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Red Sox, Rays open crucial series in Boston

Sep 8, 2008 - 1:58 PM TAMPA BAY (85-56) AT BOSTON (84-58), 7:05pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Six games over the next 10 days may well decide the American League East title.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox kick off a three-game series at Fenway Park on Monday with the division championship squarely at stake. The upstart Rays were in full control at the end of August, but have lost five of six games to open the month. The Red Sox, meanwhile, have won five of six to pull to within 1 1/2 games of first place - the closest the race has been since July 28, when Boston was one game back.

Despite inconsistencies in their lineup from day to day due to a variety of lingering injuries and a few midseason transactions, the Red Sox have taken everything in stride. All-Star first baseman Kevin Youkilis missed several days with back spasms, but returned in strong fashion on Saturday by hitting a three-run homer in a losing cause. Third baseman Mike Lowell came back from a stint on the disabled list on Friday and had three hits and four RBI.

Even recently acquired outfielder Mark Kotsay has fit right into the Boston lineup without a hitch, driving in nine runs in eight games for the Red Sox.

The teams will play Monday in front of a packed Fenway Park as the Red Sox will set the record for consecutive home sellouts at 456 games - breaking the previous record set by Cleveland's Jacobs Field from 1995-2001.

Boston lefthander Jon Lester (13-5, 3.37 ERA) takes the hill looking to remain undefeated against the Rays in his career. He has held them in check twice this year, limiting them to one run on both May 4 and June 5, both victories.

The Rays will counter with righthander Edwin Jackson (11-9, 4.07), who was on a roll before struggling in his last start. In a September 3 loss to the New York Yankees, he was shelled for 10 hits and six runs in just 3 1/3 innings of an 8-4 loss. Prior to that, he had won six of seven decisions, holding opponents to three runs or less in each start.