Boston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2012 ) Boston 7, Tampa Bay 5

The Tampa Bay Rays are running out of time - and games - to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Rays have lost four straight and seven of eight to fall six games behind in the American League East and wild card races with only 14 to play. Tampa Bay finishes the season with three games against the Orioles, but it will not matter if the Rays cannot figure out a way to beat Boston. The Red Sox have won the first two games of the series and are 9-5 against Tampa Bay this year.

While the Rays did put up five runs in Tuesday's loss, it was another feeble performance on the offensive end. Tampa Bay managed only three hits, including a pair of two-run singles by Ben Zobrist, and was sloppy in the field with its second straight three-error game. The Red Sox erased a 3-0 deficit Tuesday to improve to 4-1 on the current seven-game road trip, their best stretch since winning four of five from July 28-Aug. 1.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), SUN (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5, 7.14 ERA) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (0-3, 3.22)

Matsuzaka's return from injury has been highlighted by his trademark inconsistency. He is winless in his last three starts, getting a no-decision last time out after allowing four runs on only three hits in 5 1/3 innings against Toronto. Matsuzaka was shelled by the Blue Jays for five runs in only 1 1/3 innings in his previous start and roughed up for six runs in 3 2/3 innings at Oakland on Sept. 2. He is 2-7 with a 5.83 ERA lifetime against the Rays.

Archer is still seeking his first major-league win as he prepares to make his fourth start. He went 3 2/3 innings in relief last time out against Baltimore, allowing one run on three hits, and pitched superbly in his last start by striking out 11 and giving up two runs on four hits in seven innings against Texas. He has faced the same issues as other Tampa Bay pitchers, receiving eight runs of support in his four appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays have not lost five straight games since an 0-6 start to the 2011 season.

2. Red Sox RHP John Lackey, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw two simulated innings Tuesday and will pitch in an instructional league intrasquad game Sunday at Fort Myers.

3. Tampa Bay has already committed 109 errors this season, 36 more than its league-best total of 73 from 2011.