Tampa Takes Game 1

This may be the biggest week of the season for the Red Sox and it got off to a rough start. Despite an improbable and lucky rally in the 9th inning, the Sox dropped the series opener to the Rays 5-4 in Tampa, Fla.

Boston is now 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay, including three back in the loss column. The loss also dropped the Sox to 11-13 in one-run games, not a stat you want to be on the wrong side of.

The injuries finally seem to be catching up to the Sox. With many guys struggling on offense, the loss of Big Papi is really being felt. It seems like Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis are the only guys the Sox can count on right now.

BOX SCORE: Rays 5, Red Sox 4

Jacoby Ellsbury has been a prolonged slump since he returned from his wrist injury. It might be a good idea to move him to the bottom of the lineup and move Dustin to leadoff with Youk batting second.

Speaking of the bottom of the lineup, it can't get any worse than Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo right now. Tek is really struggling and it's hard to watch him flail at balls. The problem is there's no other options, although at this point I think I'd rather see Kevin Cash at the plate.

Then there's Lugo - the biggest pig Boston sports has seen in a long time. We should sue Lugo and the Red Sox for consumer fraud. We pay good money to see the team perform, and we all know the Sox paid Lugo a ridiculous amount to play for them, and he completely sucks! Not only can he barely field the ball, but he throws like a girl (insert Johnny Damon joke here), he's the weakest hitting infielder since Mark Belanger and for a supposed fast guy he's not that fast and is a terrible base runner. Oh yeah - and he's always grabbing his cock. What a jackass!

The difference with Lugo is the Sox do have other options. Bring back Jed Lowrie! While we're on the subject of minor leaguers, what happened to Clay Buchholz?

Justin Masterson has done an admirable job filling in with all the injuries, but the guy has had one AAA start and had never started in the Majors until this season. Buchholz pitched a no hitter last season and started the season in the rotation. Why isn't he with the big club?

The questionable decisions continue for Terry Francona too. In the 5th inning after the Sox had finally gotten to Rays starter James Shields for a run in the 4th, Brandon Moss opened the inning with a single. Francona then decided to put the hit-and-run on with Varitek up. Of course Tek swung and missed the first pitch and Moss was out easily. So much for that inning.

Also, with the Sox trailing 4-2 he brought in rookie Chris Smith in the 7th. This is a guy who has all of 2 major league appearances, but Tito brings him in during the most important game of the season to date with the game on the line. Smith proceeded to walk the bases loaded and had to be bailed out by Javy Lopez - that's a scary thought.

Finally, after the Sox rallied for two runs in the 9th to cut it to 5-4 thanks to a joke of a double off the catwalk in right field by Brandon Moss, and Moss on third with two outs, Francona was about to pinch hit Sean Casey for Lugo to face Troy Percival. But Percival hurt himself and was pulled for a lefty so Francona let Pigo bat and surprise, surprise, he lined out softly to short for the last out. I would have let anyone on the team bat for Lugo in that situation. Did I mention before that he sucks!

Hopefully Wakefield can come up with one of his gems Tuesday night because the Rays have Kazmir going Wednesday and we all know what he does against the Sox.