"And now for the most important game of the Red Sox season.

Getting blown out at Fenway Park last night was on the menu from the moment manager Terry Francona decided to rest ace Josh Beckett [stats] and his ailing right ankle for an extra day.

Lo and behold, Jeremy Hellickson dominated, Kyle Weiland didn't, and the Tampa Bay Rays pulled within three games of the wild card leaders with a convincing 9-2 victory.

The limp, lifeless Red Sox never seemed particularly interested in winning, which might explain why they're fighting for their postseason lives, but that's beside the point.

What matters is tonight. Because it is an entirely different story."