BOSTON, MA: Ben Zobrist #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his home run with Joe Maddon #70 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Jeff Niemann is a good pitcher.
Jon Lester is a better pitcher, so the Red Sox were supposed to beat the Rays at Fenway Park Saturday afternoon, and essentially clinch the American League Wild Card.
Supposed to, schmupposed to: Tampa Bay 4, Boston 3.
Niemann held the Red Sox to two runs in five innings, while Lester gave up four runs in seven innings; most damagingly, Ben Zobrist drove a two-run homer into the Monster Seats in the very first inning. The Red Sox fought back against Niemann and reliever Matt Moore. But Moore, making just his second major-league appearance, limited the Sox to one run in three innings, and Joel Peralta closed out the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Sunday afternoon, the Rays and Red Sox conclude this four-game series at Fenway. With young David Price going against ancient Tim Wakefield, the Rays are supposed to win. If they do, they'll trail the Sox by only two games with 10 to play.
Supposed to, schmupposed to. (Red Sox Nation hopes, anyway.)
Poll
If the Rays beat the Red Sox in the series finale, who will win the Wild Card?
Angels (6 votes)
Rays (43 votes)
Red Sox (49 votes)
98 total votes
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