Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 3, Boston 4

THE STORY: The Boston Red Sox dug in their heels and refused to give in to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. After losing six straight to Tampa Bay and 12 of their last 16 overall, the Red Sox received an unexpected power boost from Mike Aviles and a strong effort from the bullpen to record a 4-3 victory. The triumph extended Boston's lead to four games over Tampa Bay in the race for the wild card while also trimming the deficit to 3 1/2 behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees. With one win apiece, the Rays and Red Sox will continue their four-game set on Saturday at Fenway Park.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeff Niemann (10-7, 3.97 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (15-7, 3.07 ERA).

Niemann snapped a modest two-game skid with a solid effort against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. The towering 6-foot-9 hurler allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings in the Rays' 5-2 triumph. Niemann posted his third win in five career decisions against the Red Sox with a dominating three-hit, 10-strikeout effort in a 1-0 triumph on July 17.

Lester saw his four-game winning streak come to an end Sunday after he yielded four runs in as many innings in an eventual 9-1 loss to the Rays. Despite the setback, the 27-year-old Lester has traditionally fared well versus Tampa Bay, winning 10 of 15 career decisions.

ABOUT THE RAYS (83-67): Tampa Bay was a terror on the bases, but struggled to come through with a timely hit. Veteran Johnny Damon had three of his team's season-high seven stolen bases, but the Rays struck out 15 times Friday. Evan Longoria was included on the latter list, as he fanned to end the game. Prior to the strikeout, Longoria belted a two-run homer which just cleared the Green Monster in the first inning. He added an RBI single and walked twice to reach base four times. Longoria has struggled against Lester, striking out 12 times in 35 career at-bats. Damon is 9-for-30 with a pair of homers against Lester.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (87-63): Aviles chose a perfect time to endear himself to his new team. Acquired from the Kansas City Royals on July 30, Aviles snapped a tie in the fourth inning with his first homer for the Red Sox. The solo shot stood up, thanks in part to the terrific effort by the bullpen. After Josh Beckett struck out his last two hitters, Alfredo Aceves did the same before Josh Bard and Jonathan Papelbon each struck out the side in the eighth and ninth inning, respectively. Papelbon collected his 500th career strikeout in the process and became the first player in major league history to record 30-plus saves in each of his first six seasons. Dustin Pedroia had two hits and scored twice on Friday, but is just 2-for-10 in his career against Niemann.

FINAL PITCH: Veteran third baseman Kevin Youkilis (hip, hernia) has been ruled out for Saturday's game, thus granting Aviles another start for the Red Sox. "He's just getting sore," Boston manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "Anything rotational or diving, just about anything you would do on the field to be productive, is getting harder for him."