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Beckett, Red Sox hope to stop slide, face Devil Rays

Sep 21, 2007 - 2:20 PM Boston (90-63) at Tampa Bay (63-90) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - Josh Beckett looks to reach a meaningful number and in the process help his faltering team.

Beckett and the Boston Red Sox look to halt a four-game losing streak when they open a three-game series with the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday.

After a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, Boston saw its lead in the American League East cut to 1 1/2 games over the New York Yankees, who have won four straight. The Red Sox's lead had been seven on September 4.

To stop the slide, Beckett (19-6, 3.20 ERA) takes the ball looking to become the first 20-game winner in the major leagues.

The 27-year-old righthander won his third straight start by outdueling fellow AL Cy Young Award contender Chien-Ming Wang in a 10-1 win over the Yankees on Saturday.

Since dropping his final two starts in July, Beckett is 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA in eight outings, posting 57 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. The 2007 All-Star, who is also 10-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 12 road starts, has a .500 record (2-2) in four career starts vs. Tampa Bay.

The Devil Rays, who have lost three straight games and seven of nine, send out Scott Kazmir (13-8, 3.54), who looks to match a career high with his fifth consecutive win.

The fireballing lefthander, who ranks second in the AL with 220 strikeouts, blew away 10 Boston hitters in a 1-0 victory on September 10. Since the All-Star break, Kazmir is 8-2 while fanning a major-league leading 105 batters.

The 23-year-old is also 6-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts vs. the Red Sox, including 2-1 in seven outings at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay owns the worst record in baseball, two games worse than division rival Baltimore.