Rays rally, down BoSox
BOSTON — Dan Johnson woke up in Pennsylvania in Triple-A on Tuesday. He'll go to bed in New York on Thursday as a member of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Johnson, scratched from Tampa Bay's starting lineup because he didn't get into town until just before the first pitch, hit a game-tying, pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning, and Dioner Navarro doubled in the go-ahead run to help the Rays beat Boston 5-4 Tuesday night and extend their division lead.
"Sometimes things work out just in your favor," said Rays manager Joe Maddon, who credited the victory to the airline that flew Johnson to Boston. "It's a pretty significant win, particularly here, what's been going on (and) where we're at in the race."
The Rays had lost four straight and six of seven games — and the Red Sox had won six of seven, including a 3-0 victory in the series opener — to cut Tampa Bay's division lead from 51/2 games to just a half-game.
With a victory Tuesday, the Red Sox could have moved into first place for the first time since June 28; instead, the Rays are 11/2 up and assured of leading the AL East when they begin a weekend series against the New York Yankees on Friday.
It was the first win for a road team in the season series between the Red Sox and Rays, who finish up the series on Wednesday and have Thursday off. Boston holds a six-game lead in the AL wild-card standings over Minnesota, which beat Kansas City.
"If it comes down to them winning the home field by one game, maybe we'll look back at this game," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, who homered. "But we'll see."
Tampa Bay took a 3-1 lead in the fourth and still led 3-2 with two outs in the eighth when Dan Wheeler (4-5) walked Kevin Youkilis and then Jason Bay barely cleared the Green Monster to give Boston the lead. Bay, acquired at the trade deadline, homered for the third straight game.
But Jonathan Papelbon (5-4) blew a save opportunity for the fifth time this season.
"Jason's home run gave us a good feeling and we have all the confidence in the world in Pap," Lowell said. "But Pap's a human being. He's been so good for three years, it's almost like he's automatic."
Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his 28th save. Wheeler earned the victory.
