Jackson to lead off the inning, and he moved to third on groundouts from Berry and Cabrera. With Fielder due up, Bobby V summoned Andrew Miller for the lefty-on-lefty matchup, and Fielder (2 for 3 with HR and 2B tonight entering the at bat) whiffed on three straight curveballs.

Bottom 6th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 4: Slowly but surely, the Sox clawed their way back for a few runs this inning. Pedroia, Gonzalez, and Ross all strung together consecutive singles. Salty grounded into a run-scoring double play, and Middlebrooks singled home Ross to bring Boston within three, chasing Porcello from the game in the process.

Reliever Phil Coke then walked Kalish, and Ciriaco lined an RBI single to right. Ellsbury then struck out on a slider to strand runners on the corners.

Melancon on for the Sox.

Porcello's line: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 88 pitches, 55 strikes.

Top 6th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 1: Young led off with a single, but Breslow got Avila swinging on a fastball, Peralta to fly out to right (aided in no small part by Kalish, who flashed some leather on a nice sliding catch), and, after Young moved up on a wild pitch, Santiago to pop out to Gonzalez by the mound.

Bottom 5th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 1: Kalish singled and moved up on a Ciriaco bunt. Ellsbury then walked on four straight pitches. Crawford then swung at the first pitch, grounding into an inning-ending double play.

Top 5th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 1: Detroit took the lead after Avila and Peralta strung together consecutive singles and got moved over on a Santiago bunt. Jackson then hit a grounder through the hole between short and third for an RBI single. Peralta also scored on a Berry groundout to second.

Jackson moved to third on a wild pitch, and Cabrera demolished a hanging curveball well over the Monster. For some reason, Cook went back to the curve, and Fielder hammered it to deep, deep center, chasing Cook from the game. It's the fifth time this season Detroit has gone back to back.

Craig Breslow, fresh off the plane at Logan, entered for his first appearance with the Sox since 2006, and got Boesch swinging on three pitches.

Cook's line: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 86 pitches, 61 strikes.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 1, Tigers 1: Gonzalez reached on a leadoff single, but Porcello got Ross to fly out to right, Salty swinging on a curveball, and Middlebrooks to ground out to third.

Top 4th: Red Sox 1, Tigers 1: Cook plunked Berry to lead off the inning, but kept throwing over to first -- five times in all -- before finally picking him off. Cabrera sharply lined out to right, and Fielder cranked an opposite-field double off the Monster.

(Another semi-related note: Crawford air-mailed not only the cutoff man but second base as well on Fielder's double.)

Cook tried to pick off Fielder at second, and wound up drilling him right in the head. After getting checked out by the trainer, Fielder stayed in the game and received a nice applause from the Fenway crowd.

Boesch fouled off a few pitches, and hit an RBI seeing-eye single that tied things up. Young blasted a flyball deep to center that Ellsbury tracked down on a full sprint, crashing into the wall and drawing a standing ovation as he jogged off the field, unharmed.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0: Ellsbury and Crawford each grounded out, and Pedroia struck out looking on an outside fastball, slamming his bat down afterwards.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0: Cook gave up a one-out single to Santiago, Detroit's No. 9 hitter, but promptly got Jackson to ground to Gonzalez for an inning-ending double play. Nine outs so far, eight on the ground.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0: Middlebrooks struck out for the seventh time in the past four games, Kalish faces major-league pitching for the first time since July 7 and strikes out swinging on a slider in the dirt, and Ciriaco gets mowed down on three pitches. Porcello fans the side.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0: The Aaron Cook Groundball Machine keeps on chugging. Boesch grounds to Ciriaco, Young to Middlebrooks, and Avila, defying all that we know to exist in this world, flied out to Crawford in left.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0: Ellsbury led off with a double that skipped off first base and down the right-field line. Crawford struck out swinging, and Pedroia made solid contact on a changeup that Jackson ran down in center, but Ellsbury tagged and moved to third. Porcello kept barely missing the corners against Gonzalez, walking him on five pitches. Ross then hit an RBI single to right. Salty lined out to second to end the inning.

A semi-related note: Gonzalez has walked in consecutive games for the first time since June 20-21.

Top 1st: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0: What a surprise. Four grounders from Aaron Cook. Cabrera's found the hole between short and third, but Jackson, Berry, and Fielder all went down on groundouts.

