AP News
(2009-09-03 02:54:02)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays survived a shaky eighth inning before beating the Boston Red Sox 8-5 on Wednesday and gaining some ground in the American League Wild Card race.
After allowing the Red Sox to tie the score at 5-5 in the top of the eighth, Pat Burrell's RBI single put the Rays ahead and Evan Longoria hit a two-run blast at the bottom of the same inning to cap the win. It was Longoria's 26th homer of the season.
Reliever J.P. Howell (7-4) was credited with the win while Dan Wheeler came on to record the final two outs of the game as the Rays (72-60) moved back within five games of the Red Sox.
"This is huge. We realize the importance of every game at this point, especially against teams ahead of us in the division," Longoria told reporters.
"We see (Boston's) pitchers so much there's a little bit of familiarity that gives you a little more confidence as a hitter."
Tampa Bay led 5-1 after three innings but the Red Sox scored twice in the fourth and got an RBI single from Victor Martinez in the seventh to pull within one.
Boston tied the game in the eighth -- without recording a hit -- as Rays relievers gave up two walks before Howell threw a wild pitch that allowed pinch-runner Joey Gathright to score the tying run.
Boston's Josh Beckett (14-5) allowed five runs in six innings to go winless for the fourth straight outing. He surrendered home runs to Carl Crawford and Burrell.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza allowed four runs and was relieved in the seventh inning.
The Red Sox (77-55) claimed the opener of the three-game series 8-4 on Tuesday. The rubber will be played on Thursday.
"Everything's big now," Burrell said. "We have to go for it every time we step on the field; we have a lot of ground to make up."
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
