MEET THE GO-GO SOX

With their most significant run producer on the shelf for at least a month, and maybe more the Red Sox are starting the process of life without David Ortiz. That different identity looks like Boston might turn into a bit of a track team. And for the time being that go-go style of play enabled Boston to reclaim first place in the American League Eastern Division. On Wednesday evening against Tampa Bay, Red Sox manager Terry Francona put runners in motion trying to create scoring opportunities and his strategy paid off with a 5-1 victory allowing Boston to leap ahead of the Rays in the standings.

In the third inning Francona had Coco Crisp running from first base to stay out of a double play. Crisp arrived at second base without a play as Julio Lugo's grounder to shortstop only produced a play at first base for one out. Jacoby Ellsbury then singled to score Crisp for a 1-0 lead. Ellsbury was set to steal and ended up on second base when starting pitcher Edwin Jackson's pickoff attempt got past his first baseman. Ellsbury scored on J. D. Drew's ground-rule double.

The Sox led 3-0 heading into the the fourth when Kevin Youkilis singled to open the inning. Francona then put a hit-and-run play on with Jason Varitek at the plate. Varitek hit the ball through the vacated left side of the infield as Tampa shortstop Jason Bartlett was moving to cover second base with Youk running. The Boston runner ended up on third base and scored one batter later on Crisp's sac fly for a 4-0 lead.

The Sox stole a pair of bases on the evening and were aggressive all evening on the basepaths. It's a clear sign that Francona is not going to wait for the Red Sox bats to bunch hits together each and every game. He has good speed and baserunning with Ellsbury, Drew, Crisp & Lugo in the lineup. It's clear that Francona isn't going to be afraid to rework the Sox attack when they are at-bat while they wait for what they hope is good news on the Ortiz front in the coming weeks.

BECKETT STEPS UP

Josh Beckett has struggled in the early stages of the season. heading into his matchup with Tampa his record was a very ordinary 5-4 with a 4.30 era. However, Beckett stepped into the spotlight with first place on the line and reminded everyone of what a big game pitcher he is. Beckett tossed six inings of one-run baseball to keep the Tampa bats silent. The Rays managed seven hits off the Red Sox staff ace, but despite not having his best stuff Beckett never allowed the opposition to put together a big inning. Beckett struck out five batters and did not walk a batter while throwing 92 pitches.

Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and Craig Hansen closed the game out allowing just one hit over the final three frames.