2008 Boston Red Sox season

The 2008 Boston Red Sox season was the 108th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox, as the defending World Series champions, finished in second place in the American League East with a record of 95–67, two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card and defeated the American League West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS. The Red Sox then lost to the Rays in the ALCS in seven games. This was the franchise's fourth appearance in the ALCS in six seasons.

2008 Boston Red Sox
American League Wild Card winners
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	Fenway Park
City	Boston, Massachusetts
Record	95–67 (.586)
Divisional place	2nd
Owners	John W. Henry (New England Sports Ventures)
President	Larry Lucchino
General manager	Theo Epstein
Manager	Terry Francona
Television	NESN
Radio	WRKO WEEI WROL (Spanish)
Stats	ESPN.com Baseball Reference
← 2007 Seasons 2009 →

In late March, the team started the regular season playing in Tokyo against the Oakland Athletics for MLB Japan Opening Day 2008. In July, seven Red Sox players were selected for the AL All-Star team, with outfielder J. D. Drew being named the game's MVP. On July 31, the Red Sox traded long-time star player Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers in a three-way blockbuster (which also included the Pirates) for Jason Bay and minor leaguer Josh Wilson. In September, the team officially retired uniform number 6 in honor of Johnny Pesky.^[1]

Regular season

Johnny Pesky's number 6 was retired by the Boston Red Sox in 2008.

Prior to the season, three large Coca-Cola bottles, which had been placed on the left light tower above the Green Monster prior to the 1997 season as an advertisement, were removed.^[2][3]

Opening Day lineup

15	Dustin Pedroia	2B
20	Kevin Youkilis	1B
34	David Ortiz	DH
24	Manny Ramírez	LF
25	Mike Lowell	3B
44	Brandon Moss	RF
33	Jason Varitek	C
46	Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
23	Julio Lugo	SS
18	Daisuke Matsuzaka	P

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

AL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Tampa Bay Rays	97	65	.599	—	57‍–‍24	40‍–‍41
Boston Red Sox	95	67	.586	2	56‍–‍25	39‍–‍42
New York Yankees	89	73	.549	8	48‍–‍33	41‍–‍40
Toronto Blue Jays	86	76	.531	11	47‍–‍34	39‍–‍42
Baltimore Orioles	68	93	.422	28½	37‍–‍43	31‍–‍50

Notable transactions

• May 22, 2008: Julián Tavárez was released by the Red Sox.^[4]
• July 12, 2008: Bobby Kielty was released by the Red Sox.^[5]
• July 31, 2008: As part of a three-team trade, star outfielder Jason Bay was acquired by the Red Sox from the Pirates for pitcher Craig Hansen and outfielder/first baseman Brandon Moss.^[6] Also in exchange, the Red Sox sent star outfielder Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers.^[7]
• August 12, 2008: Paul Byrd was acquired by the Red Sox from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named later.^[8]
• August 22, 2008: David Ross signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[9]
• August 27, 2008: Mark Kotsay was acquired by the Red Sox from the Braves in exchange for minor leaguer Luis Sumoza.^[10]

Roster

2008 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers 53 David Aardsma 19 Josh Beckett 64 Michael Bowden 61 Clay Buchholz 36 Paul Byrd 40 Bartolo Colón 30 Bryan Corey 17 Manny Delcarmen 43 Devern Hansack 56 Craig Hansen 31 Jon Lester 48 Javier López 63 Justin Masterson 18 Daisuke Matsuzaka 37 Hideki Okajima 58 Jonathan Papelbon 62 David Pauley 59 Chris Smith 39 Kyle Snyder 51 Julián Tavárez 50 Mike Timlin 49 Tim Wakefield 51 Charlie Zink		Catchers 36,30 Kevin Cash 68 George Kottaras 28 David Ross 33 Jason Varitek Infielders 55 Jeff Bailey 22 Sean Casey 13 Alex Cora 25 Mike Lowell 12 Jed Lowrie 23 Julio Lugo 15 Dustin Pedroia 51 Gil Velazquez 20 Kevin Youkilis		Outfielders 44 Jason Bay 54 Chris Carter 10 Coco Crisp  7 J. D. Drew 46 Jacoby Ellsbury 11 Mark Kotsay 44 Brandon Moss 24 Manny Ramirez  3 Joe Thurston 30,60 Jonathan Van Every Other batters 34 David Ortiz		Manager 47 Terry Francona Coaches 16 Luis Alicea (first base) 52 John Farrell (pitching) 35 DeMarlo Hale (third base) 29 Dave Magadan (hitting)  2 Brad Mills (bench) 57 Gary Tuck (bullpen)

