Tue Jul 1 22:33:15 2008

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Garza outduels Wakefield as Rays top BoSox

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St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Matt Garza twirled seven strong innings and Dioner Navarro drove in two runs, as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox, 3-1, at Tropicana Field.

Garza (7-4) allowed one unearned run and five hits with three strikeouts for the Rays, who have captured the first two of this three-game series and moved 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston atop the American League East standings.

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits over seven innings and suffered the loss. Wakefield (5-6) struck out four and walked three in the losing effort. The only Red Sox run of the game was scored by Jacoby Ellsbury, who also notched two hits. Boston dropped its fourth straight game.

These teams have now faced each other 11 times this season -- the home team has won every game.

After the Rays opened the scoring in the home first when Carl Crawford scored on a Wakefield wild pitch, the visitors tied it up in the top of the fourth.

Ellsbury reached first on an infield single but ended up on third base due to a throwing error by Navarro. When J.D. Drew flied out, Ellsbury tagged from third and the score was knotted at 1-1.

In the bottom of the inning, though, Navarro made up for his mistake and his RBI single allowed the Rays to regain the lead. Evan Longoria's one-out infield single preceded a strikeout by Cliff Floyd. However, Longoria moved to second on another Wakefield wild pitch and scored when Navarro singled to right field.

The Red Sox threatened in the sixth with runners on first and second and two outs, but Manny Ramirez fouled out. In the seventh, Brandon Moss ripped a two- out single but was stranded after Alex Cora grounded out.

It was the top of the eighth that provided the game's biggest drama. With J.P. Howell on the mound for Tampa Bay, Ellsbury reached first on Howell's fielding error and then stole second base. Dustin Pedroia followed with a walk before Howell fanned Drew.

Grant Balfour then entered from the bullpen and issued a walk to Ramirez, which loaded the bases. Mike Lowell failed to cash in -- he grounded out to end the threat.

Tampa added an insurance run in the home eighth. Boston reliever Manny Delcarmen took the mound with two outs and runners on first and second. He was greeted by an RBI single off the bat of Navarro and Carlos Pena crossed the plate for a two-run lead. Delcarmen struck out Gabe Gross to end the inning.

Balfour remained on the hill for the ninth. He struck out Kevin Youkilis and Moss before a double into the left-field corner by Cora. But Balfour came right back and fanned Jason Varitek for his second save of 2008.

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Wakefield is 19-4 in 30 career starts against Tampa Bay...The Rays improved to 32-13 at home this season, while Boston fell to 19-26 on the road in 2008...Garza threw 102 pitches, 65 for strikes...Both teams produced six hits...It was the 35th stolen base of the season for Ellsbury, who leads the AL in steals...Wednesday's series finale is scheduled to feature a strong pitching matchup of Rays' southpaw Scott Kazmir against popular Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka...Attendance was 31,112.