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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will help
decide who makes the AL playoffs.
Mike DiFelice hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in a three-run
eighth inning Monday night as Bryan Rekar pitched the Devil Rays
over the Boston Red Sox 5-2.
The victory opened a season-ending stretch that finds the Devil
Rays playing 29 of 33 games against contenders.
"It fun to play games where it means something," said Tampa
Bay closer Roberto Hernandez, who got three outs for his 26th save
in 32 chances. "We can play the role of spoiler. We could figure
in with some of these guys."
Coupled with Cleveland's 5-2 win over Texas, the loss dropped
the Red Sox a half-game behind the Indians in the AL wild-card
race.
"None of these teams are going to roll over," Boston
outfielder Trot Nixon said. "Some of these teams, maybe they
struggled throughout the year, they get geared up against guys who
are in pennant contention."
Rekar (5-9) gave up two runs and eight hits in eight innings to
win for the first time in six starts since beating Kansas City on
July 28.
"I was fortunate," said Rekar, who overcame a blister on his
right middle finger. "I had outstanding defense behind me. I made
mistakes, they hit balls hard at guys."
With the score 2-all in the eighth, Fred McGriff drew a one-out
walk off Hipolito Pichardo (5-3). Bobby Smith struck out, McGriff
took third on Aubrey Huff's single and DiFelice doubled to
right-center field. Jason Tyner added an RBI single.
"I've been battling," said DiFelice, who was 7-for-61 before
his go-ahead hit. "I haven't had a very good stretch lately. I
actually talked to an old friend, (former teammate) Bobby Witt
today. It was just about going out there, playing hard and trying
to contribute. He just reminded me to go out and try and help the
team anyway I can. It paid off tonight."
Jason Varitek and Brian Daubach hit solo homers for the Red Sox,
who lost their second straight.
"You want to win every game, but sometimes the teams that are
not in contention are tough to play," Daubach said. "They've got
a lot of young guys trying to prove themselves and looking for a
job next year. A lot of teams that don't have good records are
playing the best ball right now."
Tampa Bay (57-73) is 18-14 since July 25.
McGriff, who leads the Devil Rays with 94 RBIs, had a
run-scoring single in the first. giving him nine RBIs in seven
games.
Varitek opened the third with his first homer since July 31. Two
batters later, Daubach put the Red Sox up 2-1 with his 20th homer,
one shy of his total as a rookie last year.
"It's up and down," Daubach said. "You can't get too low,
though, like people like to do in Boston. We've got a lot of games
to go, and all the teams that we're battling with we're playing
soon. That's all you can ask for is to control your destiny."
Tampa Bay tied it 2-2 in the seventh on doubles by Huff and
Tyner.
"It's a great win," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said.
"It's good to see some of the kids get in the mix, but it's good
we played a solid game overall."
Red Sox starter Tomo Ohka, who had won his previous three
starts, allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"I'm frustrated that I gave up the tying run," said Ohka,
through an interpretor. "There have been times when the team has
scored a lot of runs in support of me."
Boston's Nomar Garciaparra, who entered hitting an AL-best .373,
went 1-for-4. His average dropped two points to .371.
Game notes
Red Sox manager Jimy Williams dropped RHP Tim Wakefield
from the starting rotation and replaced him with Ramon Martinez,
who is scheduled to start Saturday against Seattle. ... Tampa Bay
RHP Dave Eiland will start Tuesday's game against Pedro Martinez.
It's the third meeting between the pair since July 7, 1999. Eiland
beat Martinez last July and both pitchers had a no decision when
they squared earlier this month. ... Red Sox LHP Pete Schourek
(left shoulder) allowed one run, two hits and struck out five over
4 1-3 innings in a minor league rehab start for Class-A Sarasota.
... The Red Sox are making their first trip to Tampa Bay Field this
season. They will close out the regular season Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at
Tampa Bay. ... The Devil Rays have been out-homered 92-60 at home.
... Smith, who struck out with two runners on ending the sixth, is
hitless in 20 at-bats.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
RECAPS
Tampa Bay 5
Boston 2
Cleveland 5
Texas 2
Toronto 4
Anaheim 2
Oakland 3
Chi. White Sox 0
NY Yankees 9
Seattle 1
St. Louis 5
Florida 2
Montreal 9
Arizona 5
San Francisco 5
Pittsburgh 4
NY Mets 4
Houston 2
Philadelphia 3
Colorado 2
Cincinnati 6
Atlanta 3
San Diego 8
Chicago Cubs 2
Los Angeles 5
Milwaukee 3
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