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July 3, 2007
BOSTON - Daisuke Matsuzaka dominated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tonight and pitched the Red Sox to a 4-1 win at Fenway Park.
Matsuzaka pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out nine Rays. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth and allowed the 19th home run of the season to Carlos Pena. Papelbon avoided further trouble and picked up his 20th save.
The Red Sox scratched out three runs in the second inning with the biggest hit coming from the most unlikely source: Julio Lugo. The struggling shortstop snapped a 0-for-33 skid with a 2-run single that pushed Boston's lead to 3-0.
Boston added a single run in the sixth inning off Tampa's Scott Kazmir, a talented lefty who owned a 5-2 record and 2.60 ERA in 11 career starts against the Sox entering the game. The Red Sox managed seven hits off three Tampa pitchers. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez continued their struggles and combined to go 0-for-7 with three strikeouts.
The Red Sox and Rays continue their three-game series this afternoon before the big July 4 fireworks show erupts a few blocks away on the banks of the Charles River. First pitch Wednesday is set for 1:05 with Tim Wakefield opposing Edwin Jackson.
Posted by Kevin 
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