Matt Garza Leads Rays with Strong Pitching to Defeat Red Sox

In the rubber match between the Rays and Red Sox, Tampa used the long ball and stellar pitching from Matt Garza to take the series after losing the opener.

Tampa sent out 2008 ALCS MVP Matt Garza, and in his first start in 2009, he looked like he was in mid-season form.

Tampa native Matt Joyce got the Rays on board first in the top half of the second inning with a solo homerun into right field.

All Star third basemen Evan Longoria added to the lead with a two-run home run over the Green Monster in the top of third. Longoria went 3-for-5 on the day and was just a triple short of the cycle.

Backup catcher Shawn Riggans hit the Rays' third home run off of Red Sox pitcher Dice-K Matsuzaka in the top of the fourth to put Tampa up 4-0.

Dice-K struggled for the most part in his season opener. He pitched 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits, four runs, three homeruns, three walks, and struck out five.

However, the real hero was Matt Garza, who pitched lights out for the Rays. Garza went seven innings, allowed four hits, one run, three walks, and struck out five.

The lone run off of Garza came in the bottom of the sixth when Jason Bay's triple brought Kevin Youkilis home.

For the second consecutive game, Boston made a threat in the eigth inning. Rays reliever Brian Shouse got one out in the inning, but allowed a hit and a walk.

The Rays then called Joe Nelson from the bullpen. Nelson walked Jason Bay and then allowed a double to Mike Lowell, which scored Youkilis, but the run was charged to Shouse.

Nelson then struck out Jed Lowrie on a full count to get out of the inning, leaving two on base, including the tying run at second.

In the top of the ninth, Hideki Okajima got the first two Rays hitters out easily before allowing two walks and a base hit to load the bases with two outs.

Justin Masterson came in to face pinch hitter Gabe Kapler and got Kapler to fly out to Jacoby Ellsbury to get Boston out of the jam.

The Rays brought in closer Troy Percival for the bottom of the ninth. The first batter he faced was Jason Varitek, who hit a solo homerun to right field to bring the Red Sox within one.

Percival then got the next two hitters out before walking David Ortiz. Percival was able to get Kevin Youkilis to fly out to Gabe Kapler to finish off the threat and the game.

Tampa will travel to play Baltimore tomorrow night, while Boston will head out west to play the Angels.