Pregame: The bad weather appears to have passed, and we should start on time as Boston goes for the sweep in the series finale against Detroit after last night's rain-shortened win. Two sinkerballers are on the mound tonight: Aaron Cook (2-4, 4.50 ERA) for the Sox against Tigers righty Rick Porcello (7-6, 4.56 ERA).

Comment away, friends. Enjoy the game.

Final: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1 The Red Sox extended their winning streak to four games when the game was called after a rain delay of 1 hour 45 minutes.

The game ended after the Tigers loaded the bases with two out in the top of the sixth when Jhonny Peralta drew a walk from Franklin Morales. However, Omar Infante never got to take his at-bat after crew chief Jerry Layne halted play at 9:32 p.m.

"You got the bases loaded and you're a little bit excited because you got a shot, but the umpires do the best they can with that stuff,'' said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who was remarkably poised about the decision to call the game. "We had been playing in some pretty heavy rain and I think Jerry just decided at that point he needed to stop it and he gave it a good shot to try to get it in, but from what I hear it wasn't supposed to stop raining around 1 or 1:30.

"So certainly to call the game at this point was the right call. Could we have maybe gotten through that inning? Who knows? That's a tough situation to put an umpire in but I think they definitely made the right call in calling it. So be it.''

Rain delay: Top of 6th, 2 out: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1: After he issued a lead-off walk to Fielder and then got Delmon Young to fly to center, Mortensen handed it over to Franklin Morales with one out in the sixth.

Morales got a force out at second on Fielder after pinch-hitter Ryan Rayburn grounded to third. Rayburn went to third on Alex Avila's single to right. With the rain intensifying, Morales walked Jhonny Peralta to load the bases, prompting umpire Angel Campos to halt play at 9:32 p.m. because of rain.

Bottom of 5th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1: Verlander retired the side in order, striking out Ross and Saltalamacchia after getting Gonzalez to ground to second. Through five innings, Verlander has allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 6 batters. He's thrown 107 pitches, which was 20 shy of his season high (127, at Cincinnati June 9).

Top of 5th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1: Mortensen entered the game in the the third facing a most dire situation: bases loaded, Prince Fielder at the plate, Sox trailing 1-0. But he continued to hold it down for the Sox. After giving up a lead-off single to Jackson, who was caught stealing second by Shoppach (ninth pickoff of the season), Mortensen struck out Berry and then got the always dangerous Cabrera to ground to short. Nice, tidy, end of inning.

Bottom of 4th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1: The Sox put two runners aboard against Verlander when Ross hit a lead-off single to right and Saltalamacchia followed with a single to left.

Verlander dialed up 98-m.p.h heat to strike out Middlebrooks before issuing a walk to Kelly Shoppach that loaded the bases for Pedro Ciriaco, who tied it, 1-1, with a sharply-struck RBI single to right that scored Ross. Ellsbury drew another walk, Verlander's second of the inning and fourth of the game, to score Saltalamacchia with the go-ahead run, 2-1.

It left the bases (still) loaded for Crawford, who hit an RBI base hit to second, scoring Shoppach from third. Infante committed a costly error when he tried to barehand the ball, but misplayed it, allowing Ciriaco to score, making it 4-1. Verlander got out of the inning after facing eight batters when he got Pedroia to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

Update: 8:53 p.m. The Red Sox announced Josh Beckett had departed the game in the third with a back spasm.

Top of 4th: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0: Mortensen seemed to get into trouble when he issued a pair of one out walks to Brennan Boesch and Alex Avila. But the right-handed reliever got out of the jam when he got Jhonny Peralta to fly to right and Infante to ground to the mound.

Bottom of 3d: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0: Sox could not muster a response against Verlander, going down in 1-2-3 fashion. Through three innings, Verlander has now thrown 63 pitches (40 for strikes), but you get the feeling that he's just getting warmed up, despite throwing in a steady mist.

Top of 3d, 2 outs: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0: Pitching in steady but light rainfall, Beckett retired the first two batters he faced in the third, Omar Infante broke up Beckett's no-hit bid by beating out a ground ball to short for an infield hit.

Beckett grazed the next batter, Austin Jackson, on the abdomen with a 91 four-seam fastball, then walked Quintin Berry to load the bases for Miguel Cabrera, who drew a walk that scored Infante and gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. It prompted a mound visit from manager Bobby Valentine, pitching coach Bob McClure and the team's medical staff to check on Beckett's back, which appeared to stiffen.

