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Six-run 12th lifts Red Sox over Devil Rays

Jul 29, 2007 - 5:14 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- It took a few extra innings, but the Boston Red Sox managed to extend their lead in the American League East while prolonging the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' misery.

The Red Sox scored six runs in the 12th inning to earn a 12-6 victory over the Devil Rays on Saturday.

Tampa Bay relievers allowed four walks, along with three hits, in the fateful 12th frame en route to their eighth straight loss.

The win, coupled with a loss by the New York Yankees, increased Boston's lead in the division to nine games.

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

Righthander Brian Stokes (2-7) began the 12th for the Devil Rays and yielded a one-out single to Mike Lowell before walking Jason Varitek and Coco Crisp. Alex Cora grounded into a forceout, but Stokes walked Julio Lugo with the bases loaded to force in the tie-breaking run.

"It was nice to get that run," Lugo said. "To get that win."

Kevin Youkilis, who had been hitting a paltry .189 since the All-Star break coming into Saturday's contest, greeted reliever Jae Kuk Ryu with a bases-clearing double into the gap in right-center field, pushing the advantage to 10-6. The Red Sox added two more on Manny Ramirez's RBI double.

"To tack on runs was great," Francona said.

The big inning made a winner out of righthander Kyle Snyder (2-2), who pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

The game looked to be over in the ninth when All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon strode to the mound with a 6-4 lead, but the 26-year-old righthander yielded a leadoff single to Tampa Bay's Delmon Young.

Jonny Gomes followed by crushing Papelbon's 2-2 offering just inside the left field foul pole to tie the score.

"The main focus in the bullpen was get everyone out," Snyder said. "We have the best closer in baseball, but it's a funny game. It's never a sure thing. As soon as that happened (Tampa Bay tied it in the ninth), I knew there was a good chance I would get the ball in the 10th."

Gomes' heroics stole a win away from Boston starter Jon Lester, who continued his remarkable comeback from cancer and, in turn, hoped it improved his chances to stay in the majors.

The lefthander, who was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma only 11 months ago, allowed four runs and six hits, walked one and struck out three in 6 2/3 innings

"I thought Lester was pretty good," Francona said.

On Monday, in Lester's first major league start since being diagnosed with the treatable form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, he limited Cleveland to two runs in six innings.

"It seemed my start went slower than my previous one," Lester said.

Against Tampa Bay, Lester was in control most of the night - allowing only two sacrifice flies through six innings - before leaving in the seventh after allowing a pair of solo home runs.

The 23-year-old lefthander, who was called up from Class AAA Pawtucket on Monday, is making a push to stay with the Red Sox. When Curt Schilling returns from the disabled list August 5 or August 6, Lester or Kason Gabbard is expected to be sent down.

With the Red Sox leading, 5-2, entering the bottom of the seventh, Gomes and Josh Paul hit solo home runs to chase Lester.

"On Gomes my location was off, but Paul did a good job of hitting," Lester said.

James Shields, who was tagged for 10 earned runs in Sunday's 21-4 loss at the Yankees, fared much better. He allowed only three runs in five innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.

"Tonight was a tough loss for us, but we have Kaz (Scott Kazmir) on the bump (Sunday)," Shields said. "I give our team a lot of credit for battling through it. It's tough, we're going through a lot of struggles but we're going to fight to the end."

Grant Balfour, acquired in a trade with Milwaukee Friday, relieved Shields. Balfour surrendered two runs in two innings.

Before the game, the Devil Rays traded designated hitter Ty Wigginton to Houston for righthanded reliever Dan Wheeler and second baseman Jorge Cantu along with Class AA Montgomery outfielder Shaun Cumberland and cash to Cincinnati for a pair of minor league pitchers - lefthander Brian Shackelford and righthander Calvin Medlock.

Wigginton was hitting .275 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI.

"He's done so much for us over the past year and a half, we're going to miss the way he plays and prepares," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

The Red Sox won for the eighth time in their last nine games, while Tampa Bay fell to 5-25 in its past 30 contests.