scott kazmir

BOSTON -- It was the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays couldn't have been following the script they had written for themselves any more faithfully.

Joe Maddon's decision to start Scott Kazmir over James Shields had made him look like the managerial genius that he very well may be, as Kazmir dominated and befuddled the Red Sox over six innings, shutting them out and yielding just a pair of singles.

Joe Maddon is essentially playing with house money right now. When his Rays left for Boston early last Sunday morning, Maddon could have realistically hoped that they might return to Tampa on Friday with two wins at Fenway Park under their belts and a 3-2 ALCS lead.

Joe Maddon is essentially playing with house money right now. When his Rays left for Boston early last Sunday morning, Maddon could have realistically hoped that they might return to Tampa on Friday with two wins at Fenway Park under their belts and a 3-2 ALCS lead.

Scott Kazmir will pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays instead of James Shields in Game 5 of the AL championship series against the Boston Red Sox.

Rays manager Joe Maddon made the switch Wednesday morning. Kazmir will try to beat Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka and send Tampa Bay to the first AL pennant in franchise history.

The defending World Series champions trail three games to one in the best-of-seven series. The Rays beat Boston 13-4 on Tuesday night and have won three straight.