Beckett departed to a chorus of boos as Clayton Mortensen, who was called up from Triple A Pawtucket earlier in the day, was summoned from the bullpen to face Prince Fielder with the bases loaded. Mortensen dodged a bullet when Fielder hit a mammoth blast to right just foul of the Pesky Pole. Fielder left the bases loaded when he flew to center to end the inning.

Beckett's line: 2.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 49 pitches (27 strikes).

Bottom of 2d: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0: The Sox got another lead-off hit against Verlander, this one by Will Middlebrooks, who reached on a sharply-struck ground ball single to left. Verlander struck out Kelly Shoppach (looking, 84 slider) and got Pedro Ciriaco to line out to short before inducing Ellsbury to ground to second for the force on Middlebrooks at second.

Top of 2d: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0: Another 1-2-3 inning for Beckett, who needed only seven pitches to do the trick. Through two innings of work, Beckett has thrown 19 pitches, 13 for strikes.

Bottom of 1st: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0: After Jacoby Ellsbury reached on a single to shallow left, Detroit ace Justin Verlander, the American League's reigning Most Valuable player and Cy Young Award winner, buckled down and retired the two batters he faced, getting Carl Crawford to ground to first and Dustin Pedroia looking at a 97-m.p.h. fastball.

Verlander, however, ran into some trouble with two outs when he issued back-to-back walks to Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Ross to load the bases for DH Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who struck out swinging at a 96-m.p.h. fastball.

It was a laborious start for Verlander, who threw 35 pitches (20 for strikes), which was 23 more than Beckett needed to get out of his first inning.

Top of 1st: Red Sox 0, Tigers 0: Nice start for Josh Beckett, who retired the Tigers in 1-2-3 fashion on 12 pitches. Beckett struck out lead-off hitter Austin Jackson, who hit a lead-off homer off Clay Buchholz Monday night. Beckett caught Jackson looking at a 91-mile-per-hour fastball, then got Quintin Berry to fly to left and Miguel Cabrera to hit a towering fly to center.

Pregame: Greeting from an overcast Fenway Park where the non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone and so has Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik, both of whom were dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks for LHP Craig Breslow. The team also acquired RHP Steven Wright from the Indians in exchange for 1B/DH Lars Anderson. Wright was assigned to Double A Portland. The Red Sox (52-51) will send Josh Beckett (5-9, 4.57 ERA) to the mound to oppose Justin Verlander (11-6, 2.60 ERA) in the hopes of extending the team's three-game winning streak.

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

By Alex Prewitt, Globe Correspondent

Final: Red Sox 7, Tigers 3: Buchholz (9-3) hurled another gem, and this time got enough run support to earn the win, his first since June 19. Crawford had his second walk and his second extra-base hit this season, and got the rallies going as the Sox overcame nine Scherzer (10-6) strikeouts, got homers from Middlebrooks and Pedroia, and have put together a three-game win streak for the first time since mid-June.

Stay tuned for postgame notes and posts. Thanks for reading, folks. Goodnight.

Top 9th: Red Sox 7, Tigers 3: Padilla put Young (walk) and Boesch (single) on to start the inning, but got Peralta to ground into a double play. With the crowd on its feet, Padilla struck out Avila on a fastball to end the game.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 7, Tigers 3: No golden sombrero for Middlebrooks, who hooked a rocket down the left-field line into the Monster seats to give the Sox a little cushion.

Salty singled, Sweeney got robbed of a single by a diving Infante (and threw his helmet in the dugout in frustration), Octavio Dotel came on in relief, Shoppach flied out to left, and Ciriaco did the same.

Looks like Padilla will come in to close this one out.

The line for Buchholz: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 108 pitches, 67 strikes.

Top 8th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 3: Buchholz is likely done, but he got through the heart of Detroit's order in perfect fashion. Berry flied out to center, Cabrera grounded to short, and Fielder grounded to first. Strong outing for him, allowing just three hits after the first inning.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 5, Tigers 3: Please note: the following is NOT fiction: Kelly Shoppach hit a triple.

It was his second of the season -- he hit one on May 7 at Kansas City -- and second of his career. He is now somehow tied for the Sox lead in three-baggers with Sweeney, Pedroia, and Ciriaco.

But we digress. Ciriaco lined out to left. With the infield in, Ellsbury ripped an RBI single to right, chasing Scherzer from the game. Coke came on to face Crawford, and won the lefty-on-lefty matchup with a grounder to second.

