• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Sox-Rays Preview

Jul 7, 2010 - 5:05 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Boston (49-34) at Tampa Bay (49-33), 7:10 p.m. EDT

After slumping through most of June, the Tampa Bay Rays have regained their swagger.

Somewhat surprising, however, is their only loss in the past week came with their best pitcher on the mound.

David Price, a tough-luck loser in his last outing, looks to lead the surging Rays to a fifth consecutive victory Wednesday night and a sweep over the Boston Red Sox.

A 5-12 stretch from June 10-29 dropped Tampa Bay (50-33) from first place to third in the AL East. By winning six of seven since, the Rays have climbed back into second and pulled within two games of division-leading New York.

"I just think we're getting proverbial mojo back," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said following Tuesday's 3-2 win over the third-place Red Sox (49-35). "We're playing better. We feel better about ourselves. The confidence is coming back and we're winning some close games."

Although Tampa Bay has won the first two games of this series by one run, its lone loss in seven games was a 2-1 defeat in Minnesota on Friday. Price (11-4, 2.42 ERA) threw a four-hitter with four walks, but had a one-hitter going with two outs in the seventh before the Twins put together three straight hits to score both runs.

Price, the AL leader in victories and second in ERA, was selected to his first All-Star Game on Sunday. Considering how well he's pitched, the 24-year-old could be chosen as the AL starter.

"Only two people get to start this game each year, so that would be a great honor," Price told the Rays' official website.

Although this is Tampa Bay's fourth series against the Red Sox, this will be Price's first start against them this season. The left-hander went 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts against Boston in 2009 - both at Tropicana Field. He is 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA in seven home starts this year.

Price has struggled against Kevin Youkilis, and the Boston first baseman hasn't ruled out playing in the series finale after leaving Tuesday because of pain in his right ankle.

Youkilis irritated the ankle capsule while in the field, which caused it to lock up and give the feeling of a cramp as he stepped to the plate in the fourth inning. X-rays were negative on Youkilis, who is one of five candidates to fill the final roster spot for the AL All-Star team via Internet voting.

"I'll be good to go," he said. "It may have been the turf and all that, I don't know. It was very strange."

Youkilis, who has two homers and five RBIs in his last four games, is 4 for 6 with two doubles lifetime against Price.

The Red Sox, losers of three in a row, counter with Tim Wakefield (3-6, 4.96), who allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings in Friday's 3-2 win over Baltimore. The knuckleballer has been pitching much better lately, going 2-2 with a 3.25 ERA in his last five starts to lower his ERA from 6.02.

Wakefield is 20-5 with a 3.45 ERA in 42 games - 32 starts - lifetime against Tampa Bay, his most wins against any opponent and best ERA against any AL team. Despite his overall success against the Rays, the 18-year veteran is 1-3 with an 8.26 ERA in his last six starts - all at Tropicana Field.