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Monday, Aug. 28 7:15pm ET
Rekar earns first victory in a month | |||||
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will help decide who makes the AL playoffs. Mike DiFelice hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in a three-run eighth inning Monday night as Bryan Rekar pitched the Devil Rays over the Boston Red Sox 5-2. The victory opened a season-ending stretch that finds the Devil Rays playing 29 of 33 games against contenders. "It fun to play games where it means something," said Tampa Bay closer Roberto Hernandez, who got three outs for his 26th save in 32 chances. "We can play the role of spoiler. We could figure in with some of these guys." Coupled with Cleveland's 5-2 win over Texas, the loss dropped the Red Sox a half-game behind the Indians in the AL wild-card race. "None of these teams are going to roll over," Boston outfielder Trot Nixon said. "Some of these teams, maybe they struggled throughout the year, they get geared up against guys who are in pennant contention." Rekar (5-9) gave up two runs and eight hits in eight innings to win for the first time in six starts since beating Kansas City on July 28. "I was fortunate," said Rekar, who overcame a blister on his right middle finger. "I had outstanding defense behind me. I made mistakes, they hit balls hard at guys." With the score 2-all in the eighth, Fred McGriff drew a one-out walk off Hipolito Pichardo (5-3). Bobby Smith struck out, McGriff took third on Aubrey Huff's single and DiFelice doubled to right-center field. Jason Tyner added an RBI single. "I've been battling," said DiFelice, who was 7-for-61 before his go-ahead hit. "I haven't had a very good stretch lately. I actually talked to an old friend, (former teammate) Bobby Witt today. It was just about going out there, playing hard and trying to contribute. He just reminded me to go out and try and help the team anyway I can. It paid off tonight." Jason Varitek and Brian Daubach hit solo homers for the Red Sox, who lost their second straight. "You want to win every game, but sometimes the teams that are not in contention are tough to play," Daubach said. "They've got a lot of young guys trying to prove themselves and looking for a job next year. A lot of teams that don't have good records are playing the best ball right now." Tampa Bay (57-73) is 18-14 since July 25. McGriff, who leads the Devil Rays with 94 RBIs, had a run-scoring single in the first. giving him nine RBIs in seven games. Varitek opened the third with his first homer since July 31. Two batters later, Daubach put the Red Sox up 2-1 with his 20th homer, one shy of his total as a rookie last year. "It's up and down," Daubach said. "You can't get too low, though, like people like to do in Boston. We've got a lot of games to go, and all the teams that we're battling with we're playing soon. That's all you can ask for is to control your destiny." Tampa Bay tied it 2-2 in the seventh on doubles by Huff and Tyner. "It's a great win," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "It's good to see some of the kids get in the mix, but it's good we played a solid game overall." Red Sox starter Tomo Ohka, who had won his previous three starts, allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. "I'm frustrated that I gave up the tying run," said Ohka, through an interpretor. "There have been times when the team has scored a lot of runs in support of me." Boston's Nomar Garciaparra, who entered hitting an AL-best .373, went 1-for-4. His average dropped two points to .371. Game notesRed Sox manager Jimy Williams dropped RHP Tim Wakefield from the starting rotation and replaced him with Ramon Martinez, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Seattle. ... Tampa Bay RHP Dave Eiland will start Tuesday's game against Pedro Martinez. It's the third meeting between the pair since July 7, 1999. Eiland beat Martinez last July and both pitchers had a no decision when they squared earlier this month. ... Red Sox LHP Pete Schourek (left shoulder) allowed one run, two hits and struck out five over 4 1-3 innings in a minor league rehab start for Class-A Sarasota. ... The Red Sox are making their first trip to Tampa Bay Field this season. They will close out the regular season Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Tampa Bay. ... The Devil Rays have been out-homered 92-60 at home. ... Smith, who struck out with two runners on ending the sixth, is hitless in 20 at-bats. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Boston Clubhouse Tampa Bay Clubhouse RECAPS Tampa Bay 5 Boston 2
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