After grabbing three of four from the struggling White Sox at the Fens last week, the Sox went on the road for a short roadtrip. The Red Sox have since returned to the friendly confines of Fenway Park following a very successful road trip against the wild card contending Cleveland Indians, with a stop at the Trop for three with the Rays.

Boston pitching was once again phenomenal, holding the Tribe to just 4 runs on 14 hits in the first three games, two of which were decided by a single run, before both clubs exploded in the final for a combined 23 overall. The Sox bats came to life finally by way of Manny Ramirez leading the charge with two dingers and the squad putting up 14 runs on 17 hits.

Jon Lester came back to the parent club and threw six innings of five hit ball, surrendering just two runs in a 6-2 Red Sox win for the opener of their series. His next start on Saturday against Tampa Bay looked equally as good until he ran of out of gas in the seventh and left with a 5-4 lead. This game showed a rare chink in the bullpen armor as an otherwise unhittable Jonathan Papalbon gave up a two-run homer in the ninth for only his second blown save of the season. The Boston bullpen nevertheless held their opponents scoreless for three more until the Tampa’s ‘pen crumbled, walking in what would be the winning run in the twelfth.

Oh yeah, Youk and Manny proceeded to then tag on another five in a gritty comeback win.

Dice-K once again failed to bring his “A” game and struggled with control as Tampa took the final game 5-2. Tampa lefty Scott Kasmir and company tied up the Sox for seven before surrendering a pair of solo shots to the new dynamic duo of Manny and Youk. The local nine returned home with an impressive five and two road trip.

The Sox play a short home series with old friend Kevin Millar and the Baltimore Orioles. The O’s, by the way, are surging of late and just took two of three from the Yankees. After a few days home, the Sox will again trek out for their final west coast swing of the season. There will surely be many a bleary eye next week as Red Sox Nation watches these crucial matches against some of the best competition in the AL. From there on, the Sox will play 28 home games of 48 total with 34 match-ups against teams in their division. They are 23-12 so far against the AL East.