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Rays-Red Sox Preview

Apr 20, 2016 - 5:15 AM Chris Archer has admittedly not helped himself with his inefficiency, but the Tampa Bay Rays right-hander has also received paltry run support while adding to a winless stretch that dates back to September.

The Boston Red Sox's Rick Porcello hasn't experienced that issue so far this season and will seek to improve to 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Archer (0-3, 5.87 ERA) hasn't made it though the sixth inning in any of his first three starts, with a 1.96 WHIP and a 4.70 rate of walks per nine innings not aiding his cause. He's given up three runs in two of those games, including his latest outing Thursday against Cleveland.

Archer was on the wrong end of a 6-0 defeat and has gotten a combined two runs of support so far this season.

"Obviously, there is room for growth, but the one thing I want to do, beyond not give up the two (earned) runs, is pitch a little deeper into the game," he told MLB's official website. "And if you eliminate those walks, those are three potential outs."

Archer hasn't won since a 6-3 victory in Baltimore on Aug. 31 and is 0-6 with a 5.83 ERA in his last nine starts, including two against Boston. He gave up a combined four runs in 10 innings in those games.

Since winning his first matchup with the Red Sox, Archer is 0-6 with a 5.12 ERA in his last 10 starts in the series and has gotten 13 runs of support.

The Rays (6-7) have totaled 13 runs in three straight victories after pushing across one over three consecutive defeats but waited until the 10th inning before getting on the board in a 3-0 victory in Tuesday's opener at Fenway Park.

Kevin Kiermaier ended the scoreless game with his first home run of the season, and Desmond Jennings had a two-run double in Tampa Bay's fourth consecutive win in Boston, matching its longest streak there.

After starter Joe Kelly was forced to leave in the first, four Red Sox relievers combined for 8 1-3 scoreless innings until Matt Barnes gave up Kiermaier's homer. Kelly is expected to head to the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement

The Red Sox's lineup registered just one hit,, Jackie Bradley Jr.'s third-inning single, after averaging nearly 4.9 runs in their previous 12 games.

"We're in a game where we get one opportunity in that third inning, where we've got bases loaded nobody out and can't convert," manager John Farrell said.

Boston (6-7) has given Rick Porcello (2-0, 5.11) a combined 13 runs of support in his first two starts, both against Toronto. He gave up three runs - on a pair of Edwin Encarnacion homers - in his 6 1-3 innings in a 5-3 victory Friday.

Porcello allowed four runs in six innings in an 8-4 win April 9, and it's the first time he's won the first two decisions in a season. He is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his last five starts against Tampa Bay but suffered a 6-2 loss at Fenway in his most recent matchup Sept. 23, getting charged with three runs and 11 hits in seven-plus innings.

Brad Miller has homered in each of his two at-bats against the right-hander but is batting .128 this season.

David Ortiz is 9 for 26 with two homers lifetime against Archer, while Bradley is 1 for 12 with five strikeouts.