Rays acquire Chad Bradford.

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-handed reliever Chad Bradford from the Baltimore Orioles today to bolster their bullpen for the pennat chase. Bradford, a submariner, has pitched for five teams in his career, including the Red Sox in 2005.

Bradford has had a solid season this season, with a 2.45 ERA, but opposing hitters are batting .279 against him (considerably higher than his career-worst of .260). The Rays claimed him off waivers and then acquired him from the Orioles for the proverbial “player to be named later”.

Bradford was very attractive to teams fighting for the post-season in large part because he has pitched more playoff innings without allowing a run than any active relief pitcher in baseball — he has a 0.00 ERA in 17 playoff games spanning 15 1/3 innings.

Red Sox back in first

Before the Red Sox began their series against the Minnesota Twins last Monday (July 7) it looked like the battle for the Wild Card was about to start. They were 5 games in back of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox swept the Twins and took two out of three; the Rays meanwhile ran off on a six-game losing streak, coming back down to earth. The Red Sox ended Sunday ahead of the Rays by 1/2 game. Amazing.

Dice-K 0's Os for six innings

July 14. BOSTON, MA -- Matsuzaka pitched the Red Sox into first place handing the Orioles a 2-1 loss. Last Monday, the Sox were 5 games behind Tampa Bay and started a six-game homestand. They swept the Twins and took 2 out of 3 from Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Rays lost 6 consecutive games.

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and five walks while improving his record to 10-1. Jonathan Papelbon escaped in the ninth for his 28th save of the season and 100th of his career.

The Red Sox moved a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay and took the division lead for the first time since June 28. Boston trailed by a season-high five games last weekend, then won five of six while the Rays lost seven in a row. "I was talking trash to my teammates to make sure they got back in first place before I came back," Ortiz said. "I can't wait to start playing again and I am feeling good." Ortiz has missed 39 games because of an injured wrist. The All-Star slugger is expected to return in time for a series against the rival New York Yankees on July 25.

Matsuzaka helped himself by snaring Melvin Mora's hard comebacker with the bases loaded to end the fifth, and has given up just one run in his last 23 1/3 innings. Only twice in 16 starts has he allowed more than three runs. Even with his impressive record and a 2.65 ERA, Matsuzaka is not among the Red Sox representatives in the All-Star Game. Opponents are 0-for-11 this season with the bases loaded against Matsuzaka.

So, What is Ailing Manny? - Sox lose 3-1

July 1. Tampa Bay, FL The Red Sox dropped another game to the 'mighty' Tampa Bay Rowdies, I mean Rays. Matt Garza pitched seven strong innings in his first outing since throwing a one-hitter, and the Rays beat Boston and nemesis Tim Wakefield 3-1 on Tuesday night to extend their lead in the division to a season-best 2½ games over the second-place Red Sox. Nothing more to say about this loss.

Lately, the Sox offense has been lethargic. Seems like we are just getting contributions from perhaps one or two hitters per game. Hopefully, Ellsbury will come out of his 'June swoon.' His hitting is in a funk right now, so obviously he's not running, stealing bases and distracting whoever is on the hill. We need Biggg Papi. Looks like he won't be back until late July... I hope. We need him to liven up the joint.

This brings us to Mannnnnny Rummmmeeerez. Something is really troubling him. He has been quite temperamental, going off on a number of individuals. He's all wound up, that's for sure. In the past, he's been somewhat 'quiet' in a number of ways. He was very good friends with Julian Tavarez and I think that he's upset that he is gone. The Sox have dumped other Manny companions over the year's also. I guess watching Pedro head for the Sour Apple did a number on him back then.

The Sox are missing that fighting spirit. They have 'pretended' to forget what happened in Boston with the Rowdies (I mean Rays) and at times they seem like a bunch of zombies. I know what 'happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse' and that's an excellent policy. Try to keep the freaking nosy media out of their faces. We are slip-sliding away but the ship will be righted by the All-Star break. Is a split in New Yock the best we can hope for...is that out of the question? Yankees are rolling and if we don't get things turned around soon, we could have them only a game or two in back of us by the end of the weekend AND the Rays could be 7-8 games ahead of us and have all the momentum in the world. We need a good fight but we just can't afford more suspensions. Need to get everybody back and healthy. Maybe Tito will get tossed tonight and fire up these suckers.

