This is why Tampa Bay sucks

[_amon _ones]

Up 8 to 1 in the fourth to Boston, they end up losing 16 to 10:

BOSTON (AP) -- Mike Lowell had four hits and Kevin Youkilis hit a bases-loaded triple during a six-run sixth inning Tuesday night as the Boston Red Sox came back from a seven-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 16-10.

The Red Sox fell behind 8-1 in the fourth after Tim Wakefield was tagged by a team he has dominated throughout his career. But Boston scored four in the fourth, three in the fifth, six in the sixth and two more in the seventh -- on solo homers by David Ortiz and J.D. Drew.

Rookies Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia also homered for Boston. With the season-high 16 runs, the Red Sox maintained a five-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East and made sure they'll still be in front even if they're swept by New York in their three-game series this weekend.

Bryan Corey (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning to earn the win in Boston's biggest comeback victory since 2000.

Jon Switzer (0-1) got the last out of the fifth but allowed two runs and two hits in the sixth to give up the rest of the lead. Tampa Bay had won three straight and 13 of 17.

Carlos Pena and Brendan Harris homered for the Devil Rays, who scored four in the second against Wakefield and then chased him with one run in, two on and nobody out in the fourth. Dioner Navarro finished with a career-best four hits, while Pena, Akinori Iwamura and Josh Wilson had three hits apiece.

Wakefield had been 19-2 against the Devil Rays, and he ran off 22 consecutive scoreless innings before lasting just 3 2-3 in his previous start, against Baltimore. The Devil Rays had not scored a run on him in 20 innings before getting four in the second.

The knuckleballer gave up seven runs and 10 hits in three-plus innings on Tuesday -- his shortest start due to ineffectiveness since 2001 (he left other games because of injury and to rest for the playoffs).

Lowell had his sixth game of four or more hits -- most in the majors. Drew, a $14 million-a-year free agent, was booed after he struck out looking to end the first inning but he followed with two singles and a homer -- his first home run at Fenway Park since April 22.

Ellsbury has hit in all 11 games since being called up from the minors, and he now has three homers in the majors after hitting just two in 436 minor league at-bats this season.

Even backup catcher Kevin Cash pitched in, snapping an 0-for-12 slump with a two-run single in the fourth. He had a career-high three RBIs.

Game notes
Harris' second-inning homer was his 11th of the season, but his third in the last six games. ... Pena's fourth-inning homer was his 39th of the season and his 13th in his last 22 games. ... Tampa Bay has not won a series in Boston since 1999 (0-18-4). ... Ortiz's 218th homer as a designated hitter tied Don Baylor for fourth on the career list. ... Devil Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine had won three straight, allowing only four earned runs in 19 innings. He gave up five runs in 3 1-3 innings against Boston. ... The Red Sox hit for the cycle as a team in the sixth inning.

 

[_amon _ones]

I mean, seriously...this team has some of the best young talent in the game in Delmon Young, Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, etc., yet they have finished out of the basement once in their entire history...finishing 4th in the AL East in 2004, 3 games better than Toronto. I don't care if they are in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox...they still finish worse than the Orioles...the team with the worst owner and management in MLB. No wonder they have worse crowds than 80s era Municipal. If I was a D Rays fan, I would be 1 of only a handful, but I would have no hope that this team's management has any clue as to what they are doing. It really seems like a no win situation.

I may question Wedge at times, but at least I have faith in our management and scouting, even if our owner is a tightwad.

 

[chiefwahoo]

I was watching this game on ESPN GameCast last night (I still have hope we can catch the Red Sox for the best record) and I knew the Rays would somehow blow that big lead. That team sucks.

As you said, some nice young talent but they still finish last every year.

 

[B Mac]

I decided to sit Lowell in fantasy league last night for the first time in a few weeks as well. Doh.

 

[The Oi]

Dup.

 

[The Oi]

I mean, seriously...this team has some of the best young talent in the game in Brady Quinn, Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, etc., yet they have never finished out of the basement once in their history since expansion...finishing last in the AFC North nearly every year. I don't care if they are in the same division as the Steelers and Bengals...they still finish worse than the Ravens... I have no idea why their crowds aren't worse than 80s era Municipal. If I was a Browns fan, I would be 1 of many, but I would have no hope that this team's management has any clue as to what they are doing. It really seems like a no win situation.

I have no faith in our coach or management but have a small amount of belief in our scouting.

Just took some creative liberties with your post and made a few changes.

Point being...we are the NFL equivalent of the MLB Devil Rays and the NBA Atlanta Hawks.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Point being...we are the NFL equivalent of the MLB Devil Rays and the NBA Atlanta Hawks.

Sad but so true. We are an embarrassment of Devil Ray-ish proportions in the NFL.

 

[James]

Tampa will have a better record then Baltimore next year....True or False??

 

[TrueCavsFan23]

True,Tampa Bay will click one year,they need to throw some cash up in the air out in free agency.

 

[James]

In my opinion, i dont see how Bonds doesnt end up there, he cant play in the OF anymore, the Giants let him get the record in the Giants uniform, but the fans have to of have enough by now, how many more years are you going to settle for a shitty team because all your money is tied up in a jerk who can barely play the field? I dont see how he doesnt come over to the AL for at least 2 more years. I think Tampa would be perfect, get more fans to go see them and he wouldnt have to play LF. Sorta like what they did with Boggs back in the day. Plus he has nice weather down there. Aside from playing for the D-Rays, is that not a good situation for him or one you cant see being in?

 

[PIP]

Bonds would be fine with any AL team...

I can see him going to the Angels or A's...

 

[DDJ7777]

My buddy from high school pitches for the Rays now.. his name is Andy Sonnanstine and he's not having too bad of a rookie year for them, considering the team.

 

[James]

Well, it looks like Tampa will be looking good while doing bad next year....here are there new Uni's for 08. (Dont they change them every other year?) And they have dropped "Devil" from the nickname.

Kinda look like Kansas Citys uni's.

 

[_amon _ones]

The Tea-Bagged Gays new unis suck. Why hasn't this team been contracted yet?

 

[chiefwahoo]

Wow, those new unis are not good. And what's up with the name change? :thumbdown