Ellsbury stole his second base of the season, swiping third on a no-throw, but Pedroia grounded out to short to end the inning.

Scherzer's line: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 101 pitches, 69 strikes.

Top 7th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3: Buchholz struck out Boesch on a filthy changeup to lead off the inning, but the pitch got by Shoppach, who hit the runner on his way to first for the error. After Peralta went down swinging, Avila laced a run-scoring double to right-center, but got stranded at second. Infante popped up to Pedroia, and Jackson lined out to right.

Time to stretch.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 4, Tigers 2: Pedroia hammered a 1-2 fastball into the Monster seats for his ninth homer after Crawford coaxed a full-count walk. Gonzalez singled into the right-center gap, but Middlebrooks earned the sombrero, striking out for the third time tonight.

Scherzer then ratcheted up his fastball to 97 to get Salty swinging, and got Sweeney swinging on a slider in the dirt. Sweeney didn't realize the ball got by Avila, and was barely thrown out at first. Sparse boos for Sweeney after that one.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: Cabrera laced a lineout right at Middlebrooks, Fielder grounded out to second, and Young flied out to center. Buchholz has retired 10 straight now.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: Scherzer entered overpower mode against the bottom of Boston's order, striking out Shoppach and Ciriaco, each on 96-mph fastballs. Ellsbury grounded out to second to end things.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: That's seven straight retired for Buchholz, who got Infante to fly out to deep center, Jackson to line out to Crawford, and Berry to strike out looking on a 95-mph heater.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: Solid inning for Scherzer. Only Salty reached on a seeing-eye single through the hole between first and second. Otherwise, Gonzalez grounded out, Middlebrooks struck out for the second time tonight, and Sweeney skied a popout to third.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: Buchholz mixed his pitches well that inning, getting Boesch, Peralta, and Avila in order, all on grounders.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: Ciriaco continues to rake, ripping a leadoff single down the third-base line, but got thrown out at second on Ellsbury's fielder's choice. Crawford grounded out, moving Ellsbury into scoring position, but Pedroia popped out weakly to short.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Tigers 2: Infante atoned for his error, lifting a high triple off the Monster in deep left-center. Jackson worked a full-count walk and, after Berry broke his bat and popped out to Ciriaco, Buchholz got the groundball he needed against Cabrera. But it went straight up the middle, and Infante scored, tying things up.

Buchholz then walked the bases loaded, drawing action in the bullpen and a visit from Bob McClure, and got an inning-ending double play from Young.

And after all that, the game is still tied.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Tigers 1: Salty broke his bat, but reached on an error by Infante, one of Detroit's newest acquisitions. He promptly got thrown out at second, probably on a missed hit-and-run sign by Sweeney, who lined out to right. Shoppach then struck out looking on a slider.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Tigers 1: A flyout to left, two grounders to Pedroia, and Buchholz is through a perfect, tidy second inning with six pitches.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 2, Tigers 1: Before the game, manager Bobby Valentine addressed the lack of stolen bases by Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford (three total this season entering), saying he felt they had yet to regain their "rhythm." Turns out, it didn't really matter in the first, not with Ellsbury drawing a tough nine-pitch walk and Crawford tripling off the Monster.

Pedroia had an RBI groundout to short that plated Crawford, and Scherzer dialed up a fastball to 98 miles per hour to strike out Gonzalez. Middlebrooks went down looking at another fastball to end the inning.

Top 1st: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0: Rough start for Buchholz. Jackson parked his fourth leadoff homer this season, and first since July 15 at Baltimore, on a 1-0 pitch that ended atop the Monster. Berry followed with a double to the wall. Cabrera rocketed a shot up the middle that an off-balance Buchholz snagged. Buchholz settled down, striking out Fielder on a splitter, but Berry moved up to third when the ball got by Shoppach. Young grounded out to short to end the inning.

So, a couple hard-hit balls against Buchholz, but only Jackson's round-tripper is on the board for the Tigers.

Pregame: The Sox have won three games against the Yankees this season, including two over the weekend. In all three, Pedro Ciriaco had the game-winning hit. So now the Sox return to Fenway, fresh off a 3-3 road trip, including those two thrilling late-inning victories over the Bronx Bombers.

Max Scherzer (10-5, 4.49 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit as the AL leader with 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings, and has won nine of his past 11 decisions. The Sox counter with Clay Buchholz (8-3, 4.93 ERA), 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA over his past eight starts since May 27.