Record vs. opponents

2008 American League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2008 v t e
Team	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	LAA	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TB	TEX	TOR	NL
Baltimore	–	6–12	4–5	4–4	4–3	5–3	3–6	3–3	7–11	0–5	8–2	3–15	4–5	6–12	11–7
Boston	12–6	–	4–3	5–1	5–2	6–1	1–8	4–3	9–9	6–4	6–3	8–10	9–1	9–9	11–7
Chicago	5–4	3–4	–	11–7	12–6	12–6	5–5	9–10	2–5	5–4	5–1	4–6	3–3	1–7	12–6
Cleveland	4–4	1–5	7–11	–	11–7	10–8	4–5	8–10	4–3	5–4	4–5	5–2	6–4	6–1	6–12
Detroit	3–4	2–5	6–12	7–11	–	7–11	3–6	7–11	4–2	3–6	7–3	3–4	6–3	3–5	13–5
Kansas City	3–5	1–6	6–12	8–10	11–7	–	2–3	6–12	5–5	6–3	7–2	3–5	2–7	2–5	13–5
Los Angeles	6–3	8–1	5–5	5–4	6–3	3–2	–	5–3	7–3	10–9	14–5	3–6	12–7	6–3	10–8
Minnesota	3–3	3–4	10–9	10–8	11–7	12–6	3–5	–	4–6	5–5	5–4	3–3	5–5	0–6	14–4
New York	11–7	9–9	5–2	3–4	2–4	5–5	3–7	6–4	–	5–1	7–2	11–7	3–4	9–9	10–8
Oakland	5–0	4–6	4–5	4–5	6–3	3–6	9–10	5–5	1–5	-	10–9	3–6	7–12	4–6	10–8
Seattle	2–8	3–6	1–5	5–4	3–7	2–7	5–14	4–5	2–7	9–10	–	3–4	8–11	5–4	9–9
Tampa Bay	15–3	10–8	6–4	2–5	4–3	5–3	6–3	3–3	7–11	6–3	4–3	–	6–3	11–7	12–6
Texas	5–4	1–9	3–3	4–6	3–6	7–2	7–12	5–5	4–3	12–7	11–8	3–6	–	4–4	10–8
Toronto	12–6	9–9	7–1	1–6	5–3	5–2	3–6	6–0	9–9	6–4	4–5	7–11	4–4	–	8–10

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Red Sox vs. National League

Team	NL Central
	CHC	CIN	HOU	MIL	PIT	STL	ARI	PHI
Boston	—	2–1	1–2	3–0	—	1–2	2–1	2–1

