The Tampa Bay Rays are even impressing Tim Wakefield.
The team with the best record in the major leagues won again Tuesday night, beating the Boston Red Sox and their knuckleballer 3-1.
Wakefield has 19 wins against Tampa Bay, the most by any pitcher against the Rays. Nine of those wins came at Tropicana Field. How things have changed.
“These guys aren’t like they used to be,” Wakefield said. “They’re pretty good over there.”
Matt Garza pitched seven strong innings in his first outing since throwing a one-hitter, and the Rays extended their lead in the AL East to a season-best 2 1/2 games over the second-place Red Sox.
“We go out there against Boston fully expecting to win,” reliever Grant Balfour said. “We’re not shocked to win a ball game. It’s really no surprise to us.”
Or to anyone else. The Rays (51-32) have won seven of eight overall and are 5-0 at home against Boston this season.
“It’s still a long road, and we have to take it day to day,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.
In other AL games on Tuesday, it was: Texas 3, New York 2; Baltimore 7, Kansas City 5; Minnesota 6, Detroit 4; Chicago 3, Cleveland 2 in 10 innings; Los Angeles 5, Oakland 3; and Seattle 7, Toronto 6.
Garza (7-4) allowed an unearned run and five hits, and Dioner Navarro snapped a fourth-inning tie with an RBI single off Wakefield (5-6).
Balfour got the last four outs, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and striking out three in the ninth, including Jason Varitek to end the game with the tying run on second base.
The Red Sox, who have struggled to score without injured slugger David Ortiz, have lost four straight for the first time since May 11-14.
“I don’t really care to talk about who we’re missing. We showed up to win and they outplayed us,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “That’s what matters to us. … Regardless of who you have out there, you either win or you don’t.”
The Red Sox squandered an opportunity in the eighth when they loaded the bases on an error and two walks.
Balfour replaced J.P. Howell with two outs and walked Manny Ramirez to load the bases, then got Mike Lowell to ground out. Balfour earned his second save in as many opportunities.
The Red Sox stranded eight runners and were 1-for-7 with men in scoring position – and that hit didn’t advance anyone.
Rangers 3, Yankees 2
Michael Young’s RBI single off Mariano Rivera (2-3) in the ninth gave the Rangers their second straight win in New York. Ian Kinsler doubled to left to lead off against Rivera, stole third – his third steal of the game – and scored on Young’s hit through a drawn-in infield.
Frank Francisco (2-2) pitched the eighth for the win. C.J. Wilson walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, but got three outs for his 19th save.
Orioles 7, Royals 5
Brian Roberts homered and Ramon Hernandez and Adam Jones both had two RBIs for Baltimore. Aubrey Huff had two hits and drove in a run for the Orioles, who built enough of a lead for closer George Sherrill.
After yielding late-inning homers Sunday and Monday, Sherrill entered with two on, one out and Baltimore up 7-3. He allowed a two-out, two-run single to Mark Grudzielanek before striking out Alex Gordon to earn his 27th save.
Radhames Liz (3-0) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings for Baltimore, which led 6-1 after three innings. Gordon and Mark Teahan homered for the Royals, whose six-game road winning streak ended.
Twins 6, Tigers 4
Craig Monroe hit a three-run homer and Justin Morneau had three hits for Minnesota, which has won eight of its last 10 and 12 of 14.
Marcus Thames hit his second homer in as many games for the Tigers, who lost for the first time in seven games.
Scott Baker (5-2) allowed three earned runs in six innings to win a third straight game for the first time in his 60-start career.
White Sox 3, Indians 2, 10 innings
Alexei Ramirez tied it with a two-out homer in the bottom of the 10th and Orlando Cabrera then won it with an RBI single as Chicago won its sixth straight.
With the White Sox trailing 2-1, Ramirez homered off closer Joe Borowski. Pinch-hitter DeWayne Wise singled, stole second and scored on Cabrera’s single off Borowski (1-3), who blew his fourth save in 10 chances.
Adam Russell (1-0) got the win by pitching one-third of an inning.
Casey Blake had given Cleveland a 2-1 lead with a homer off Matt Thornton in the top of the 10th.
Angels 5, Athletics 3
The Angels rallied in the eighth when Vladimir Guerrero tied the game with an RBI single and Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer. The win extended their AL West lead over the second-place Athletics to 4 1/2 games.
Casey Kotchman greeted Alan Embree (1-3) with a ground-rule double leading off the eighth. After a sacrifice bunt, pinch-runner Reggie Willits scored on Guerrero’s ground single through the left side. Anderson then hit his seventh homer.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 33rd save in 35 chances.
Mark Ellis gave Oakland a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth with his ninth home run.
Mariners 7, Blue Jays 6
Willie Bloomquist singled home Raul Ibanez with the winning run in the ninth inning to cap Seattle’s rally from a 6-2 deficit. Richie Sexson tied it in the eighth with a leadoff homer, his 10th – and first since May 24.
Yuniesky Betancourt had two singles and two RBIs for the Mariners. Adam Lind had three hits and three RBIs for the Blue Jays, while Vernon Wells had three hits and an RBI.
Brandon Morrow (1-1) got the victory.
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