The updates will be here, as always. You bring your comments, as always. And everyone's happy.

By Alex Prewitt, Globe Correspondent

We got bonus baseball in the Bronx Sunday night, but the Red Sox scraped together another late-inning win to take the series. Pedro Ciriaco plays hero again, this time punching an RBI single into right field in the top of the 10th. After blowing the four-out save, Aceves picks up the win. Felix Doubront pitched very well, Russell Martin continued to tear up Sox pitching, and Bobby Valnetine and Josh Beckett got ejected.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Postgame notes to follow. See you tomorrow night at Fenway when Detroit comes to town.

Bottom 10th and Final: Red Sox 3, Yankees 2: Aceves closes it out. Sweeney went into the stands to snag a Teixeira foul pop-up, Cano grounded to second and, after Swisher got hit and Pena pinch-ran for him, the pinch-hitting Ibanez battled through a nine-pitch at bat, ultimately striking out swinging on a curveball.

Aceves pumped his fists on the mound, and the Sox -- those left, anyway -- bounded out of the dugout.

Top 10th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 2: Well, that was interesting and weird all rolled into one, but the Sox get the job done, thanks to who else but Pedro Ciriaco.

Try to keep up: Saltalamacchia walked. Middlebrooks squared to bunt, and got drilled on the hand, crumpling to the ground in pain. The umpires decided it hit his bat. After a lengthy discussion, tempers escalated, and Valentine got ejected. Josh Beckett also got ejected after jawing at the third base umpire from the dugout. After all that, Middlebrooks singled to put runners on first and second with no outs.

Sweeney then bounced into a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners. Ciriaco hit a first-pitch flare off the hands into shallow right for the RBI single.

Ellsbury grounded into an inning-ending double play. Aceves is back on with the heart of New York's order due up.

Bottom 9th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 2: Aceves pitched a perfect ninth, and we're headed to extras. Chavez went down swinging on a cutter, Jeter grounded to Middlebrooks, and Granderson nearly walked off, but flew out to deep right.

Top 9th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 2: This time, Soriano gets the job done. After hitting Crawford, who never made a break for second in the inning, Pedroia made good contact but flew out to center, Gonzalez popped to Jeter, and Ross grounded to first.

Headed to the bottom of the ninth. Aceves still on the mound. Chavez (pinch-hitting for Nix)-Jeter-Granderson due up for New York.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 2: Andrew Miller held it down in relief, until Jones laced a high fastball down the left-field line for a two-out double. Before that, Middlebrooks made a backhanded stop and threw Cano out on a bang-bang play at first, and Swisher froze on a backdoor slider.

Valentine summoned Alfredo Aceves for the four-out save, and the righty gave up the tying single up the middle to Martin on the first pitch. Martin moved to second on a wild -- real wild -- pitch, but Ichiro lined to left.

Just like last night, the Yankees tie things in the eighth. And, just like last night, Soriano comes in from the bullpen.

Crawford-Pedroia-Gonzalez due up for the Sox.

Top 8th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1: Kuroda went back out for the eighth and made quick work of Sweeney (pop-up), Ciriaco (groundout), and Ellsbury (lineout).

Miller is back out for the eighth with Cano, Swisher, and Jones due up.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1: Big inning for the Sox, and two huge outs for Andrew Miller in relief against New York's biggest power hitters.

The Yankees chopped the lead in half after Martin found the short right-field porch.

Ichiro beat out a swinging bunt to third, drawing a mound visit from Bob McClure, and after a couple of failed bunt attempts, Nix struck out swinging on a high fastball.

With Matt Albers on to face Jeter (2 for 18 lifetime against the righthander entering), Ichiro promptly stole second on the first pitch to move into scoring position. Jeter then singled to right, but Ichiro held at third as Sweeney fired a bullet to the plate.

Miller was summoned to face Granderson, and induced a shallow popup to left field, not deep enough to allow Ichiro to tag, not enough of a challenge for Crawford's recovering elbow either

After another mound visit, Miller remained in the game and got Teixeira to ground to Pedroia on the first pitch. Sox bullpen does its job.

Doubront's final line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 1 HR, 109 pitches, 68 strikes.

Top 7th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Ross led off with a single to shallow left, and nearly broke up Saltalamacchia's double-play ball with a hard slide into second, but Cano made the throw in time. The Sox have hit into four double plays in the past five innings.

Middlebrooks whiffed on a slider to end the inning.

