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Rays hope to pull further ahead vs. Red Sox

Jul 1, 2008 - 2:13 PM Boston (50-35) at Tampa Bay (50-32) 7:10 p.m. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Owners of the best record in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays will be looking to put some more distance between themselves and the Boston Red Sox when the teams meet Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

The Rays jumped into first place in the American League East on Sunday and widened the gap to 1 1/2 games over the Red Sox on Monday, claiming a 5-4 victory in the series opener.

B.J. Upton set the tone in the first at-bat of the game, clubbing his first homer since June 8, and Gabe Gross homered in the fourth as Tampa Bay built just enough of a lead to hold off a late rally by Boston.

The Rays have won six of seven and are proving that their early season success was no fluke as they continue to take down top competition. They swept National League contenders Florida and the Chicago Cubs during interleague play and own a 31-13 record at home.

Matt Garza (6-4,3.76 ERA) will be on the mound Tuesday as Tampa Bay attempts to clinch the three-game set. The 24-year-old righthander is coming off perhaps the best start of his career Thursday against the Marlins in which he allowed just one hit - a seventh-inning solo homer to Hanley Ramirez - and struck out 10 in his first complete game.

Garza has faced the Red Sox twice this season, going 0-1 while allowing 10 runs - eight earned - in 10 1/3 innings.

Boston will counter with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (5-5, 3.88). The veteran righthander has been stellar of late, tossing seven scoreless innings to earn a win last Wednesday and compiling a 2.09 ERA in his last six starts.

While Wakefield owns a career 19-3 record against the Rays, he is 0-1 against them in his last three starts - dating back to last season - with a 9.00 ERA.