BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
The Rays beat the Rangers
in the tie-breaker game

September 30, 2013 ... No game scheduled ... Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli was at Modell's in Medford on Monday night to support Boston Children's Hospital and to sign memorabilia for fans.  Napoli sat out four games after the Red Sox clinched the AL East, played three games, and now will have four days off before playing again.  The first baseman said the troublesome plantar fasciitis in his left foot has largely abated.

Thanks to David Price's complete-game effort led the way in a 5-2 win in the American League tiebreaker game over the Texas Rangers. Evan Longoria hit a two-run HR and went 3-for-4 to lead the Rays into the playoffs for the fourth time in six years. The Rays will play the Indians in Cleveland in the AL Wild Card Game.

October 1, 2013 ... The Red Sox arrived to find new red sweat shirts with the 2013 postseason logo hanging in their lockers. They also have a new cap with the logo on the side.  Four players who were called up in September, infielder Brock Holt and righthanders Brayan Villarreal, Allen Webster, and Steven Wright were sent home.  Some of the players not on the playoff roster may get sent to the team complex in Fort Myers, Fla., to continue working out in case of emergency.

October 2, 2013 ... The Red Sox played a six-inning scrimmage before a crowd of 3,900 at Fenway. The Blue Team beat the Red Team, 1-0, in a game that featured only seven hits. Clay Buchholz went three innings, allowing a run on three hits. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's RBI double in the first inning was the deciding hit. Peavy struck out five in two innings.  Felix Doubront, John Lackey, Craig Breslow, Ryan Dempster, Franklin Morales, Koji Uehara, and Brandon Workman each pitched an inning.  Jackie Bradley Jr had two hits.  Quintin Berry had a diving catch in right to steal a hit away from a disbelieving Dustin Pedroia. Saltalamacchia and David Ross did not catch to guard against injury. Ryan Lavarnway and bullpen catcher Mani Martinez were behind the plate. 

Desmond Jennings' two-out, two-run double in the fourth gave Alex Cobb some vital breathing room in the American League Wild Card Game as the Rays secured a Division Series matchup vs. AL East rival Boston by beating Terry Francona's Cleveland Indians , 4-0.

October 3, 2013 ... The Red Sox informed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., infielder Brandon Snyder, lefthander Drake Britton, and righthander Rubby De La Rosa that they would be assigned to Fort Myers to continue working out.  Matt Thornton and John McDonald will stay with the team.

The Red Sox have been taking a lot of batting practice in recent days, so David Ortiz decided to have some fun. He grabbed an aluminum bat and tried to launch a ball at the red seat in right field, the spot once reached by Ted Williams. Big Papi put on a show but fell short.  Joe Castiglione, the radio voice of the Red Sox for the last 30 years, is one of 10 finalists for the Hall of Fame's Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.