Time to stretch. Doubront still on the mound.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: For as much as he's walked the bottom of New York's order, Doubront has owned the top. He got Teixeira swinging on a curveball, and has struck out Jeter, Granderson, and Tex five times tonight. Cano also whiffed on a 93-m.p.h. fastball.

Swisher, the only Yankee with a hit tonight, notched his second single, but Jones popped to Pedroia.

Top 6th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: The top of the order, relatively quiet throughout the series, got things going this inning. Ellsbury led off with a double, and Crawford singled when Jeter was unable to handle his sharp liner. Pedroia crushed a fastball to left just short of the wall, moving Ellsbury to third, but Gonzalez grounded out into a double play, stranding runners on the corners.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Doubront, who threw 107 pitches his last outing, is up to 82 after a perfect fifth, getting Nix to fly out to the warning track in right, Jeter to strike out on a changeup that plummeted out of the zone, and Granderson to chase a high fastball.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Sox go down in order as Kuroda faces the minimum for the third straight inning. Middlebrooks grounded to third, Sweeney grounded to first, and Ciriaco struck out swinging on an 85-m.p.h. slider.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Doubront notched his first strikeout since the opening frame, getting Swisher swinging on a high 95-m.p.h. fastball, but walked his fourth and fifth batters tonight -- four of those are in the bottom four hitters of New York's order -- to put runners on second and third. With Ichiro up after a mound visit, Doubront coaxed a week infield popup.

He has thrown 71 pitches through four innings.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Gonzalez is now hitting .400 since the All-Star break after lining a single past the shift, but Ross promptly grounded back to Kuroda to start a double play. Saltalamacchia lined to Cano to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Nix drew a lead-off, full-count walk, but Jeter grounded into a double play on the next pitch. After Granderson walked, the third free pass Doubront has issued in as many innings, Teixeira laced a hard liner to Crawford, who never had to move.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Ellsbury reached on an infield single to short, Crawford saw a few more pitches this time around and barely beat out a double-play grounder, but Pedroia was not as lucky, grounding into an inning-ending 5-4-3.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: After Cano led with a flyout to center, Swisher welcomed himself back to the Yankees lineup with a single, but got thrown out at second on a great diving stop by Ciriaco on Jones's fielder's choice. Martin walked, and Ichiro grounded to second as Doubront stranded two runners.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Yankees 0: Kuroda got every other batter out this inning, and it resulted in the Sox getting on the board first. Easy to break down.

Those who reached: Gonzalez grounded a seeing-eye single past Nix at third; Saltalamacchia walked; Sweeney laced a two-RBI double into the left-center gap.

Those who got out: Ross and Middlebrooks struck out swinging on sliders. Ciriaco stranded Sweeney at second with a weak grounder to first.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0: Kuroda worked quicker, but Doubront was equally as dominant. He got Jeter looking on a perfectly placed outside fastball, struck out Granderson swinging on a cutter, and got Teixeira to fly to right on the second pitch.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Yankees 0: Perfect start for Kuroda, and a five-pitch first. Ellsbury flied out to center, Crawford bounced weakly to third on the first pitch, and Pedroia grounded to short on a nice play from Jeter and an even nicer backhanded pick from Teixeira at first.

Pregame: With some ninth-inning resiliency and a misplayed ball from Curtis Granderson, the Sox took Saturday night's rain-delayed game at Yankee Stadium, 8-6, after Mark Teixeira smacked a game-tying homer off friend (just kidding) Vicente Padilla.

In Sunday night's primetime rubber match, Felix Doubront gets the start for Boston (10-5, 4.54 ERA), while the Yankees counter with Hiroki Kuroda (10-7, 3.34 ERA). First pitch is at 8 p.m. First comment is now. Go forth, discuss, and enjoy.

Bottom 9th and final: Red Sox 8, Yankees 6: Aceves exchanged a few words with the home-plate umpire after a fastball against Swisher missed inside, but he struck him out on the next pitch. Chavez then grounded out to first and Martin flew out to deep center to close the door.

The Sox nearly blew this one when Teixeira got the best of his rivalry with Padilla in the eighth, but a misplay in center by Granderson gave Boston the lead and the eventual win. Lester pitched well through six innings and looked sharp at times despite giving up two homers, but got the no-decision. He exited with a 6-4 lead.

Gonzalez finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs and two runs scored, and would have been more had Ichiro not made a nice diving catch to rob him of extra bases in the seventh.

