Game Preview: Rays @ Sox GM3

Kazmir (NR) vs. Lester (1-2, 4.31)
Game 3 of 3 1:35 at Fenway Park

While the majority of the Hub will be tuned in to the NBA Playoffs as the hometown Cs try to expunge the pesky Hawks in Game 7 of their first round series, the Sox will be attempting to return the favor for the three game sweep the Rays gave them last weekend in St. Petersburg.

The last time a Celtics playoff game overshadowed a Red Sox game it was a misty, damp night in April of 1986.

On that evening, while the Cs were defeating (catch the irony here) the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, 119-108, a young fireballer named Roger Clemens struck out 20 Seattle Mariners in a game that was attended by about 10,000 fans.

History was made at Fenway while the rest of the city was watching the Celtics (Globe photo)

You know, back before he was a 'roided up philanderer.

Coincidentally the forecast calls for rain today in Boston, and that combined with the win-or-go-home urgency of Game 7 could make for similar circumstances today at Fenway.

Of course there will be more than 10,000 fans on hand, and another sellout is already assured due to advance sales, but don't be surprised if the stands are a little more sparsely populated today than usual.

Which is too bad because this could be another memorable game for the Sox.

Scott Kazmir makes his 2008 season debut for Tampa Bay, and since the 07 strikeout king owns the best ERA (2.73) at Fenway of any opposing starter, who knows if he could provide a Clemens-like outing this afternoon.

Kazmir has not played in a game this season after being diagnosed with an elbow strain early in spring training. The injury was initially thought to be minor, but here it is almost two months later and the young lefty is just taking the mound for the first time.

Needless to say it remains to be seen how long he will be able to go, or how effective he will be.

For the Sox Jon Lester will look to build on his impressive last outing, when he limited Toronto to one hit in 8 innings of a 1-0 Boston win. The lefty has been inconsistent at times this season, but has showed signs of finally realizing the potential the team believed he had before he was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago.

Boston will be without the services of rookie right fielder Brandon Moss, who had to be rushed to the hospital before last night's game for an emergency appendectomy. That means JD Drew will have to make it through this game healthy, a tall task considering the condition the field will be in as well as the condition of his brittle body.

So if the game doesn't get postponed, Boston will look to sweep the Rays and repay them for last weeks' embarrassing sweep.

We'll have to wait and see whether or not history is made again on the diamond while the Mean Green are trying to avoid another kind of history across town.

Go Sox and Celts!