Boston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Boston 5, Tampa Bay 6

THE STORY: A week ago the Boston Red Sox were in complete control of the wild-card race and had set their sights on the AL East title. Just seven days later, a nine-game lead in the wild-card standings is down to just 4 1/2 as Boston faces hard-charging Tampa Bay on Sunday. Jon Lester bears the weight of Red Sox Nation as he takes the mound Sunday. The ace of the Boston staff and the lone healthy rotation regular, Lester will be asked to breathe life into the dying Red Sox playoff hopes opposite Tampa Bay’s James Shields.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, NESN, SUN

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (15-6, 2.93 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (14-10, 2.77 ERA)

If the Red Sox lose Sunday with Lester on the mound it will almost certainly be panic time in Beantown. Lester is the lone healthy remaining starter left for the Red Sox, who are without Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Erik Bedard. Lester is 10-4 lifetime against the Rays and beat them 3-1 in August, limiting Tampa Bay to three hits and one run in seven innings while fanning eight. Opponents are hitting .223 against the lefty, who has won his last four decisions.

Shields has a stunning 11 complete games on the season, and has allowed just two runs over 26 innings in his last three starts. Shields lost the 3-1 duel against Lester and the Red Sox on Aug. 16 and was beaten by Boston at home in mid-July. But Shields is on a roll, and would likely be a Cy Young candidate were it not for a lack of run support in several of his starts. Shields has four shutouts this season.

ABOUT THE RAYS (80-64): Tampa Bay has seven walk-off wins in its last 21 games. The Rays have won six of their last seven games and are charging in the wild-card race. Evan Longoria was the latest hero with a walk-off single in the 11th inning on Saturday night to score Desmond Jennings who led off the inning with a triple. Jennings’ shot fell between Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury and Darnell McDonald in right center field. Ellsbury seemed to pull up on the ball to avoid a collision with McDonald and the ball rolled to the wall. Longoria sealed it with a solid single up the middle off Daniel Bard who has lost his last two appearances. Tampa Bay closer Kyle Farnsworth has blown his last two save opportunities.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (85-60): Kevin Youkilis could return to the lineup Sunday, but it's more likely that he’ll wait until Boston’s next series begins on Tuesday. Youkilis has missed the last two games due to a hip injury and a reported sports hernia he has chosen to play through. Manager Terry Francona said that Youkilis received a shot on Saturday and could play on Sunday. Boston’s lineup showed some life on Saturday, getting a two-run homer by Adrian Gonzalez and dramatic back-to-back homers from Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ellsbury in the ninth inning off Tampa Bay closer Kyle Farnsworth to tie the game.

FINAL PITCH: Boston has lost eight of its last 10 games but is a remarkable 22-5 in its last 27 games on Sunday. The Rays are 8-5 against Boston this season.