The Boston Red Sox got a good laugh, watching the rookies put on the “High School Musical” tank tops and thrift-store threads for the plane trip south.
OK, playtime is over. There’s a division title to be won.
Starting Monday night, the defending World Series champions open a three-game series against baseball’s biggest surprise this season, the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
“We always get a lot of fans down there so it will kind of be like a home playoff atmosphere,” Jon Lester said Sunday, after pitching the Red Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3.
Scott Kazmir will try to protect the Rays’ one-game lead over Boston when he starts against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Tampa Bay is 6-0 against the Red Sox this year at Tropicana Field.
The Rays finished a 3-6 swing to Toronto, Boston and New York with an 8-4 loss at Yankee Stadium.
“It was obviously a tough road trip,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “Not easy at all.”
downed Cleveland 13-3.
While the Rays and Red Sox both want to finish first, they have some margin for error. Boston leads the Twins by six games for the wild-card spot.
Lester (15-5) limited the Blue Jays to four hits over eight innings while outpitching Roy Halladay (18-11).
After the game, the Red Sox engaged in a longtime baseball tradition – making their rookies dress up in comical outfits for the final trip of the regular season.
It figures to be more serious once they step on the field against the Rays. Even when Tampa Bay was bad in past years, it had a rivalry with Boston that often led to bench-clearing incidents.
Earlier this month, the Rays rallied for a pair of last at-bat wins at Fenway Park.
“We kind of owe them a little bit,” Boston outfielder Jason Bay said.
Yankees 8, Rays 4
At New York, Derek Jeter homered to tie Lou Gehrig for the most career hits at Yankee Stadium and Alex Rodriguez launched a grand slam.
Jeter had his third straight three-hit game, giving him 1,269 hits at the ballpark that’s in its final season.
While the fans cheered Jeter, they booed Carl Pavano off the mound. The oft-injured pitcher left in the sixth inning with a stiff left hip. Mariano Rivera closed for his 478th save, tying Lee Smith for second on the all-time list. San Diego’s Trevor Hoffman leads with 552.
ague debut and pitched 5 1-3 impressive innings. He retired the first six batters before Jeter homered.
White Sox 4, Tigers 2, 1st game
White Sox 11, Tigers 7, 2nd game
At Chicago, DeWayne Wise hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning and the White Sox beat the Tigers to complete a doubleheader sweep after the bullpen blew a seven-run lead.
Javier Vazquez pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning of the opener. Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer in the ninth before Gary Sheffield grounded into a game-ending double play with a runner on.
Orioles 7, Twins 3
At Baltimore, Radhames Liz threw eight shutout innings and the Orioles backed him with five home runs. Nick Markakis and Oscar Salazar each homered twice, and Lou Montanez also connected.
Minnesota rookie Nick Blackburn gave up four of the home runs. The Twins totaled 24 runs in a doubleheader sweep Saturday, but were held scoreless until the ninth.
Angels 4, Mariners 3
At Anaheim, Chone Figgins hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth inning and the AL West champions finished off a four-game sweep.
Mark Teixeira hit his 200th career homer, including his 10th since being traded from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Ervin Santana reached 200 strikeouts, the first Angels pitcher to do it since Chuck Finley in 1999.
set for surgery on his wrist and shoulder this week.
Athletics 7, Rangers 4
At Oakland, Aaron Cunningham hit his first big league homer to break an eighth-inning tie. The three-run shot came with two outs, and came in his 46th at-bat since making his debut in the majors.
Royals 13, Indians 3
At Cleveland, Brian Bannister ended his nine-game losing streak by winning for the first time in 14 starts. Ryan Shealy homered twice and drove in five runs for Kansas City.
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