Weekend Update: Offense Returns, Sox Sweep Rays

Friday

Red Sox 7
Rays 3

Saturday

Red Sox 12
Rays 4

Sunday

Red Sox 7
Rays 3

After scoring just four runs in their last five games, the Red Sox entered the weekend with a three game set against the Rays. Despite having to face the Rays' best starters: Jackson, Shields and Kazmir, the Red Sox offense started clicking again.

On Friday Clay Buchholz out pitched Edwin Jackson and Brandon Moss started a 5-run 4th with his second ML homer of the year. Pedroia has 3 hits and 3 RBIs while the bottom of the line up: Moss (2-4, HR, 2 R RBI), Varitek (2-4, 2B, R, RBI) and Lugo (2-3, 2B, 2 R, BB) did most of the damage. Strangely, Manny went 0-5 with three strikeouts.

BL Hero: Dustin Pedroia drove in the first run of the game. Then he drove in two more with 2 outs in the 4th, snuck into 2nd on the throw to the plate and scored on Ortiz's single.

On Saturday, Manny would redeem himself. James Sheilds, who threw a complete game 2-hitter against the Sox in his last start, would be chased after 3 2/3. He gave up 7 runs and 10 hits.

Ortiz and Manny got it started driving in a pair of runs in the first after an RBI double from Big Papi. But the entire offense would ignite before this one was through... Every starter had at least one hit and Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz and Drew all had multi-hit games.

Meanwhile, Josh Beckett turned in another solid outing, going 8 innings and fanning 5.

BL Hero: David Ortiz had two doubles and two RBI on three hits - pushing his average over the .200 mark (.216) for the first time in 2008.

Then on Sunday, the Sox had a chance to return the favor and sweep the Rays. They did not watse it. They had to beat lefty Sox killer Scott Kazmir in his return from the DL, and they did - chasing him after just 4 innings and tagging him for 4 runs (3 earned). Meanwhile, Jon Lester settled down after a shaky start and pitched six solid innings while striking out 5.

The Red Sox were running on Sunday. The successful converted the double steal twice, giving Ellsbury 2 swipes on the day while Pedroia, Lugo and Crisp ran the tally to 5 on the day.

But the BL Hero of the day was Kevin Youkilis, who filled in for David Ortiz in the #3 spot by driving in 4 runs with a homer and 2 doubles... he was more Papi than Papi himself has been this season!

Notes: Yuke was 4 for his last 33 before his big day on Sunday... Buchholz has allowed 3 run or fewer in 5 of his 6 starts, and is now 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA... After 4 straight NDs, Jon Lester earned his second win of the season and is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA... Craig Hansen will rejoin the big league club today, taking Brandon Moss's spot on the roster while he recovers from and appendectomy... After going just 1 for his last 20, Dustin Pedroia has come alive going 7-14 (.500) with 5 RBI, 4 runs and a stolen base.

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