Rays v. Red Sox - Game III

Coming into today's game, Clay Bucholtz had been struggling to find his groove in the 2012 season.  For his past few starts, he has given up tons of earned runs that led to many of the initial Red Sox losses.  But today, Bucholtz really stepped up his game and attacked the plate with much tenacity.  In the seven innings he pitched, he gave up eight hits, a walk and two earned runs while striking out six.  In the bottom of the seventh, Gonzalez backed Bucholtz's game with a three-run homer to put the Sox in the lead.  If they could hold the Rays then Bucholtz would receive the win.

But, sure enough, some ninth inning dramatics got in the way as Aceves blew the save (second blown save of the season).  After walking Ben Zobrist, second baseman Sean Rodriguez homered over the Green Monster to put the Rays up 4-3.  Rays closer Fernando Rodney, determined not to make the same mistake he made the previous night when Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a walk-off homer to right center, proved competent when he retired the side successfully to put another big fat "L" on the Sox scoreboard.  The Rays, now 29-19, are heading back to Tropicana Field to play the 26-21 White Sox in a three-game series.

The 23-24 Red Sox, still looking to get their first winning record of the season, are looking to take advantage of the four game series at Fenway Park against the struggling Detroit Tigers, who have also seemed to have lost a grip on their dominance in the AL central with a 23-24 record as well.  What seems to be hurting the Red Sox more than ever is their expanding DL.  I've decided to give a quick rundown on some of the key players on the DL and their updates:

Cody Ross - (Expected to return in about a week or so) Ross had fractured his left foot last week and was set on the 15 day DL.

Ryan Sweeney - (Expected to return tomorrow) Sweeney was put on the 7 day DL when he received a concussion last week.

Daisuke Matsuzaka - (Expected to return any time now) Matsuzaka has recently been starting to rehabilitate from Tommy John surgery by pitching in Triple-A.  He has been pitching very well recently and is on the verge of being called up any time now.

Andrew Bailey - (Expected to return in about a week) After having surgery on a torn ligament in his thumb from Spring Training, Bailey is now recovering from surgery and is expected to start throwing next week.  Rehabilitation should be relatively short so he might be put back in as the Red Sox closer soon.

Carl Crawford - (Expected to return sometime by the end of June) Crawford tore a ligament in his elbow a few months back and is now in the rehabilitating process.  He has been taking swings off of tees to get back in the groove but is yet to start throwing.

Jacoby Ellsbury - (Expected to return by early July) Ellsbury had suffered a dislocated shoulder in mid-April and was expected to miss 6-8 weeks.  The due date of course has been pushed back a few more weeks because of some complications.