ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - The Boston Red Sox have taken the
opener of the American League Championship Series with a tense 2-0
victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka did not allow a hit
through six innings. Carl Crawford broke up his no-hit bid with a
single to lead off the single. But Matsuzaka got out of that
two-on, no-out jam.
The Japanese hurler struck out nine and walked four in blanking
the Rays on four hits in seven-plus innings. The Boston bullpen
finished the shutout with Jonathan Papelbon earning the save with a
scoreless ninth.
The Red Sox broke a scoreless duel with a run in the fifth.
Jason Bay opened with a walk. Mark Kotsay, trying to check his
swing, hit an excuse-me opposite field double to move Bay to third.
Jed Lowrie plated the first run with a sacrifice fly to right off
Rays starter James Shields.
Shields allowed two runs on six hits in seven and a-third
innings and took the loss.
In the eighth, Kevin Youkilis drove in an insurance run with a
sinking line drive that Crawford got a glove on but couldn't hold.
Game Two is Saturday night. Scott Kazmir pitches for Tampa Bay
against Josh Beckett of the Red Sox in a matchup of 12-game
winners.