Shields outduels Bard as Rays beat Sox, 1-0.

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BOSTON -- Last week in Toronto, Bobby Valentine chastised himself for being "dumb" and costing the Red Sox a chance at a victory.
He might be feeling the same way today.
With Daniel Bard wilting in the summer-like heat, Valentine didn't lift Bard until he had given up a hit and three walks to the last four batters he faced -- with the last two walks, which forced in the game's only run, coming on eight consecutive pitches out of the strike zone -- as the Sox missed a chance at a four-game sweep of the Rays by dropping the Patriots' Day finale, 1-0.
James Shields shut down the Sox offense, which had raked Tampa Bay pitching for 31 runs in the first three games of the series, on four hits over 8 13 innings. Fernando Rodney retired the final two batters for the save.
Bard matched Shields pitch for pitch until there were two outs in the seventh. He walked Sean Rodriguez, then gave up a single to Desmond Jennings.
Left-hander Justin Thomas was ready in the bullpen, but Valentine left Bard in to pitch to the left-handed-hitting Carlos Pena. Bard walked Pena on four pitches, running his pitch count to 111 and loading the bases.
Up stepped the Rays' best hitter, Evan Longoria. Right-hander Matt Albers was warm, but Valentine -- mindful, perhaps, that Bard had already struck out Longoria twice -- didn't make a move. And Bard walked Longoria on four more pitches, forcing in the run that gave the Rays the win.
The Red Sox threatened in the ninth but, with runners at first and second and two outs, Cody Ross -- who was infuriated by plate umpire Larry Vanover's call -- was rung up on strikes, ending the game.

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