Rays-Red Sox: Akinori Iwamura Lifts Tampa Bay Past Boston

Edwin Jackson took to the mound for the middle game of three versus the Red Sox with the Rays fresh off their 11 inning walk-off win the night before. The Rays were looking to extend their winning streak to 5 games.

Through 7 and 2/3 innings an awfully tense game looked likely to go the way of the Red Sox thanks to an outstanding pitching performance from Clay Buchholz. That all changed when Akinori Iwamura connected on a pitch up in the zone, sending it deep over the right field wall giving the Rays a 2-1 lead they would not surrender.

This brought the Rays’ win streak to five games, and leaves them just a single game out of first which is held by the Sox-a deficit the Rays can overturn should they win Sunday, when James Shields goes up against Josh Beckett.

The Rays offence had been held to a single hit-a double in the forth by B.J. Upton before the pinch hit single by Dioner Navarro. This was followed by Akinori Iwamura’s first home run of the year, timely struck to right field, ruining Buchholtz otherwise, spectacular outing.

The biggest question going into the game, was, not if the Rays could pull off another win on the trot, but which of the two Edwin Jacksons would take the mound. That question was answered when, after 7 innings of work, he left the game to eventually receive a no-decision allowing just the one run, and lowering his E.R.A. to 3.86.

Jackson began by giving up two infield singles either side of a double play before striking out Manny Ramirez while looking strong with good control manifested by his pounding of the strike zone.

Clay Buchholz didn’t have quite as good a start, giving up back-to-back walks with two outs while running up a pitch count over 20. That would be no indicator, however, as Buchholz dug in for 6 more innings of one hit baseball before watching Navarro’s single and Iwamura’s home run to spoil what was a brilliant outing from the 23 year old pitcher.

Jackson continued well through his 7 innings allowing a respectable 5 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 4. This was all aided by a brilliant defence which turned 2 double plays in the game, with outstanding defensive plays from Jason Bartlett turning a good play for an out, Evan Longoria preventing an extra base hit, a diving stop by Carlos Pena to prevent another hit for extra bases while getting the out.

Jackson’s strong outing was backed up by the infallible bullpen. Trever Miller, Scott Dohmann and Troy Percival combined for two innings, giving up nothing but a walk, while racking up a strike out apiece. Percival came in rather abruptly following the Rays’ turn of fortunes, going from a losing to a winning situation that was highly unexpected, but pitched like the professional he is to put the Sox’s final batters down in order with his strike out coming on the final out.

All this defence came on the back of many brilliant defensive plays the night prior highlighted by two clutch double plays and diving catches by B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford.

In all it was a shame for Buchholtz to take the loss after a truly masterful performance, but one team had to win, and tonight, that team was the Tampa Bay Rays.