| Tampa's RHP Seth McClung notched his fifth | | | | according Sportsbook odds along with the |
| straight start of allowing two or fewer runs, | | | | Yankees. And the DH super-star David Ortiz |
| though he is only 1-1 in that stretch. The | | | | told the Boston Globe that he endured the flu |
| key has been keeping the ball down. "I'm not | | | | for about 10 days, but is just now starting |
| concerned with my wins and losses," McClung | | | | to feel better. Ortiz backed the claim by |
| said. "All I can do is put my team in a | | | | launching his third homer in 13 May games on |
| position to win. Whatever happens after I | | | | Wednesday, after bashing 10 round-trippers in |
| leave the ballgame is out of my control." | | | | 26 contests in April. |
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| CF Joey Gathright has had trouble getting | | | | 2B Mark Loretta was one of the few sources of |
| breaks on balls. Wednesday, he made a bad | | | | offense for the Red Sox; collecting two hits |
| play trying to set up for Jermaine Dye's | | | | and a double in four at-bats. Loretta now has |
| sacrifice fly and was unable to prevent Scott | | | | nine multi-hit games in his last 11 games, |
| Podsednik from scoring the tying run. | | | | propelling his average from .207 to .294. |
| | | | |
| OF Rocco Baldelli played right field instead | | | | OF Trot Nixon started his second straight |
| of his customary center field in an extended | | | | game against a southpaw starter going 0-for-3 |
| spring training game on Wednesday and the | | | | against Orioles LHP Erik Bedard. In the |
| Rays will at least consider using him in | | | | season, Nixon is batting .250 against |
| right when he gets back to the big leagues if | | | | left-handed pitchers, against whom he usually |
| it cuts down on his running. Baldelli has | | | | plays sparingly. |
| been out since late March with a sore left | | | | |
| hamstring. | | | | OF Wily Mo Pena collected a ninth-inning |
| | | | infield single. Pena now has a team-leading |
| Boston appears favorite to win the division | | | | four infield hits this year. |