Sox Slug Their Way To A First Place Tie

For the first time since the day after the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox have found themselves in a tie for first place atop the AL East. The long ball led the way for Boston, with a total of six players going deep. Leading the way was David Ortiz, who hit a 3 run bomb in the first inning, followed my Mike Lowell, also in the first. Jason Bay hit a shot in the 4th inning with Jason Varitek and Kevin Youkilis following suit in the same frame. Jacoby Ellsbury hit the final sox homer in the 5th inning. Dustin Pedroia also added an RBI.

Pitching wise, Disuke Matsuzaka picked up his 17th win, going 5 innings with 7 strikeouts. Tampa stater Scott Kazmir didn't fare as well, going 3+ innings, giving up 4 homers and 4 walks.

This is a rough start for the Rays in what could be called their most important homestand in franchise history. They have two games remaining with Boston, then wild-card hopeful Minnesota comes in for a four game series. If the Rays start to slide, the eyes of the Twins will be wide open, looking for the last spot in the playoffs.

Lester Pitches Sox Within 1

Johan Santana to Boston for Jon Lester, Jed Lowrie, and Michael Bowden. Thats all it would have taken to land one of the most dominant pitchers Major League Baseball has seen in years. All winter media outlets all across the country wondered why the Red Sox would not bite on this deal. Many assumed they were just waiting out the Twins hoping to lower their price, others simply thought they would cave and give in to the outcry by the Boston fans for the once in a lifetime chance to acquire a talent like Santana. Instead, GM Theo Epstein stood firm behind his belief that the key to success for the Red Sox both short and long term rested firmly with the organization's young stud prospects. Many questioned, some called him crazy, but in the end it is Epstein who is having the last laugh.

Jon Lester pitched eight innings of four hit baseball on Sunday, outdueling one of the game's top pitchers in Roy Halladay en route to a 4-3 Sox win. In the heat of a pennant race it was been the youngsters like Lester who have been the difference. The win moves Lester to 15-5 with a 3.15 era. Not bad when you consider that Johan Santana, the star who Lester was almost traded for, is 13-7 with a 2.70 era. And oh by the way, the other major piece to that proposed deal, Jed Lowrie, has been a spark plug for the Sox both offensively and defensively since his call up replacing Julio Lugo as the everyday shortstop, has nearly a .400 on base percentage while committing zero errors in 68 games.

Sunday's win moves Boston just one game back of the first place Tampa Bay Rays, a team who just will not go away. How many times has it appeared that the Rays' run was about to end only to see them kick it back into gear and maintain their lead? Looking back over the past month of entries on this site alone will show just how impressive their run has been. They too have been led by some young stars of their own, all coming together to will the team to victory. That, however, can all change on Monday when the Sox and Rays open up a three game series in Tampa Bay. It is a chance for Boston to take over the AL East lead for the first time since June.

Then again, the Sox are 0-6 at Tropicana Stadium this season.

Only time will tell how this season will shake out. Either way, it is time to put up or shut up for both teams. Time to let young guys do the talking.