Pedro got the ball in the top of the first and Gerald Williams struck out swinging to start. Steve Cox also went down hacking but Greg Vaughn walked. Fred McGriff went down hacking to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Rays starter Albie Lopez in the bottom of the first although Darren Lewis flied out to right to start. Jose Offerman doubled to right but Carl Everett struck out swinging. Manny Ramirez continued his hot streak with a base hit to center to score Offerman, giving the Sox the lead. Trot Nixon walked but Jason Varitek grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Ben Grieve led off the top of the second by striking out swinging before Vinny Castilla drew a walk. Bob Smith took strike three and Mike Difelice went down hacking to end the inning. Lopez cruised in the bottom of the second as Shea Hillenbrand grounded out to second to start. Brian Daubach went down swinging and Craig Grebeck popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning.
Felix Martinez grounded out to second to start the top of the third before Williams struck out swinging again. Cox popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the third although Lewis flied out to center to start. Offerman and Everett drew back to back walks then moved into scoring position on a balk. Ramirez whiffed and Nixon popped up to short to end the inning.
Vaughn walked to start the top of the fourth but McGriff took strike three. Grieve banged into a double play to end the inning. Lopez cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Varitek grounded out to short to start. Hillenbrand went down hacking and Daubach flied out to center to end the inning.
Castilla grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth and Smith swung and missed for strike three. Difelice struck out swinging to end the inning and Pedro was 12 outs away from a no hitter. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fifth although Grebeck whiffed to start. Lewis hit one up the elevator shaft but Offerman walked. Everett doubled off the Monster to score Offerman with another run and Ramirez walked. Nixon flied out to right to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.
Martinez broke up Pedro's no-no with a base hit to center to start the top of the sixth. Williams flied out to right, Cox flied out to left and Vaughn struck out swinging to end the inning. Varitek grounded out to third to start the bottom of the sixth but Hillenbrand doubled to left. Daubach whiffed and Grebeck flied out to right to end the inning.
McGriff singled to right to start the top of the seventh but that just made Pedro mad. Grieve took strike three, Castilla swung and missed for strike three and Smith was frozen for strike three to end the inning. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the seventh although Lewis flied out to center to start. Offerman popped up to short but Everett doubled to right. Who else but Ramirez singled home Carl to increase the lead? Nixon grounded out to first to end the inning but it was 3-0 Sox.
Pedro returned for one last inning in the top of the eighth and Defelice whiffed to start. Martinez caught Daubach asleep with a bunt single and moved to second on the Williams ground out. Cox whiffed to end the inning and Pedro's day. He was masterful, tossing 8 shutout innings while striking out 16 Rays.
Esteban Yan came in for the bottom of the eighth and Varitek grounded back to the mound to start. Hillenbrand singled to left and moved to second on the Daubach grounder. Grebeck took strike three to end the inning.
Derek Lowe came on to close out the top of the ninth and Vaughn grounded out to third to start. McGriff singled to center but Grieve took strike three. Castilla forced McGriff at second to end the game. The Sox had won their third game in a row with a 3-0 win over Tampa.
Hero of the Night is Pedro Martinez. He tossed 8 shutout innings while striking out 16 batters on just 3 hits.
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.
Carl Everett was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Manny Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 rbis.
Shea Hillenbrand was 2 for 4.
Derek Lowe notched his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Darren Lewis was 0 for 4.
Jason Varitek was 0 for 4.
Brian Daubach was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Craig Grebeck was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Trot Nixon was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Its a shame the Red Sox don't have all their pieces yet. Imagine if they had a healthy Nomar Garciaparra and healthy David Cone right now? Everett and Ramirez are carrying the offense and Martinez was once again dominant. Granted, they swept the lowly Devil Rays but its a better showing than what they had against Baltimore, especially from Lowe. Hell if Lowe didn't blow those two saves, they'd be 6-0 right now. Still, the Sox need to keep this momentum going as long as they can and as long as Manny or Everett don't get hurt, this team looks to be in good shape. Rich Garces, Rod Beck and Derek Lowe could be Boston's version of Mike Stanton, Ramiro Mendoza and Mariano Rivera although comparing Lowe to Rivera is absurd. Bottom line was the last 3 games really picked up the atmosphere and hopefully that translates to success in Boston's next series. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles again. Hideo Nomo (1-0, 0.00 ERA) looks to beat the Orioles again when he faces O's ace Sidney Ponson. The game begins at 6:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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