Game log

2008 Regular Season Game Log

March (1-1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 March 25 @ Athletics* 6–5 (10) Okajima (1–0) Street (0–1) Papelbon (1) 44,628 1–0 2 March 26 @ Athletics* 5–1 Harden (1–0) Lester (0–1) 44,735 1–1 * At Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, see MLB Japan Opening Day 2008 April (16-11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 3 April 1 @ Athletics 2–1 Matsuzaka (1–0) Blanton (0–1) Papelbon (2) 36,067 2–1 4 April 2 @ Athletics 5–0 Lester (1–1) Embree (0–1) 21,625 3–1 5 April 4 @ Blue Jays 6–3 Marcum (1–0) Aardsma (0–1) Accardo (2) 50,171 3–2 6 April 5 @ Blue Jays 10–2 Litsch (1–0) Buchholz (0–1) 35,238 3–3 7 April 6 @ Blue Jays 7–4 Halladay (1–1) Beckett (0–1) Accardo (3) 30,114 3–4 8 April 8 Tigers 5–0 Matsuzaka (2–0) Rogers (0–2) 36,567 4–4 9 April 9 Tigers 7–2 Bonderman (1–1) Lester (1–2) 37,190 4–5 10 April 10 Tigers 12–6 Wakefield (1–0) Robertson (0–1) Papelbon (3) 37,612 5–5 11 April 11 Yankees 4–1 Wang (3–0) Timlin (0–1) 37,624 5–6 12 April 12 Yankees 4–3 Beckett (1–1) Mussina (1–2) Papelbon (4) 37,461 6–6 13 April 13 Yankees 8–5 Matsuzaka (3–0) Hughes (0–2) 37,876 7–6 14 April 14 @ Indians 6–4 Timlin (1–1 Borowski (0–2) Papelbon (5) 21,802 8–6 15 April 15 @ Indians 5–3 Aardsma (1–1) Lewis (0–1) Okajima (1) 25,135 9–6 16 April 16 @ Yankees 15–9 Hawkins (1–0) Tavárez (0–1) Bruney (1) 54,667 9–7 17 April 17 @ Yankees 7–5 Beckett (2–1) Mussina (1–3) 55,088 10–7 18 April 18 Rangers 11–3 Matsuzaka (4–0) Mendoza (0–2) 37,902 11–7 19 April 19 Rangers 5–3 López (1–0) Benoit (1–1) Papelbon (6) 37,958 12–7 20 April 20 Rangers 6–5 Wakefield (2–0) Wilson (0–1) Papelbon (7) 37,480 13–7 21 April 21 Rangers 8–3 Buchholz (1–1) Nippert (1–2) 37,539 14–7 22 April 22 Angels 7–6 Timlin (2–1) Oliver (1–1) Papelbon (8) 37,982 15–7 23 April 23 Angels 6–4 Garland (3–2) Hansen (0–1) Rodríguez (8) 38,172 15–8 24 April 24 Angels 7–5 Saunders (4–0) Delcarmen (0–1) Rodríguez (9) 36,848 15–9 25 April 25 @ Rays 5–4 Dohmann (1–0) Timlin (2–2) 30,290 15–10 26 April 26 @ Rays 2–1 Dohmann (2–0) Buchholz (1–2) Percival (5) 36,048 15–11 27 April 27 @ Rays 3–0 Shields (3–1) Beckett (2–2) 32,363 15–12 28 April 29 Blue Jays 1–0 Papelbon (1–0) Halladay (2–4) 37,215 16–12 29 April 30 Blue Jays 2–1 Papelbon (2–0) Downs(0–1) 37,710 17–12 May (17-12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 30 May 1 Blue Jays 3–0 Burnett (3–2) Wakefield (2–1) Ryan (3) 37,821 17–13 31 May 2 Rays 7–3 Buchholz (2–2) Jackson (2–3) 37,541 18–13 32 May 3 Rays 12–4 Beckett (3–2) Shields (3–2) 37,700 19–13 33 May 4 Rays 7–3 Lester (2–2) Kazmir (0–1) Papelbon (9) 37,091 20–13 34 May 5 @ Tigers 6–3 Matsuzaka (5–0) Bonderman (2–3) Papelbon (10) 39,478 21–13 35 May 6 @ Tigers 5–0 Wakefield (3–1) Robertson (1–4) 38,564 22–13 36 May 7 @ Tigers 10–9 Jones (1–0) Papelbon (2–1) 38,062 22–14 37 May 8 @ Tigers 5–1 Beckett (4–2) Verlander (1–6) 38,592 23–14 38 May 9 @ Twins 7–6 Crain (1–1) Papelbon (2–2) 25,477 23–15 39 May 10 @ Twins 5–2 Matsuzaka (6–0) Perkins (0–1) Papelbon (11) 33,839 24–15 40 May 11 @ Twins 9–8 Blackburn (3–2) Wakefield (3–2) Nathan (12) 26,511 24–16 41 May 12 @ Twins 7–3 Hernández (6–1) Buchholz (2–3) 18,782 24–17 42 May 13 @ Orioles 5–4 Guthrie (2–3) Beckett (4–3) Sherrill (14) 38,768 24–18 43 May 14 @ Orioles 6–3 Cabrera (4–1) Hansen (0–2) Sherrill (15) 28,939 24–19 – May 16 Brewers Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for May 17 44 May 17 Brewers 5–3 Matsuzaka (7–0) Suppan (2–3) Papelbon (12) 37,409 25–19 45 May 17 Brewers 7–6 Hansen (1–2) Torres (3–1) Timlin (1) 37,847 26–19 46 May 18 Brewers 11–7 Beckett (5–3) Villanueva (2–5) 37,204 27–19 47 May 19 Royals 7–0 Lester (3–2) (no-hitter) Hochevar (3–3) 37,746 28–19 48 May 20 Royals 2–1 Masterson (1–0) Meche (3–6) Papelbon (13) 37,486 29–19 49 May 21 Royals 6–3 Colón (1–0) Tomko (2–5) 37,674 30–19 50 May 22 Royals 11–8 Matsuzaka (8–0) Bannister (4–6) Papelbon (14) 37,613 31–19 51 May 23 @ Athletics 8–3 Harden (3–0) Wakefield (3–3) 29,057 31–20 52 May 24 @ Athletics 3–0 Duchscherer (4–3) Beckett (5–4) Street (10) 33,468 31–21 53 May 25 @ Athletics 6–3 Blanton (3–6) Lester (3–3) Street (11) 33,067 31–22 54 May 26 @ Mariners 5–3 Colón (2–0) Hernández (2–5) 35,818 32–22 55 May 27 @ Mariners 4–3 Putz (2–3) Timlin (2–3) 30,758 32–23 56 May 28 @ Mariners 1–0 Bédard (4–3) Wakefield (3–4) Putz (6) 30,752 32–24 57 May 30 @ Orioles 5–2 (13) Timlin (3–3) Bradford (2–2) Papelbon (15) 46,199 33–24 58 May 31 @ Orioles 6–3 Aardsma (2–1) Cormier (0–2) Papelbon (16) 48,281 34–24 June (16-11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 59 June 1 @ Orioles 9–4 Colón (3–0) Burres (4–5) 45,031 35–24 60 June 2 @ Orioles 6–3 Johnson (1–2) Okajima (1–1) Sherrill (18) 25,711 35–25 61 June 3 Rays 7–4 Masterson (2–0) Garza (4–2) Papelbon (17) 37,823 36–25 62 June 4 Rays 5–1 Beckett (6–4) Jackson (3–5) 37,474 37–25 63 June 5 Rays 7–1 Lester (4–3) Shields (4–4) 37,639 38–25 64 June 6 Mariners 8–0 Hernández (4–5) Colón (3–1) 37,757 38–26 65 June 7 Mariners 11–3 Wakefield (4–4) Batista (3–7) 37,443 39–26 66 June 8 Mariners 2–1 Masterson (3–0) Green (1–2) Papelbon (18) 37,198 40–26 67 June 10 Orioles 10–6 Sarfate (4–1) Okajima (1–2) 37,858 40–27 68 June 11 Orioles 6–3 Colón (4–1) Olson (5–2) Papelbon (19) 38,180 41–27 69 June 12 Orioles 9–2 Lester (5–3) Guthrie (3–7) 38,139 42–27 70 June 13 @ Reds 3–1 Harang (3–9) Masterson (3–1) Cordero (13) 38,855 42–28 71 June 14 @ Reds 6–4 (10) Papelbon (3–2) Lincoln (0–2) Hansen (1) 39,154 43–28 72 June 15 @ Reds 9–0 Beckett (7–4) Bailey (0–3) 39,958 44–28 73 June 16 @ Phillies 8–2 Hamels (7–4) Colón (4–2) 45,026 44–29 74 June 17 @ Phillies 3–0 Lester (6–3) Moyer (7–4) Papelbon (20) 45,160 45–29 75 June 18 @ Phillies 7–4 Masterson (4–1) Kendrick (6–3) Papelbon (21) 45,187 46–29 76 June 20 Cardinals 5–4 Lohse (9–2) Wakefield (4–5) Franklin (10) 37,671 46–30 77 June 21 Cardinals 9–3 Boggs (2–0) Matsuzaka (8–1) 37,227 46–31 78 June 22 Cardinals 5–3 (13) López (2–0) Parisi (0–3) 37,085 47–31 79 June 23 D-backs 2–1 Haren (8–4) Beckett (7–5) Lyon (16) 37,694 47–32 80 June 24 D-backs 5–4 Smith (1–0) Qualls (1–6) Papelbon (22) 37,867 48–32 81 June 25 D-backs 5–0 Wakefield (5–5) Johnson (4–6) Papelbon (23) 37,924 49–32 82 June 27 @ Astros 6–1 Matsuzaka (9–1) Hernández (0–1) Papelbon (24) 42,237 50–32 83 June 28 @ Astros 11–10 Brocail (3–3) Delcarmen (0–2) Valverde (20) 43,073 50–33 84 June 29 @ Astros 3–2 Brocail (4–3) Aardsma (2–2) Valverde (21) 42,066 50–34 85 June 30 @ Rays 5–4 Shields (6–5) Masterson (4–2) Howell (2) 34,145 50–35 July (11-13) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 86 July 1 @ Rays 3–1 Garza (7–4) Wakefield (5–6) Balfour (2) 31,112 50–36 87 July 2 @ Rays 7–6 Glover (1–2) Hansen (1–3) Wheeler (3) 36,048 50–37 88 July 3 @ Yankees 7–0 Lester (7–3) Pettitte (9–6) 54,677 51–37 89 July 4 @ Yankees 6–4 Beckett (8–5) Rasner (4–7) Papelbon (25) 55,130 52–37 90 July 5 @ Yankees 2–1 Mussina (11–6) Masterson (4–3) Rivera (23) 54,920 52–38 91 July 6 @ Yankees 5–4 (10) Rivera (3–3) Papelbon (3–3) 54,922 52–39 92 July 7 Twins 1–0 Okajima (2–2) Bass (3–3) Papelbon (26) 37,912 53–39 93 July 8 Twins 6–5 Aardsma (3–2) Guerrier (4–4) Papelbon (27) 37,925 54–39 94 July 9 Twins 18–5 Beckett (9–5) Hernández (9–6) 37,470 55–39 95 July 11 Orioles 7–3 Burres (7–5) Buchholz (2–4) Sherrill (28) 37,779 55–40 96 July 12 Orioles 12–1 Wakefield (6–6) Liz (3–2) 37,539 56–40 97 July 13 Orioles 2–1 Matsuzaka (10–1) Cabrera (6–5) Papelbon (28) 37,344 57–40 98 July 18 @ Angels 11–3 Lackey (7–2) Buchholz (2–5) 44,260 57–41 99 July 19 @ Angels 4–2 Arredondo (4–0) Beckett (9–6) Rodríguez (39) 44,005 57–42 100 July 20 @ Angels 5–3 Oliver (3–1) Wakefield (6–7) Rodríguez (40) 44,164 57–43 101 July 21 @ Mariners 4–0 Lester (8–3) Washburn (4–9) Papelbon (29) 37,861 58–43 102 July 22 @ Mariners 4–2 Matsuzaka (11–1) Dickey (2–5) Papelbon (30) 38,425 59–43 103 July 23 @ Mariners 6–3 (13) Papelbon (4–3) Green 2–3) Hansen (2) 43,231 60–43 104 July 25 Yankees 1–0 Chamberlain (3–3) Beckett (9–7) Rivera (26) 37,744 60–44 105 July 26 Yankees 10–3 Pettitte (12–7) Wakefield (6–8) 37,225 60–45 106 July 27 Yankees 9–2 Lester (9–3) Ponson (6–2) 37,688 61–45 107 July 28 Angels 7–5 Weaver (9–8) Matsuzaka (11–2) Rodríguez (44) 37,830 61–46 108 July 29 Angels 6–2 Lackey (9–2) Buchholz (2–6) 38,110 61–47 109 July 30 Angels 9–2 Saunders (14–5) Beckett (9–8) 38,042 61–48 August (18-9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 110 August 1 Athletics 2–1 (12) Timlin (4–3) Embree (1–4) 37,832 62–48 111 August 2 Athletics 12–2 Lester (10–3) Eveland (7–8) 37,838 63–48 112 August 3 Athletics 5–2 Matsuzaka (12–2) Braden (2–2) Papelbon (31) 37,317 64–48 113 August 4 @ Royals 4–3 Meche (10–9) Buchholz (2–7) Soria (32) 24,378 64–49 114 August 5 @ Royals 8–2 Beckett (10–8) Bannister (7–10) 22,069 65–49 115 August 6 @ Royals 8–2 Wakefield (7–8) Hochevar (6–10) 24,294 66–49 116 August 8 @ White Sox 5–3 Buehrle (9–10) Lester (10–4) Jenks (23) 38,621 66–50 117 August 9 @ White Sox 6–2 Matsuzaka (13–2) Logan (2–3) 39,243 67–50 118 August 10 @ White Sox 6–5 Floyd (12–6) Buchholz (2–8) Jenks (24) 39,008 67–51 119 August 11 @ White Sox 5–1 Beckett (11–8) Danks (9–5) 32,634 68–51 120 August 12 Rangers 19–17 Okajima (3–2) Francisco (2–4) Papelbon (32) 38,004 69–51 121 August 13 Rangers 8–4 Lester (11–4) Mendoza (3–6) 37,876 70–51 122 August 14 Rangers 10–0 Matsuzaka (14–2) Hunter (0–2) 37,856 71–51 – August 15 Blue Jays Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 13 123 August 16 Blue Jays 4–1 Halladay (14–9) Byrd (7–11) 37,834 71–52 124 August 17 Blue Jays 15–4 Marcum (8–5) Beckett (11–9) 37,415 71–53 125 August 18 @ Orioles 6–3 Lester (12–4) Guthrie (10–9) Papelbon (33) 40,429 72–53 126 August 19 @ Orioles 7–2 Matsuzaka (15–2) Cabrera (8–8) 48,515 73–53 127 August 20 @ Orioles 11–6 Waters (2–0) Buchholz (2–9) 33,364 73–54 128 August 22 @ Blue Jays 8–4 Byrd (8–11) Marcum (8–6) 40,181 74–54 129 August 23 @ Blue Jays 11–0 Litsch (9–7) Lester (12–5) 44,986 74–55 130 August 24 @ Blue Jays 6–5 (11) Papelbon (5–3) League (0–2) Delcarmen (1) 44,521 75–55 131 August 26 @ Yankees 7–3 Wakefield (8–8) Pettitte (13–10) Papelbon (34) 55,058 76–55 132 August 27 @ Yankees 11–3 Byrd (9–11) Ponson (7–5) 55,027 77–55 133 August 28 @ Yankees 3–2 Rivera (5–5) Masterson (4–4) 55,092 77–56 134 August 29 White Sox 8–0 Matsuzaka (16–2) Vázquez (10–12) 37,755 78–56 135 August 30 White Sox 8–2 Bowden (1–0) Buehrle (11–11) 37,751 79–56 136 August 31 White Sox 4–2 Floyd (15–6) Wakefield (8–9) Jenks (12) 37,751 79–57 September (16-10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 137 September 1 Orioles 7–4 Byrd (10–11) Olson (8–7) Papelbon (35) 37,565 80–57 138 September 2 Orioles 14–2 Lester (13–5) Liz (5–4) 37,710 81–57 139 September 3 Orioles 5–4 Masterson (5–4) Miller (0–1) 37,373 82–57 140 September 5 @ Rangers 8–1 Beckett (12–9) Millwood (9–8) 30,264 83–57 141 September 6 @ Rangers 15–8 Harrison (7–3) Wakefield (8–10) 38,208 83–58 142 September 7 @ Rangers 7–2 Byrd (11–11) McCarthy (1–1) 28,644 84–58 143 September 8 Rays 3–0 Lester (14–5) Jackson (11–10) Papelbon (36) 37,662 85–58 144 September 9 Rays 5–4 Wheeler (4–5) Papelbon (5–4) Percival (28) 37,573 85–59 145 September 10 Rays 4–2 (14) Miller (2–0) Timlin (4–4) Hammel (1) 38,114 85–60 146 September 12 Blue Jays 7–0 Wakefield (9–10) Purcey (3–6) 37,398 86–60 147 September 13 Blue Jays 8–1 Burnett (18–10) Byrd (11–12) 37,341 86–61 148 September 13 Blue Jays 7–5 Masterson (6–4) Downs (0–3) Papelbon (37) 37,846 87–61 149 September 14 Blue Jays 4–3 Lester (15–5) Halladay (18–11) Papelbon (38) 37,007 88–61 150 September 15 @ Rays 13–5 Matsuzaka (17–2) Kazmir (11–7) 29,772 89–61 151 September 16 @ Rays 2–1 Wheeler (5–5) Masterson (6–5) 32,079 89–62 152 September 17 @ Rays 10–3 Balfour (5–2) Wakefield (9–11) 36,048 89–63 153 September 19 @ Blue Jays 4–3 Delcarmen (1–2) Tallet (1–2) Papelbon (39) 34,982 90–63 154 September 20 @ Blue Jays 6–3 Halladay (19–11) Lester (15–6) Ryan (32) 40,554 90–64 155 September 21 @ Blue Jays 3–0 Matsuzaka (18–2) Richmond (0–3) Papelbon (40) 38,814 91–64 156 September 22 Indians 4–3 Jackson (1–3) Beckett (12–10) Lewis (12) 37,828 91–65 157 September 23 Indians 5–4 Wakefield (10–11) Lee (22–3) Papelbon (41) 37,882 92–65 158 September 24 Indians 5–4 Aardsma (4–2) Pérez (4–4) Delcarmen (2) 37,719 93–65 159 September 25 Indians 6–1 Lester (16–6) Sowers (4–9) 37,726 94–65 160 September 26 Yankees 19–8 Robertson (4–0) Pauley (0–1) 37,301 94–66 – September 27 Yankees Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 28 161 September 28 Yankees 6–2 Mussina (20–9) Matsuzaka (18–3) Rivera (39) 37,091 94–67 162 September 28 Yankees 4–3 (10) Hansack (1–0) Veras (5–3) 37,440 95–67

