Series Preview: Rays @ Sox

Devil Rays (45-72) @ Red Sox (70-47)
Standings: Sox up 3 on NYY, up 25 on TB

Season Series: Sox lead 5-1

Probable Pitching Matchups:
GM1 Mon 705 Shields (9-7, 4.32) vs. Wakefield (13-10, 4.81)
GM2 Tue 705 Kazmir (9-7, 3.58) vs. Lester (1-0, 6.43)
GM3 Wed 105 Sonnanstine (1-8, 6.35) vs. Matsuzaka (13-8, 3.59)

Keep an Eye on: Carl Crawford .315/72R/62RBI/37SB--the only thing hotter than the Rays' All Star left fielder was the temps at the PGA Championship this weekend. Since Aug 1st C.C. is batting an incredible .520 (26-50) with 8 XBHs, 14 runs scored, 7 ribbies and 4 steals, and his 0-5 yesterday snapped a 12-game hitting streak.

Preview
Ah, just what the doctor ordered for an ailing first place team: a visit from the D-Rays.

Unfortunately the way the Sox are playing right now, even playing a team that has lost 38 of its last 54 games doesn't mean Boston will win this series.

Especially if you remember the way the last meeting between these two clubs played out.

I certainly do, because I was there, sitting a mere 12 rows from the field when Dice-K took a shutout into the 8th inning, only to surrender a home run to Dioner Navarro, then hand the game over to Manny D., who promptly gave up gopher balls to BJ Upton and Carlos Pena to seal the Sox fate.

So you see, just because the Sox usually bitchslap the Rays like Ike Turner doesn't mean this series will go the way it needs to: a demoralizing, high-scoring sweep.

Anything less will be completely unacceptable.

In order to restore the sagging faith of the Nation, as well as keep the streaking Stankees at bay, Boston needs to win each game of this 3-game set by an average score of 10-1.

No 1-run squeakers, no come-from-behind wins, no appearances by the beleaguered bullpen necessary.

Just three straight good old fashioned ass-kickings, and then maybe us worriers who are on the verge of a nervous breakdown can relax for a minute before the big bad Angels come to town and stir up our nightmares of this last road trip all over again.

Other than Game 2 the pitching matchups are squarely in the Sox favor. D-Ray killer Tim Wakefield, who owns a 17-2 lifetime mark against Tampa Bay, will take the mound tonight looking to extend his streak of recording a decision in every game he has started this season.

His opponent, James Shields, got off to a terrific start this season but has fallen back to earth lately, losing 6 of his last 10 starts while surrendering 27 hits and 17 earned runs in his last 22 innings for a 6.95 ERA.

In Game 2 Scott Kazmir will take his 5-3 career record with a 2.55 ERA against Boston to the mound and face Jon Lester in his first home start since returning from cancer.

Hopefully the emotion of the moment will propel the Sox to a soild victory in this one.

And in Game 3 Dice-K will oppose Rays rookie Andy Sonnanstine, who after winning his first decision has lost 8 straight, making this game look like a mismatch of epic proportions.

Like I said anything less than a sweep will conjure up more talk of choking and references of 1978 and 2006 from Sox bashers, so Boston needs to take care of business and demolish the Rays just to hold the line on its slim 4-game lead.

As long as Gagne remains safely chained to the bullpen bench, everything should be alright.