Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox live streaming 4/11, 2011: Since Carl Crawford left the Tampa Bay Rays, their record is the worst in baseball.
Since Crawford joined the Boston Red Sox, their record is only one game better than Tampa Bay's.
Crawford faces his former teammates for the first time Monday night when the Red Sox host the Rays in a series that shockingly will determine the early-season AL East cellar dweller.
Tampa Bay's franchise leader in hits (1,480), runs (765), RBIs (592), doubles (215), triples (105) and stolen bases (409), departed over the offseason to sign a seven-year deal with the division rival Red Sox. His addition, along with the acquisition of former San Diego slugger Adrian Gonzalez, made Boston the consensus favorite to win the AL East.
"Before the season even starts you tell in your mind 'World Series, postseason, all that stuff' with Boston," Crawford said after signing with the Red Sox in December. "You know it actually might happen."
It's very early, but so far the season hasn't played out that way. Boston (2-7) opened 0-6 before taking two of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend at Fenway Park.
While Crawford's slump hasn't shown signs of abating yet, the Red Sox may be emerging from theirs. Josh Beckett limited the Yankees to two hits in eight innings and Dustin Pedroia reached base all five times he came to bat Sunday night as Boston won 4-0.
As poorly as the Red Sox have played for much of this season, the Rays (1-8) have been worse. The reigning division champions have totaled 11 runs in their eight losses, including a 6-1 defeat at the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
The start is the worst in franchise history, but manager Joe Maddon is not panicking.
"If something goes wrong for a brief moment why would I want to all of a sudden change my attitude?" Maddon asked. "I really believe in what we do. I believe in the guys in that room. I believe it's gonna turn. It's really more glaring when it happens early in the season, which it is."
This series figured to feature the latest return to Fenway for 2004 Red Sox World Series heroes Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, but Ramirez abruptly retired Friday rather than serve a 100-game drug suspension. Damon should play, but hasn't hit much early in his first season with Tampa Bay. He went 1 for 4 on Sunday to raise his average to a meager .125.
Rays probable starter Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 4.76 ERA) looks to bounce back after losing his season debut Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander, who turned 24 on Friday, gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 defeat. He allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings in his only previous outing versus Boston, a relief appearance Sept. 7.
The Red Sox will counter with Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 5.40), who had a similar season debut to Hellickson. The right-hander yielded three runs in five innings of Wednesday's 8-4 loss at Cleveland.
Matsuzaka is 2-6 with a 5.09 ERA in his career versus Tampa Bay.
The Rays won last season's overall series with Boston 11-7, but dropped six of nine at Fenway.
Since Crawford joined the Boston Red Sox, their record is only one game better than Tampa Bay's.
Crawford faces his former teammates for the first time Monday night when the Red Sox host the Rays in a series that shockingly will determine the early-season AL East cellar dweller.
Tampa Bay's franchise leader in hits (1,480), runs (765), RBIs (592), doubles (215), triples (105) and stolen bases (409), departed over the offseason to sign a seven-year deal with the division rival Red Sox. His addition, along with the acquisition of former San Diego slugger Adrian Gonzalez, made Boston the consensus favorite to win the AL East.
"Before the season even starts you tell in your mind 'World Series, postseason, all that stuff' with Boston," Crawford said after signing with the Red Sox in December. "You know it actually might happen."
It's very early, but so far the season hasn't played out that way. Boston (2-7) opened 0-6 before taking two of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend at Fenway Park.
Match Time:
7:10 PM ET, April 11, 2011Crawford has been part of the problem. Boston's new left fielder saw his average sink to .132 after an 0-for-5 performance Sunday. Manager Terry Francona has batted Crawford in four different spots in the order, to little effect.
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
While Crawford's slump hasn't shown signs of abating yet, the Red Sox may be emerging from theirs. Josh Beckett limited the Yankees to two hits in eight innings and Dustin Pedroia reached base all five times he came to bat Sunday night as Boston won 4-0.
As poorly as the Red Sox have played for much of this season, the Rays (1-8) have been worse. The reigning division champions have totaled 11 runs in their eight losses, including a 6-1 defeat at the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
The start is the worst in franchise history, but manager Joe Maddon is not panicking.
"If something goes wrong for a brief moment why would I want to all of a sudden change my attitude?" Maddon asked. "I really believe in what we do. I believe in the guys in that room. I believe it's gonna turn. It's really more glaring when it happens early in the season, which it is."
This series figured to feature the latest return to Fenway for 2004 Red Sox World Series heroes Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, but Ramirez abruptly retired Friday rather than serve a 100-game drug suspension. Damon should play, but hasn't hit much early in his first season with Tampa Bay. He went 1 for 4 on Sunday to raise his average to a meager .125.
Rays probable starter Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 4.76 ERA) looks to bounce back after losing his season debut Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander, who turned 24 on Friday, gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 defeat. He allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings in his only previous outing versus Boston, a relief appearance Sept. 7.
The Red Sox will counter with Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 5.40), who had a similar season debut to Hellickson. The right-hander yielded three runs in five innings of Wednesday's 8-4 loss at Cleveland.
Matsuzaka is 2-6 with a 5.09 ERA in his career versus Tampa Bay.
The Rays won last season's overall series with Boston 11-7, but dropped six of nine at Fenway.
