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Iwamura Homers in Eighth to Lead Tampa Bay

Rays win fifth in a row, while Red Sox drop their fourth straight

By Mitch Pritchard,  Newser User

Posted Apr 27, 2008 12:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – Akinori Iwamura homered in the eighth inning and Tampa Bay beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 last night for the Rays' first five-game winning streak in more than two years. Iwamura's two-out, two-run homer, his first since Sept. 3, came on a 1-1 pitch from Clay Buchholz (1-2), who took a one-hit shutout into the inning.

Dioner Navarro got the Rays' second hit, a pinch-hit single with one out in the eighth. After Jason Bartlett flew out, Iwamura's shot helped Tampa Bay win its fifth straight for the first time since Aug. 16-21, 2005. Buchholz allowed two runs and three hits over eight innings in his first complete game of the season. Boston has lost four in a row.

Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, right, celebrates his eighth inning two-run home run with teammate Carl Crawford, in a 2-1 win during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox.
Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, right, celebrates his eighth inning two-run home run with teammate Carl Crawford, in a 2-1 win during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura watches his two-run home run in the eighth inning of the Rays' 2-1 win in a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox.
Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura watches his two-run home run in the eighth inning of the Rays' 2-1 win in a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz returns to the mound after giving up an eighth-inning, two-run home run to Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, rounding the bases in the background.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz returns to the mound after giving up an eighth-inning, two-run home run to Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura, rounding the bases in the background.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Edwin Jackson throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, April 26, 2008, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Edwin Jackson throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, April 26, 2008, in St. Petersburg, Fla.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
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