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Rays open pivotal series in Boston

Sep 15, 2011 - 3:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays put a bit of a scare into the Boston Red Sox this past weekend at the Trop. The Rays try to get themselves even closer in the wild card standings tonight when the American League East rivals begin a four-game set at Fenway Park.

Tampa, though, failed to carry the momentum from their three-game sweep over the Red Sox last weekend, as it lost two of three to the hapless Baltimore Orioles, including a 6-2 setback on Wednesday.

Matt Joyce drove in both runs for the Rays, who had won five straight prior to dropping the past two games. Wade Davis (10-9) had a two-start winning streak snapped, as he gave up four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Tampa enters tonight's set four games back of the wild card-leading Red Sox.

"We're in a position to do it and that's all we can ask for," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon about the upcoming series. "Go there for four and hopefully play very well and see what happens."

The deficit could have been worse, but Boston suffered a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday to Toronto, as it allowed three runs in the eighth inning of a 5-4 loss in Beantown.

Adrian Gonzalez homered and Jason Varitek added an RBI for the Red Sox, who have dropped 10 of their last 13, but remained four games behind the Yankees in the AL East. New York lost at Seattle in 12 innings Wednesday night.

"They're all crushing at this point," Varitek said of the latest defeat. "We've played better the last few days. There are some things to take from today."

Heading to the hill for the Red Sox tonight will be righty Kyle Weiland, who is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. Weiland did not get a decision against the Rays on Saturday, as he allowed three runs and six hits with three walks in four innings of a 6-5 loss.

This will be just the fourth big league start of his career.

The Rays, meanwhile, will counter with right-handed rookie Jeremy Hellickson, who is 12-10 with a 2.96 ERA. Hellickson opposed Weiland on Saturday and also did not get a decision, as he gave up three runs and five hits in six innings.

"I think he was trying to be a bit too fine at times," Tampa manager Joe Maddon said. "He's got a really good fastball. It's quick and sneaky. So that was what did not permit him to get deeper into the game, I think. Just pitch selection in general."

Hellickson has faced the Red Sox three times this season and is 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA.

Tampa has won nine of its 14 matchups with the Red Sox this season and is 4-1 at Fenway, where it won six of nine a year ago.