Rays Win Heartbreaker, Walkoff (8/28/10)

After Jon Lester defeated David Price in game 1, game 2 offered a matchup of the leading Cy Young frontrunner Clay Buchholz and Red Sox killer Matt Garza. In the end it was the bullpen that faltered for the Red Sox aided by Tampa's newfound magic and a costly managerial decision.

For 7 innings the pitcher's duel lived up to its billing. Clay Buchholz didn't allow a hit through the first three innings and also got some defensive help. In the top of the second, Ryan Kalish made a diving catch that harked to the days of Fred Lynn to keep the game scoreless. Meanwhile Garza kept the Sox off the board through the first 3 innings, allowing a run in the 4th and then was spotless for the next 3.

In the top of the 4th the Red Sox finally broke through on Garza. Victor Martinez led off with a single and David Ortiz doubled to put runners in scoring position. Adrian Beltre hit a sac fly that scored Martinez to give the Sox their first lead of the game 1-0. Mike Lowell then hit a rocket but it was at Carl Crawford for the second out. Daniel Nava then hit a lazy fly ball to Crawford to end the inning. Now it was up to Buchholz to preserve the lead.

For the next 3 innings he could. In the bottom of the 4th he got help from his defense in the form of Martinez gunning Longoria down at second base. In the top of the 5th he worked around a leadoff hit to retire the side.

Meanwhile Garza was just as dominant. The Sox threatened in the 6th when Victor Martinez singled and Ortiz walked following a JD Drew groundout. Then Adrian Beltre banged into a double play to get Garza out of the jam and keep the game 1-0.

In the top of the 7th the Sox almost lost Lowell after he flipped the bat following a strike out, but he stayed. Daniel Nava then almost homered but Upton ran the fly ball down. The string of "almosts" ended when Ryan Kalish hit a blooper over the head of second basemen Ben Zobrist for a base hit. Then Bill Hall swung at air for Garza's 3rd K of the game in 7 innings of work.

In the bottom of the 7th, Evan Longoria got a base hit to left to lead off the inning. Longoria was erased on a fielder's choice by Carlos Pena. Then the Ray's magic came through when Buchholz threw the ball away on a pickoff allowing Pena to reach third. Then a questionable decision by JD Drew tied the game when he caught a ball in foul territory that allowed Pena to score. Letting it go would have kept the game tied and given Buchholz a chance for the strikeout, but as it stood the game was now tied. Dan Johnson grounded out to end the inning but the lead was gone.

In the top of the 8th, Joaquin Benoit relieved Garza. Benoit managed to get Scutaro to ground out and JD Drew to whiff badly bringing up last night's hero Victor Martinez. Last night's hero turned into tonight's hero when Martinez launched his 13th homer of the year into the right field seats to give the Sox the lead back. David Ortiz then singled through the shift and Adrian Beltre got on base with a broken bat single but Lowell popped up to end the inning.

Then Sox manager Terry Francona had to make his toughest decision all season, send Buchholz back to the mound after 107 pitches or bring in rookie Felix Doubront. Francona's decision ended up being fatal when BJ Upton homered off Buchholz to start the 8th inning. After Jason Bartlett popped up, Francona lifted Clay for Doubront. Kelly Shoppach pinch hit for Jaso and was struck out by Felix but Zobrist singled. Doubront recovered to get Crawford to pop up but the damage had been done. In the top of the 9th, Rays closer Rafael Soriano effortlessly shut the Sox down as Nava, Kalish and pinch hitter Jed Lowrie all popped up.

Then it was on to the bottom of the 9th where Daniel Bard took the mound. Bard struck out Longoria on 2 fastballs and then a slider then got walkoff threat Carlos Pena to ground out. A ground out by Joyce sent the game into extra innings. Chad Qualls replaced Soriano in the top of the 10th and got the first 2 outs easily. Then the Sox caught a bit of luck when Victor Martinez looked to foul a ball off his foot when the replays showed he didn't. Then the ump blew a sure strike 3 call followed by Martinez hitting a ball that froze Bartlett ending up his 4th hit of the night. Randy Choate (4-3, 4.54 ERA) then replaced Qualls and got Ortiz to fly out, effectively ending the game offensively for Boston.

In the bottom of the 10th, Scott Atchinson (2-2, 4.23 ERA) relieved and immediately gave up a walk-off home run to light hitting Dan Johnson to end the game and possibly the Red Sox post-season hopes. The Yankees held off a late charge by the Tigers to push the Sox 5.5 games behind everyone. Tomorrow night John Lackey (12-7, 4.51 ERA) takes on James Shields (12-11, 4.76 ERA) in the rubber game.