Matt Garza shut down the Boston Red Sox and led the first place Tampa Bay Rays to another win. The Rays have won eight of their last ten games including two straight over the Red Sox. The 3-1 win moves the Rays to 51-32 on the season.
Matt Garza was the story for the Rays tonight. Garza went seven innings and gave up only an unearned run. Garza allowed only five hits and walked no one. He struck out three batters. With Troy Percival injured the Rays used JP Howell to get two outs and then used Grant Balfour to get the final four outs. Balfour picked up his second save of the season. Manny Ramirez, Mike Lowell, and Kevin Youkilis went a combined 0-11.
The Rays got on the board first in the first inning when Carl Crawford scored on a wild pitch by Tim Wakefield. In the fourth inning, with the game tied 1-1, Dioner Navarro singled in Evan Longoria to give the Rays a 2-1 lead. Navarro added another RBI single in the eighth inning to make the score 3-1. The Rays had only six hits in 30 at bats, with two of them coming from Navarro. Jason Bartlett added a double.
The Rays will look to sweep the Red Sox tomorrow night. Scott Kazmir is set to start for the Rays. Game time is 7:10pm.