2008 Postseason Game Log

ALDS vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (3-1) # Date Home R H E Away R H E Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 October 1 LAA 1 9 1 BOS 4 8 1 Lester (1–0) Lackey (0–1) Papelbon (1) 44,996 1–0 2 October 3 LAA 5 11 2 BOS 7 14 0 Papelbon (1–0) Rodríguez (0–1) 45,354 2–0 3(*) October 5 BOS 4 7 0 LAA 5 16 0 Weaver (1–0) Lopez (0–1) 39,067 2–1 4 October 6 BOS 3 9 0 LAA 2 6 1 Delcarmen (1–0) Shields (0–1) 38,785 3–1 * 12 innings. ALCS vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3-4) # Date Home R H E Away R H E Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 October 10 TB 0 4 0 BOS 2 7 0 Matsuzaka (1–0) Shields (0–1) Papelbon (1) 35,001 1–0 2(*) October 11 TB 9 12 0 BOS 8 12 0 Price (1–0) Timlin (0–1) 34,904 1–1 3 October 13 BOS 1 7 0 TB 9 13 0 Garza (1–0) Lester (0–1) 38,031 1–2 4 October 14 BOS 4 7 0 TB 13 14 3 Sonnanstine (1–0) Wakefield (0–1) 38,133 1–3 5 October 16 BOS 8 11 0 TB 7 8 1 Masterson (1–0) Howell (0–1) 38,437 2–3 6 October 18 TB 2 4 1 BOS 4 10 0 Beckett (1–0) Shields (0–2) Papelbon (2) 40,947 3–3 7 October 19 TB 3 6 1 BOS 1 3 0 Garza (2–0) Lester (0–2) Price (1) 40,473 3–4 * 11 innings.

Player stats

Batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases; Bold Indicates team leader in category.

Player	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG	SB
David Aardsma	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Jeff Bailey	27	50	10	14	1	1	2	6	.280	0
Jason Bay	49	184	39	54	12	2	9	37	.293	3
Josh Beckett	2	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Chris Carter	9	18	5	6	0	0	0	3	.333	0
Sean Casey	69	199	14	64	14	0	0	17	.322	1
Kevin Cash	61	142	11	32	7	0	3	15	.225	0
Bartolo Colón	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Alex Cora	75	152	14	41	8	2	0	9	.270	1
Coco Crisp	118	361	55	102	18	3	7	41	.283	20
Manny Delcarmen	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
J. D. Drew	109	368	79	103	23	4	19	64	.280	4
Jacoby Ellsbury	145	554	98	155	22	7	9	47	.280	50*
Craig Hansen	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Mark Kotsay	22	84	6	19	8	1	0	12	.226	0
George Kottaras	3	5	1	1	1	0	0	0	.200	0
Jon Lester	2	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Javier Lopez	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Mike Lowell	113	419	58	115	27	0	17	73	.274	2
Jed Lowrie	81	260	34	67	25	3	2	46	.258	1
Julio Lugo	82	261	27	70	13	0	1	22	.268	1
Justin Masterson	2	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Daisuke Matsuzaka	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Brandon Moss	34	78	7	23	5	1	2	11	.295	1
Hideki Okajima	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
David Ortiz	109	416	74	110	30	1	23	89	.264	1
Jonathan Papelbon	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Dustin Pedroia	157	653	118*	213**	54**	2	17	83	.326	20
Manny Ramirez	100	365	66	109	22	1	20	68	.299	1
David Ross	8	8	1	1	0	0	0	0	.125	0
Joe Thurston	4	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Mike Timlin	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Jonathan Van Every	11	17	0	4	0	1	0	5	.235	0
Jason Varitek	131	423	37	93	20	0	13	43	.220	0
Gil Velazquez	3	8	0	1	0	0	0	1	.125	0
Tim Wakefield	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Kevin Youkilis	145	538	91	168	43	4	29	115	.312	3
Team Totals	162	5596	845	1565	353	33	173	807	.280	120

