Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2014 ) Tampa Bay 0, Boston 0

The Boston Red Sox are starting to pick things up on the offensive end, beginning with the bottom of the lineup. The Tampa Bay Rays will try to slow that surge when they visit the Red Sox in a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. Boston scored as many as seven runs once in the first 23 games but has reached the mark in three of the last four as Will Middlebrooks, A.J. Pierzynski and Jackie Bradley Jr. lead the charge.

The Rays have lost three straight to fall into last place in the American League East at 11-16 and are averaging three runs over those three contests. Boston’s offensive surge started when Middlebrooks and Shane Victorino rejoined the team off the disabled list late last week, with Middlebrooks providing a solid right-handed power bat between left-handed hitters Pierzynski and Bradley in the bottom third of the order. The three combined for five hits, five runs scored and four RBIs in Tuesday’s 7-4 series-opening victory after enjoying a big series in Toronto over the weekend. Wednesday’s scheduled game was postponed due to rain, forcing Thursday’s twin bill.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Cesar Ramos (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Jake Peavy (1-0, 2.87)

Ramos was summoned from the bullpen due to Matt Moore’s season-ending elbow injury and has gone five innings in each of his two starts while yielding a total of one run. The 29-year-old surrendered five hits in five scoreless frames to pick up a win at Chicago on Saturday. Ramos is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 career games - all in relief - against the Red Sox.

Peavy has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his five starts and bounced back from the one rough outing in the bunch by dominating the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The Alabama native struck out seven and allowed one run and five hits in a season-high seven innings to earn his first win. Peavy is 3-1 with a 4.91 ERA in six career regular-season starts against the Rays and allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings against them in the Division Series last fall.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox (13-14) have lost the six previous times they have had a chance to climb back to .500 since falling to 2-3.

2. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria is 2-for-16 over the last four games.

3. Victorino went 4-for-4 on Tuesday for his first multi-hit game since coming off the DL on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Red Sox 3