Boston Red Sox (85-58) @ Tampa Bay Rays (78-64)
John Lackey (12-11, 6.11) @ Wade Davis (9-8, 4.50)
7:10 PM EDT | Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510

GAME NOTES

The Red Sox again failed to gain ground on the Yankees last night, dropping the final game of the series against the Blue Jays. On to St. Petersburg, where John Lackey gets the ball. Lackey holds a successful 12-5 career record against the Rays (with a 3.81 ERA) but is 1-1 against them this season with a 4.38 ERA in two starts. Lackey too the loss in his last outing against Texas.

Wade Davis faces the Sox tonight. Davis has never won against the Red Sox, going 0-2 in four starts with a 11.12 ERA against the Sox. Hopefully that portends success for the Red Sox, who have lost seven of their last ten games.

Lineups

Boston Red Sox

  1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
  2. Marco Scutaro, SS
  3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
  4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
  5. David Ortiz, DH
  6. Carl Crawford, LF
  7. Jed Lowrie, 3B
  8. Josh Reddick, RF
  9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Tampa Bay Rays

  1. Desmond Jennings, LF
  2. B.J. Upton, CF
  3. Evan Longoria, 3B
  4. Ben Zobrist, 2B
  5. Johnny Damon, DH
  6. Matt Joyce, RF
  7. Casey Kotchman, 1B
  8. John Jaso, C
  9. Reid Brignac, SS

INJURY REPORT

Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); J.D. Drew, left shoulder impingement (placed on 15-day DL July 26, currently rehabbing)

Tampa Bay: Alex Cobb, thoracic outlet syndrome (placed on the 15-day DL August 7)

Need tickets for the Boston Red Sox? Visit Coast to Coast Tickets for Fenway tickets.

Fun Facts

-With his next home run, David Ortiz will have hit 30 home runs for the seventh time with the Red Sox, which will tie Manny Ramirez for second all-time for the Red Sox. Ted Williams leads in that category with eight.

– On September 9, 1907, Cy Young faced off against Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia A’s. In 13 innings, neither pitcher allowed a run or a walk.

-And for today’s Totally Untrue Fun Fact: Rays’ starter Wade Davis is the love child of Wade Boggs and Ann B. Davis, who played Alice on The Brady Bunch.