ICE COLD IN TAMPA

Hell hasn't frozen over, but Tampa Bay is in first place. For the second game in a row the Boston offense was manhandled by the Rays, yes the Rays pitching staff sending it to a fifth straight defeat 3-0. And in a bizarre state of affairs, once downtrodden Tampa Bay is now in first place tied with Baltimore in the American League East after winning for a sixth straight time.


Rays starting pitcher James Shields went the distance for a dominating two-hit shutout. He struck out seven batters and walked just one. And if not for Manny Ramirez stealing second base in the fifth inning, Boston would not have had a runner in scoring position on Shields the entire game. And it goes without saying that Ramirez did not come close to crossing the plate.

That lack of run support caused Josh Beckett to fall to 2-2 on the young season. Beckett went seven innings allowing just four hits and striking out 13 batters.

It's hard to imagine that this is the same Boston club that won 10 out of 11 games recently. But that's the reality of things at the moment. A day off awaits the Red Sox before they begin a six-game homestand with Toronto and Tampa beginning on Tuesday evening.

Here's to better hitting at Fenway Park!