01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- With only 33 games remaining in the regular season and the American League East pennant on the line, everything counts.

It is going to be the little things -- as cliché as it sounds -- that determine whether the Boston Red Sox win their first division title since 1995. The Sox have finished second to New York for the last 10 seasons, and Boston has only a slight lead over its hated rival.

So attention to detail will be critical.

The Red Sox demonstrated that sense of urgency last night in a 10-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Fenway Park. Just because the cellar-dwelling Devil Rays are in town, Boston isn't taking them lightly.

"It's a lot more important to do the little things than it is the big things," said Red Sox reliever Mike Myers. "This game can bite you in the butt really quick if you don't do the little things; it will lead to a lot of big things for the other teams. Where we are and all the teams right there in the wild-card race, it's critical we run full bore from here on out. Mistakes are going to happen, but you don't want them to be mental."

Sox starter Matt Clement proved once again how tough he is; Manny Ramirez hustled on a groundout to third; second baseman Alex Cora showcased his heads-up ability in the field, at the plate and on the base paths, and the team's offense did the rest last night.

Johnny Damon and David Ortiz provided the long ball as each belted a solo homer in the first inning. Ortiz added his second home run of the game in the seventh, a solo moon shot. For Damon, it was his 16th career leadoff homer and first since Sept. 7 of last season. Ortiz crushed his 34th and 35th round-trippers of the season (117 RBI) for his seventh two-homer game this year and the 18th of his career.

The rest of the Sox' offense was on its toes, too, as each batter recorded at least one hit.

Bill Mueller increased his hitting streak to 12 games with a double off the scoreboard in left in the fifth. Cora had two hits, including an RBI single, while John Olerud chipped in three hits.

The defense wasn't too shabby, either.

Other than Damon's miscue on a fly ball to shallow left-center in the fifth, the Sox were flawless in the field. Actually, Damon was screened on the play as left fielder Ramirez cut in front of him instead of pealing off after Damon had called for the ball.

Clement retired five of the first seven batters he faced before the rain started at Fenway Park, forcing a 1-hour, 43-minute delay. What was more impressive, Clement returned after the long wait and finished five-plus innings, leaving in the top of the sixth with a 7-1 lead. Tampa Bay starter Seth McClung did not return after the rain delay.

Cora was especially outstanding in the field.

After the Rays' Carl Crawford had led off the fourth with a single to left-center, he attempted to steal second. But as he took off, Jorge Cantu lifted a fly ball to right. Cora faked the runner out by calling for a double-play feed and Crawford fell for it. In turn, Trot Nixon made the catch and quickly made the throw to first to double up Crawford.

Myers flashed his defensive skills, as well. He snared a hard grounder back to the mound in the sixth and started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play. In fact, the Sox' defense turned four double plays in the game.

Aspects of last night's game could go unnoticed during the early months of the season, but with a little more than a month remaining in the regular season, the little things will be crucial to Boston's success.

The Red Sox are a veteran team, and the players realize what lies ahead. Boston's players are confident, and say they will do whatever it takes to win.

"This last month of the season is a big determination of how we are going to rate the whole season," said Myers. "Hopefully, we'll find our stride this week."

Last night's performance was a big step in the right direction.