ST. Jerseys Cheap . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- James Shields and the Tampa Bay Rays got the sweep they needed to charge back into the playoff race. Shields came within two outs of his 12th complete game this season while B.J. Upton hit his first grand slam as the Rays routed the fading Boston Red Sox 9-1 on Sunday. Tampa Bay moved within 3 1/2 games of the AL wildcard leaders, sweeping the three-game series to go a season-high 17 games over .500 at 81-64. The Rays have won 21 games in a row when scoring five runs or more. "We needed to win these," manager Joe Maddon said. "Theres no other way to look at it. Under the circumstances, youve got to do what we did or its pretty much almost impossible to recover. "Our guys believe we can do this. Its truly not impossible." Tampa Bay was 10 games behind the New York Yankees in the wildcard standings Aug. 7. Boston has lost five consecutive games, its longest skid since opening the season 0-6, and nine-of-11 overall. The teams play each other four more times, in a four-game series beginning Thursday night at Fenway Park. "Were kind of in a fight right now, we know that," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said about his teams recent play. "Its not real pretty. Well come out and fight, and hopefully play better. I always feel like were going to play well and when we dont, were going to fix it. I still feel that way." Shields (15-10), who has won four consecutive starts en route to his career-best 15th win, allowed seven hits over 8 1-3 innings. Coming off a 5-1 complete-game victory over Texas last Monday, the right-hander was replaced by Dane De La Rosa after issuing a one-out walk in the ninth on his 121st pitch. "Were back in the hunt," Shields said. "They know that were right behind them." The Rays went up 8-1 on Uptons 20th homer in the fifth off Matt Albers. Upton finished with four hits and walked once. He and his brother Justin of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the first set of siblings in major league history to both have 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season. "Couldnt ask for a better day," Upton said. Jon Lester (15-7) gave up four runs and eight hits over four innings for the Red Sox. Boston starting pitchers have gone five innings or less in nine of the last 11 games. Boston is off Monday, while Tampa Bay will begin an 11-game road trip at Baltimore. Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann (9-7) will go against left-hander Zach Britton (9-9). "I dont think there will be a letdown," Niemann said. "I think everyone knows what our goal is here. Take care of business. ... We have to win." The Red Sox did get some encouraging news: Francona said Josh Beckett, out with a sprained right ankle, is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound Monday. After loading the bases with no outs in the first, Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead on Ben Zobrists two-run single off Lester. Sean Rodriguez made it 3-0 later in the inning with a sacrifice fly. Lester had allowed one earned run or less in his previous five starts, going 4-0 during that stretch. The left-hander threw 43 pitches in the first and 111 overall. Rodriguez put the Rays up 4-1 with an RBI double in the third. Marco Scutaro got the Red Sox within 3-1 on a third-inning homer. It stopped a personal stretch of 161 at-bats without a home run, dating to July 15 against Tampa Bay. Shields worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam later in the third when David Ortiz flied out and Josh Reddick was retired on a foul pop. The Red Sox had two on and one out in the second, but Jason Varitek hit a double-play grounder. Bostons Jacoby Ellsbury, who turned 28 on Sunday, extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a fifth-inning single. NOTES: Rays closer Kyle Farnsworth (right elbow) will be re-evaluated Tuesday. ... Boston RHP John Lackey (bruised left calf) is listed to make his next scheduled start on Wednesday. ... Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (back) threw at 60 feet on level ground and could soon be ready to throw off a bullpen mound. ... Tampa Bay purchased the contract of utility man Russ Canzler and recalled De La Rosa from triple-A Durham. RHP Mike Ekstrom was designated for assignment. ... Boston RHP Tim Wakefield (6-6), still looking for his 200th career win, will face Toronto RHP Brandon Morrow (9-10) on Tuesday night. Cheap Jerseys Authentic . "There are a lot of kids out there in my situation, probably far worse situations," he said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . The 18-year-old from Toronto was named to Canadas roster for a friendly on June 18 against Germany after the defender scored her first goal for her country in last months 1-1 draw