Top 9th: Red Sox 8, Yankees 6: It was scored a triple, but Curtis Granderson made a bad read and consequently got all crossed up on a Ciriaco fly to center that scored Ellsbury, who walked. Pedroia then lined a sacrifice fly to left that scored Ciriaco, giving Aceves a two-run cushion.

Gonzalez singled, and Ross struck out swinging for the second time tonight.

Aceves in from the bullpen, to face Nick Swisher (pinch-hitting for Soriano after the Yankees removed their designated hitter), Chavez, and Martin.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 6: Texeira owned this exchange again. With the bad blood looming and Ibanez on first after a single, Tex launched a 2-1 pitch into left-center to tie the game. He walked out of the box and watched it sail out of the park.

After Ibanez reached to lead off the inning, Padilla struck Jeter out looking and Granderson, after two near homers that sailed just foul, whiffed on a fastball.

Padilla exited to boos and Andrew Miller came on in relief after the homer, getting Cano to ground out to short.

With Nava-Ellsbury-Ciriaco due up for the Sox, Soriano enters from the Yankees bullpen.

Top 8th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4: Phelps worked around a Middlebrooks single with strikeouts to Ross (fastball swinging), Shoppach (fastball looking), and Aviles (fastball swinging).

Padilla in from the bullpen. Teixeira is due up fourth in this inning, for what it's worth.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4: With Albers in from the bullpen, Chavez, pinch-hitting for Nix, popped out to short, Martin struck out swinging, and Ichiro grounded out to first unassisted.

Top 7th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4: Phelps got a perfect inning, setting down Ciriaco, Pedroia, and Gonzalez down in order. Gonzalez nearly had extra bases, but Ichiro tracked down his deep liner in the gap.

No more Lester. Matt Albers on to pitch.

Lester's line: 6 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, 2 HR, 101 pitches, 59 strikes.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4: Lester notched his 1,000th career strikeout after fanning both Teixeira and Cano swinging on cutters. Jones popped up to shallow left to end the inning.

The top four hitters in New York's order are 1 for 12 tonight with five strikeouts.

Sabathia is done after six. David Phelps onto pitch.

Sabathia's line: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 104 pitches, 69 strikes.

Top 6th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4: Sabathia mowed down Shoppach (pop out to Teixeira) and Aviles (full-count strikeout looking) before Nava singled up the middle. Ellsbury grounded out to second to end the inning.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4: With a five-run lead, Lester walked Jones on four straight pitches and gave up a 2-run opposite-field homer to Nix, his fourth of the season. Lester then issued a full-count walk to Martin and Ichiro, to chants of his name, laced a single to left.

Stewart, who homered in his last at bat, laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners, and Jeter grounded out to short, scoring Martin. Lester then got Granderson swinging on a 2-2 count to strand Ichiro on third.

Top 5th: Red Sox 6, Yankees 1: After two quick outs from Nava (grounder to short) and Ellsbury (strikeout looking), and after Ciriaco (single) and Pedroia (walk) reached, Gonzalez unloaded on a first-pitch slider to right field for a 3-run homer, his fourth bomb since the All-Star Break.

Ross singled, and Middlebrooks flied out to right.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Lester got Granderson looking at a cutter, the eighth pitch of the at bat, to lead off the inning and, after a sharp Texiera single up the middle, broke Cano's bat on a full-count fastball that Lester snagged and doubled up Teixeira at first.

Top 4th: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Sabathia walked Middlebrooks on five pitches but got two fielder's choice grounders from Shoppach and Aviles to end things.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1: Lester made it through New York's first eight hitters, getting Martin on a popout to right and Ichiro on a soft liner to short in the third, but Stewart tagged the fourth fastball he saw into the left-field seats to give the Yankees a run back. Stewart hadn't homered in his past 105 at bats.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 3, Yankees 0: Sabathia has himself retired eight straight since that four-hit first inning, getting Ciriaco and Pedroia to pop out to the outfield, and Gonzalez to weakly ground out to second.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 3, Yankees 0: Cano got a good swing, but lined out to Ellsbury in center. Jones skied a popout to Aviles, and Lester battled Nix, eventually striking him looking out on a 95-mph fastball. Lester had given up at least one run in the first two innings in his past 12 starts dating back to May 14, but he's scoreless here so far.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 3, Yankees 0: Aviles whiffs on another Sabathia slider, Nava strikes out on a 95-mph fastball, and, after fouling off a few 1-2 pitches, Ellsbury grounds out to third.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 3, Yankees 0: Perfect inning for Lester. Jeter grounds out to Middlebrooks, Granderson grounds out to Pedroia in the shift, and Texeira goes down swinging on three straight pitches, the last a 77-mph curve in the dirt.

