Red Sox beat Rays in 12, lead up to nine in AL East

Jul 29, 2007, 4:15 GMT

St. Petersburg, FL - Manny Ramirez's two-run double capped a six-run 12th inning, as the Boston Red Sox downed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12-6, in the second of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

With the score knotted at six, the Sox exploded for six runs in the top of the 12th, with most of the damage coming against reliever Brian Stokes (2-7). Mike Lowell singled and Jason Varitek and Coco Crisp walked to load the bases. Julio Lugo walked in the go-ahead run, as reliever Jae Kuk Ryu tried to prevent further damage.

Kevin Youkilis' double cleared the bases, however, and David Ortiz walked before Ramirez doubled home two more runs to seal the win as Boston moved nine games ahead of the Yankees for the top spot in the AL East.

'That wasn't easy,' Boston manager Terry Francona said. 'The final score won't tell the struggles. It was a good win.'

Lowell ended 4-for-6 for the Red Sox, who have won three straight and eight of their last nine games. Julio Lugo went 2-for-5 with two RBI and scored twice in the win.

Boston starter Jon Lester went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Kyle Snyder (2-2) scattered one hit over two innings for the win.

Jonny Gomes homered twice for the Devil Rays, who lost their eighth straight. Josh Paul also homered, and Brendan Harris finished 3-for-5 and scored a run in the loss. Tampa Bay starter James Shields surrendered three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out seven over five innings.

'In the second inning I got away from my game plan and my mechanics,' Shields said. 'I think I came back strong the last couple of innings.'

The Devil Rays tied it with two runs in the ninth off Boston closer Jonathon Papelbon. Delmon Young led off with a single to center and Gomes belted a 1-2 pitch into the left field seats. Papelbon, though, induced Josh Wilson to pop out, Greg Norton to strike out and Paul to line-out, sending the game to extra innings.

Boston scored twice in the second on an RBI single from Varitek and a base- loaded walk to Lugo.

J.D. Drew's one-out single to center in the third scored Ortiz who led off with a double to right.

The Devil Rays got on the board in the fourth on a Young sacrifice fly and Tampa Bay cut its deficit to 3-2 in the sixth on Carlos Pena's sac fly.

The Red Sox, though, scored two more runs in the seventh, on an Ortiz single and a Ramirez sac fly.

Gomes' lead-off homer to left, his ninth of the season and Paul's first homer of the year, a shot to right with two outs, again pulled the Devil Rays to within one run, 5-4 in the home half of the seventh.

Boston added a run in the eighth when Lowell scored on a Crisp force play.

Game Notes

Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon got ejected in the 11th for arguing balls and strikes...Tampa Bay dealt infielder Ty Wigginton to the Houston Astros on Saturday in exchange for relief pitcher Dan Wheeler and made a second trade sending infielder/outfielder Jorge Cantu, outfielder Shaun Cumberland and cash to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitchers Calvin Medlock, Brian Shackelford and future considerations. The Devil Rays also optioned pitcher Shawn Camp to Triple-A Durham.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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