with the United States in Winnipeg. DAVIE, Fla. -- Chad Johnson understands many were writing him off after his forgettable 2011 season with the New England Patriots. He even acknowledged questioning himself. But less than a week into training camp with the Miami Dolphins, Johnson said he has no doubt he can recapture the form that made him a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals. "Why? Because Im good," Johnson said Wednesday. "Im really good. The odds have been stacked against me since 1978. I had a bad year. Finally. I handled my business for a decade straight. I hit an obstacle. I didnt complain. I didnt become a distraction. I took a bullet, worked this off-season, Im here, still working. Im not complaining. Ill be back to normal. I dont have a choice." Johnson, signed by the Dolphins in June four days after he was released by New England, spoke to reporters for the first time since the start of training camp. But Johnson, with painted black fingernails minus the gold shoes he had worn at practice, made it worth the wait. "Ive always been humble, but when its time to play the game and I cross the line, Ive got to be me," Johnson said. "Thats what made me, me. Im not a bad guy at all. I have fun. I give you guys things to write about and Ill do the same this year also. Ive got to make up a years worth of work, so you guys are going to be working double time." Its an entirely different atmosphere for Johnson this summer, who has been allowed to be his outlandish self. That wasnt the case last year in New England. "It feels good to be able to breathe again," Johnson said. "Without getting into it, you should know what I mean. It feels good to be able to breathe. What youre seeing now, what youre hearing as far as how Im doing in camp, thats the way it used to be for 10 years straight. Thats me. Thats always been me, keeping everybody loose, including in the locker room, outside, bringing a different type of energy. But when its time to play, I always show up and I play." After averaging 76 catches the previous nine years, Johnson caught only 15 passes in 15 games in 2011 after the Patriots acquired him in a trade with Cincinnati for a pair of draft picks. Johnson, though, said he didnt regret his one season in New England. He said he learned a lot, including discipline, and how to shut up for an entire year. "I never thought I could do it, but I did it," Johnson saiid. Cheap Jerseys. "I didnt do one interview that entire season. Even though I wasnt able to produce, wasnt able to play like I wanted to, I learned a lot of things there. Its made me a better player." Needing help at wide receiver after trading talented yet controversial Brandon Marshall to Chicago in the off-season, the Dolphins signed Johnson after giving him a workout. First-year coach Joe Philbin said no promises were made to Johnson, only that hed be given the opportunity to compete. Philbin said Johnson has caught the ball well in training camp so far and also has impressed with his work ethic. "This guy likes football a lot," Philbin said. "He comes up to our meetings sometimes and just wants to hang around. Hes a little bit of a gym rat in that regard, which is good. You like players that like the game and he wants to know. Hes not afraid of being coached." Even though his 766 career receptions are 276 more than the other 11 wide receivers on the Miami roster combined, Johnson isnt taking anything for granted. He said he is approaching camp with the mindset he has to earn a spot and prove himself after last year. "That was horrible," Johnson said. "I mean, 15 catches? Come on. "Im working. Im working like a rookie again. Im flying around. Im running around like a young dude, just having fun, being detailed, being consistent and working on my one weakness, which has always been blocking. Its no secret. Getting open, never been a problem." Johnson has never been shy about talking to his quarterbacks, and that clearly hasnt changed. "The other night we were walking out, we had the (next) day off and I said, Chad, what are you going to do on your break? " Matt Moore recalled. "He said, I dont know, but Ill probably be open. "I love it. Thats the kind of guy he is. He keeps everything light. Hes been a pleasure to work with so far." Johnson, who recently changed his name back from Ochocinco after his Fourth of July wedding to reality television star Evelyn Lozada, is serious when it comes to re-establishing himself as an elite wide receiver. Especially now that hes playing in his hometown. "Being here is awesome," Johnson said. "Im home. Its good to be home and I dont have a choice but succeed. There are a lot of eyes watching in general, but being here, Ive got to, bro. Really. Cant fail. Not home." wholesale nfl jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
