G139: Rays 14, Red Sox 5

Rays    - 002 462 000 - 14 12  1
Red Sox - 200 000 030 -  5  7  1

Missed it by that much.

David Price / Daisuke Matsuzaka

Scutaro, SS
McDonald, CF
Martinez, C
Beltre, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Lowell, 1B
Lowrie, 2B
Drew, RF
Hall, LF

Drew #8?!? That's the lowest spot in the lineup of any of his 114 starts this year. ... Michael Bowden has been called up, bringing the roster count to 33.

Amalie Benjamin, Globe:

Ask Amalie: What's next for Red Sox?

We finally have our answer. The Red Sox will not be going to the postseason this year ... All hope is gone, at least where it concerns the rest of the Red Sox season.

She is mostly likely right, of course, but I really don't like it when people state an uncertainty as a concrete fact. There are many ways to communicate that the chances of any Red Sox baseball after October 3 is mighty slim; why not use one of them? Writers (and fans) in Boston and New York declared the 2004 ALCS over after three games -- and they all ended up looking like fools. (Jeez, even Jim Donaldson gets it, admitting he was "stunningly wrong" in 1999 and 2004.)

So: Cool Standings is up an entire percentage point (2.1%).

BP has the Sox up to 3.6% (+1.5%!), 1.4%, and 2.9%.

Mojo is serious stuff, so here is today's Pop Sensation cover:AL East: Orioles/Yankees, 7 PM

September 7:

1935 - Cleveland leads Boston 5-3 at Fenway, but the Red Sox have the bases loaded with no one out in the bottom of the ninth. Joe Cronin lines a pitch off the side of the head of Cleveland 3B Odell Hale. The ball caroms to SS Bill Knickerbocker, who throws to 2B Roy Hughes, who throws to 1B Hal Trosky to complete a triple play and end the game.

1996 - Marlins LF Joe Orsulak throws out three Expos at the plate in a span of five batters. He throws out two runners on consecutive plays to end the third inning, then guns down another in the fourth. Montreal wins 2-1.