Red Sox..... please line up and give Manny a hug today and tell him "I love you, Manny. Hit one for the gipper today"

Gotta start winning!!!

Oh gosh..... I woke up this morning and the Red Sox are really 1 1/2 games in back of the Rays. Thought it might be a nightmare but in all actuality, IT IS. I thought Tampa Bay would fall weeks ago, but they are at the point now where they are gaining confidence with every win and their hard-fought losses. This team is rolling. And the fact that Sox players made comments against them, really fires them up. I can see them making the playoffs, (hopefully) beating out the Spankees for that wildcard spot. The division? It took so many years for us to take that away from New York, I'd hate to give it up so quickly. Have to rest in our laurels for a few years.

However, Manny is Manny and the Yankees are The Yankees and they will go out and spend money on another starting pitcher or mid-relief in July if they begin to falter again. Too bad Joba (the hud) is doing so good. Wasn't anticipating that. Hopefully it would have thrown things into disarray, but he is a major element in 'stabilizing' their rotation. When and if Senior Citizen Rivera retires, he could move over to that role. Unfortunately and I'd hate to admit it, but he'd be damm good.

Tough Week ahead for Sox

Hopefully, it'll be a tougher week for the Tampa Bay Rays and the N.Y. Yankees.

The Red Sox have come to a critical juncture this coming week. Having tail-spinned into second place, 1/2 game behind the Rays and 5 games ahead of the week, the Red Sox are in what amounts to must-win situations. They Rays just will not go away and apparently, they are for real. The Yankees are close behind and making a run at the Red Sox, who will play 4 important games in Yankee Stadium

Monday's matchup:

Boston Red Sox (50-34) at Tampa Bay Rays (49-32) .... Rookie Justin Masterson (4-1 3.43) goes up against James Shields (5-5 3.76) for the Rays. Big Papi is still on the DL, where it looks like he will remain until after the All Star break. Pedroia is smokin, J. D. Drew has done a great job taking Ortiz' place in the 3 spot and has had a great month...Youk has been hot at times. Manny has cooled off the past couple weeks, but he put one out today and our pitching staff is okay at times, middle relief being the big problem right now.

Feuding Rays

Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza and Catcher Dioner Navarro had to be separated in the dugout -- minutes after an angry confrontation on the mound -- in a 6-3 loss at Texas in which Tampa Bay missed a chance for its first series sweep on the road this season.

8 Players suspended from Red Sox and Rays

Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp, Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields were among eight players suspended on Friday following altercations Thursday at Fenway Park. Three Red Sox were suspended, Crisp (7 games), pitcher John Lester (5 games) and Sean Casey (3 games) Bob Watson also suspended 5 Rays; Shields (5 games), Jonny Gomes and Edwin Jackson for five games each, Carl Crawford (4 games) and Akinori Iwamura (3 games). All eight players were fined also. Crisp, who made a hard slide into Iwamura on Wednesday night, was hit by a pitch from Shields the first time he came up Thursday night and charged the mound. Crisp and Shields threw punches, and mayhem followed.

Sox are back in first!!!! Beat Tampa Bay 5-1

Josh Beckett picked up his sixth win of the year as he allowed a run in six strong innings and the Boston Red Sox won their 12th straight home game to take the AL East lead from Tampa Bay with a 5-1 win over the Rays on Wednesday night. In his six innings of work, Josh allowed 7 hits, walked none and struck out five lowering his ERA to 4.07

In the sixth inning Beckett's left foot slipped on a pitch to Floyd, but managed to stay in the game to strike him out. DelCarmen came on in the 7th and was impressive, striking out three. The Red Sox improved their major league best home record to 23-5.

Papi-less Sox down Rays 7-4

The Red Sox pulled to within a half-game of the suprising Tampa Bay Rays with a 7-4 victory in their return to Fenway Park. The Red Sox kept winning at home even without David Ortiz. Coco Crisp hit a tie-breaking double and Boston won the matchup of the AL East's top two teams with a 7-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Crisp snapped a 1-for-25 slump with the two-run double in a four-run sixth inning and Jacoby Ellsbury followed with a sacrifice fly.

Justin Masterson (2-0) allowed four runs in six innings and Craig Hansen got out of a first-and-second jam with no outs in the eighth by retiring the next three batters. Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 19 opportunities.