2008 Boston Red Sox Season Summary

Record: 95-67, 2nd in American League East (5 teams)
Runs Scored: 845
Runs Allowed: 694
Pythagorean W-L: 95-67

Manager(s): Terry Francona (95-67)
Ball Park: Fenway Park

Post-Season Results

Won AL Division Series over Los Angeles Angels (3-1)
Lost AL Championship Series to Tampa Bay Rays (4-3)

Notable Moments from 2008

25 February 2008 - Manager Terry Francona agrees to a three-year contract extension with the Red Sox that runs through the 2011 season, with team options for 2012 and 2013. Francona has two World Series titles to his credit after the franchise had suffered an 86-year championship drought.

26 March 2008 - Boston opens the regular season at the Tokyo Dome in Japan with a 6-5 win over Oakland. Hideki Okajima earns the win in relief while rookie Brandon Moss sends the game to extra frames with a two-out, ninth-inning home run.

29 March 2008 - The Red Sox and Dodgers play an exhibition contest at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of 115,300 baseball fans, the largest crowd ever to witness a baseball game. Boston wins 3-1 in a celebration of the Dodger's move west from Brooklyn 50 years ago.

30 April 2008 - For the second game in a row, Boston beats Toronto with a ninth-inning, two-out base hit that scores the winning run; catcher Jason Varitek singles home Manny Ramirez to give the Sox a 2-1 win one day after Kevin Youkilis plates David Ortiz in a 1-0 victory over the Blue Jays.

19 May 2008 - Jon Lester becomes the second Red Sox pitcher in eight months to hurl a no-hitter, striking out nine and yielding just two walks in a 7-0 win over Kansas City at Fenway Park.

31 May 2008 - Manny Ramirez hits the 500th home run of his career of Orioles pitcher Chad Bradford as Boston best Baltimore 6-3 at Camden Yards. Ramirez becomes the third player to hit number 500 with the Red Sox after Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams.

13 July 2008 - Closer Jonathan Papelbon saves his 100th career game, only the third Boston pitcher to reach the century mark, as the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 at Fenway Park.

15 July 2008 - Representing Boston, outfielder J.D. Drew hits a two-run home run and wins MVP honors as the American League, managed by Red Sox skipper Terry Francona, bests the National League 4-3 in 15 innings at Yankee Stadium.

22 July 2008 - Jonathan Papelbon notches save number 30 on the season, the first Boston pitcher to save at least 30 games in three separate seasons, as the Red Sox double up the Seattle Mariners, 4-2.

31 July 2008 - Outfielder Manny Ramirez is traded to the Dodgers as part of a three-team deal while the Red Sox receive outfielder Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

26 September 2008 - With the Red Sox losing 19-8 to the Yankees, Tampa Bay becomes the first team since 1997 other than New York or Boston to win the American League East Division.

3 October 2008 - With a 7-5 win over the Angels in Game Two of the ALDS, Boston's playoff winning streak against the Los Angeles franchise extends to 11 games, dating back to Gave Five of the 1986 ALCS. J.D. Drew's two-run home run in the top of the ninth is the difference after Boston fails to hold an early 5-1 lead.

6 October 2008 - Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie's single drives home outfielder Jason Bay from second base to give Boston not only a walk-off 3-2 win against Los Angeles but a division series win, which advances them to the American League Championship Series for the second year in a row.

16 October 2008 - Down 7-0 with two outs in the seventh, Boston stages the largest comeback in a American League playoff game, winning 8-7 over Tampa Bay in Game Five of the ALCS thanks in part to home runs from David Ortiz and J.D. Drew. The game ends when Drew's ground-rule double scores Kevin Youkilis from second base with two outs in the ninth.

19 October 2008 - Boston is unable to complete a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against Tampa Bay as the Rays win the pennant with a 3-1 win in Game Seven of the ALCS. Dustin Pedroia accounts for the only run scored by Boston on a first inning solo home run.

18 November 2008 - One year after winning Rookie of the Year honors, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia wins the American League Most Valuable Player award, the third ball player to ever accomplish the feat. The Gold Glover easily outdistances Joe Mauer and teammate Kevin Youkilis in the voting.