Pitchers

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	R	ER	BB	K
David Aardsma	4	2	5.55	47	0	0	48.2	32	30	35	49
Josh Beckett	12	10	4.03	27	27	0	174.1	80	78	34f	172
Michael Bowden	1	0	3.60	1	1	0	5.0	2	2	1	3
Clay Buchholz	2	9	6.75	16	15	0	76.0	63	57	41	72
Paul Byrd	4	2	4.78	8	8	0	49.0	26	26	10	26
Bartolo Colón	4	2	3.92	7	7	0	39.0	23	17	10	27
Bryan Corey	0	0	10.50	7	0	0	6.0	7	7	3	4
Manny Delcarmen	1	2	3.27	73	0	2	74.1	28	27	28	72
Devern Hansack	1	0	4.05	4	0	0	6.2	5	3	1	5
Craig Hansen	1	3	5.58	32	0	2	30.2	23	19	23	25
Jon Lester	16	6	3.21	33	33	0	210.1	78	75	66	152
Javier López	2	0	2.43	70	0	0	59.1	18	16	27	38
Justin Masterson	6	5	3.16	36	9	0	88.1	31	31	40	68
Daisuke Matsuzaka	18	3	2.90a	29	29	0	167.2	58c	54	94	154
Hideki Okajima	3	2	2.61	64	0	1	62.0	18d	18	23	60
Jonathan Papelbon	5	4	2.34	67	0	41	69.1	24	18	8e	77
David Pauley	0	1	11.68	6	2	0	12.1	17	16	5	11
Chris Smith	1	0	7.85	12	0	0	18.1	16	16	7	13
Kyle Snyder	0	0	21.60	2	0	0	1.2	4	4	2	1
Julián Tavárez	0	1	6.39	9	0	0	12.2	12	9	9	6
Mike Timlin	4	4	5.66	47	0	1	49.1	32	31	20	32
Tim Wakefield	10	11	4.13	30	30	0	181.0	89	83	60	117
Charlie Zink	0	0	16.62	1	1	0	4.1	8	8	1	1
Team Totals	95	67	4.01	162	162	47	1446.1	694	645	548	1185

* indicates player led their respectable league in that certain category ** indicates player led all of baseball in that certain category

^a Led team in starters ERA ^b Led in team ERA ^c Allowed fewest runs as a starter for the Red Sox ^d Led team in runs allowed. ^e Led team in walks allowed. ^f Led starters in walks allowed.

Awards and honors

All-star Kevin Youkilis

• J. D. Drew – AL Player of the Month (June)
• Jon Lester – Hutch Award,^[11] AL Pitcher of the Month (July, September), AL Player of the Week (May 19–25)
• Dustin Pedroia – American League MVP, Silver Slugger Award (2B), Gold Glove Award (2B)^[12]
• Manny Ramirez – AL Player of the Week (April 14–April 20)
• Kevin Youkilis – Hank Aaron Award, AL Player of the Week (May 5–April 11)

All-Star Game^[13]

Starters Kevin Youkilis 1B Dustin Pedroia 2B Manny Ramirez OF David Ortiz DH (did not play)

Reserves Jason Varitek C J. D. Drew OF (MVP) Jonathan Papelbon RP

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Pawtucket Red Sox	International League	Ron Johnson
AA	Portland Sea Dogs	Eastern League	Arnie Beyeler
A-Advanced	Lancaster JetHawks	California League	Chad Epperson
A	Greenville Drive	South Atlantic League	Kevin Boles
A-Short Season	Lowell Spinners	New York–Penn League	Gary DiSarcina
Rookie	GCL Red Sox	Gulf Coast League	Dave Tomlin
Rookie	DSL Red Sox	Dominican Summer League	José Zapata

Source:^[14][15]