The Red Sox exploded for an eight-run third inning en route to a rain-shortened 9-1 win over Tampa Bay. The Sox went hitless in the first two innings against Rays starter Wade Davis (0-1) before exploding for seven knocks -- including a three-run, bases-loaded double by Alex Gonzalez -- to plate eight runs. Kevin Youkilis added the Sox' final run with a solo homer, his 25th of the year.
 
The offensive outburst made a winner of starter Josh Beckett (15-6), who won his first game in exactly a month by logging five innings and allowing four hits and one run while striking out four and walking one. Thanks to the rains that ended the game in the top of the sixth inning, Beckett recorded his career-high fourth complete game of 2009.

The Nashville Predators are one of several teams in the running for a potential Phil Kessel trade with the Boston Bruins, according to the Tennessean, and Nashville GM David Poile confirmed interest to the newspaper in a report published Saturday. Poile admitted that he's spoken with both Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli and Kessel's agent, Wade Arnott, in recent days, and had nothing but flattering things to say about the 21-year-old sniper. "He's a young player that scores goals," said Poile, who also admitted that the Preds wouldn't be interested in signing Kessel to an offer sheet "and that's very much of interest to us. We've talked concepts. I'd be very interested to see if there might be something he would like from the Predators.''