The Boston Red Sox have two wins. And it only took them 10 days and nine games.
After starting the season 0-6 -- their worst opening record since 1945 -- the Red Sox managed to right ship and take two out of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend, winning 9-6 on Friday, and then 4-0 Sunday night, thanks to Josh Beckett. In need of a win, Beckett stepped up and delivered one of the best outings of his career, striking out 10 over eight shutout innings while allowing just two hits.
But with John Lackey and Clay Buchholz getting hit hard in the first two games, the key in the series was the Sox' offense. While Boston hitters continue to struggle in situation with runners in scoring position, they did manage to score 17 runs in three days. To compare, the Red Sox scored just 16 runs in the first six games of the season.
Now the Sox will look to continue the winning when they welcome the worst team in baseball, the 1-8 Tampa Bay Rays, to Fenway Park. As bad as Boston's offense has been, Tampa's has been worse, ranking dead last in average (.163), runs (20), hits (47), on-base percentage (.232) and slugging (.284).
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
Monday, April 11, 7:10 p.m.
ESPN, NESN
Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 4.76) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 5.40)
Tuesday, April 12, 7:10 p.m.
NESN
David Price (0-2, 4.85) vs. Jon Lester (0-0, 3.65)
Wednesday, April 13, 7:10 p.m.
NESN
James Shields (0-1, 4.73) vs. John Lackey (1-1, 15.58)
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Looking Ahead ... Boston has a day off on Thursday before hosting the Toronto Blue Jays for four games over the weekend, including Monday's Patriots Day game at 11:05 a.m.