Top 1st: Red Sox 3, Yankees 0: After the two-hour delay, the Sox struck first and have something cooking against Sabathia. Ellsbury went down on a check swing, but Ciriaco and Pedroia followed it up with consecutive singles to right, and Gonzalez smacked an RBI double. Pedroia and Gonzalez both made solid contact on fastballs down the middle.

Ross then popped up to shallow center, but Middlebrooks drove a first-pitch fastball to the left-center wall that scored two. With the count full, Shoppach whiffed on an 82-mph slider to end the inning.

The Sox have scored in the first inning in each of Lester's past three starts. Now he takes the mound.

Tarp update III (5:42 p.m.): Back off the field. Worst game of "Will they? Won't they?" ever. Sun starts to peek through. Sabathia getting lose out in centerfield.

Tarp update II (5:38 p.m.): It is back on the field.

Tarp update I (5:26 p.m.): It is coming off the field.

First pitch will be at approximately at 6:05 p.m.

Weather update IV (5:12 p.m.): Raining less hard than before. Still raining harder than no rain. Will update when we know more.

Weather update III: Not much of an update to give you folks. But plenty of rain. So there's that.

Weather update II: The grounds crew comes out ... to put wooden planks on the tarp. Rain starts falling hard again. Umbrellas are out, and fans are heading for cover.

Weather update: Yankees announce that the game will not begin on time. No anticipated start time yet.

Pregame: Before Friday's series opener, Bobby V remained optimistic that the Sox can still turn things around, even at the 100-game mark, and they responded with a 10-3 loss. Jon Lester (5-8, 5.46 ERA) takes the mound on the heels of his worst start ever, and will try to stop the bleeding against the Yankees and CC Sabathia (10-3, 3.30 ERA) for Saturday's late-afternoon slate.

The rain appears to have passed, for now.

Game time is at 4:05 p.m., which means comment time is at Now p.m.. Alex the Intern has your live updates on the blog. Enjoy the game folks, and have a nice Saturday.

Good afternoon. Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (49-51)
Ellsbury CF
Ciriaco DH
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ross RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Shoppach C
Aviles SS
Nava LF
Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (5-8, 5.46)

YANKEES (60-39)
Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Teixeira 1B
Cano 2B
Jones LF
Nix 3B
Martin DH
Suzuki RF
Stewart C
Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (10-3, 3.30)

Game time: 4:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: FOX / WEEI, WCBS

Red Sox vs. Sabathia: Crawford 22-69, Pedroia 10-41, Punto 8-39, Shoppach 8-28, Gonzalez 5-25, Ellsbury 6-24, Aviles 6-13, Saltalamacchia 3-12, Sweeney 1-8, Ross 0-1.

Yankees vs. Lester: Jeter 19-52, Cano 12-47, Swisher 11-38, Teixeira 11-42, Jones 7-22, Ichiro 8-29, Granderson 6-23 Nix 5-14, Ibanez 4-12, Martin 2-7, Stewart 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 1-6 against the Yankees this season, getting outscored 59-35. They have lost 11 of their last 16 games against the Yankees.

Notes: The Red Sox are 7-13 when Lester starts and the Yankees are 12-5 with Sabathia on the mound. ... The Sox have lost two straight, six of seven and 14 of 21. They are 11.5 games out of first. ... Think David Ortiz is pretty good? The Sox are hitting .219 and have scored 20 runs in their last seven games as he recovers from a strained Achilles' tendon. ... The Sox are averaging 7.4 walks per 100 plate appearances as a team. From 2007-2011, they averaged 10.0. ... Lester is 0-3, 13.32 in his last three starts, allowing 21 earned runs on 25 hits (five home runs) and 10 walks over 12.1 innings. He is 8-4, 4.33 in 18 career starts against the Yankees. ... Sabathia is 7-9, 4.14 in 20 career starts against the Sox. He was 1-4, 6.39 in five starts last season. This is his first game against the Sox this season. Sabathia is 3-0, 2.60 in his last five starts. ... The Sox are 16-24 against the AL East.

Song of the Day: "I Can't Stand Up" by Sam & Dave