Another Home Win Sends Sox Back Into First

Early on Wednesday night it looked like Josh Beckett didn't have his good stuff, but he was able to settle down and give the Sox a solid 6-inning effort and beat the Rays.

The team's 12th win in a row at home, and second straight over the Rays, put Boston 1/2 game ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Jon Lester starts Thursday as the Sox go for the sweep of the 3-game series. Sweeping the Rays will send a message that they're not quite ready to challenge the big boys.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 5, Rays 1

Beckett allowed just 1 run on 7 hits. He had 5 strikeouts and didn't walk a batter. He seems to have found a groove as he has given up 2 runs or less in his last three starts and lowered his ERA to 4.07.

The offense stepped up again too as everyone seems to be contributing in Big Papi's absence. Drew, Ellsbury, Youk and Coco all had 2 hits each.

In the bottom of the 7th, Manny was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a sacrifice fly by Tek. Manny didn't look like he was running too hard - which we've come to expect - but why does he keep sliding to the side of the plate and trying to touch the plate with his hand? It looked like he would have been safe had he just slid at the plate.

Hopefully someone will tell Manny that the object is to touch the plate as fast as possible, kind of like when they had to tell him to stop playing 10 feet behind the shortstop last season.