Rays, Tied for AL East Lead, Host Last-Place Red Sox in Three-Game Series

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox open a three-game series Monday night with both clubs looking for more offense after recent scoring droughts. Tampa Bay lost 4-1 to the Miami Marlins on Sunday, recording six hits and striking out 10 times. The defeat marked the Rays' 10th loss in their last 13 games, and the eighth time in that span they scored three or fewer runs.

They scored one or fewer runs in four of those 13 contests. Yandy Diaz drove in Taylor Walls with a two-out single in the third inning and extended his on-base streak to 21 games. Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the recent stretch, "We got some guys who are going through it right now.

Cash added, "I don't think anybody in there feels too good about themselves at the plate right now. " Cash also praised Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, noting he "had a good fastball going, mixed his fastball well between the two-seam and the four-seam. 5 games ahead of the Red Sox.

Boston fell 6-1 to the New York Yankees on Sunday after splitting its two completed games in New York, with Saturday's contest rained out. The Red Sox managed six hits, four of them singles. They have failed to score more than three runs in 35 of their 63 games this season and have totaled just 10 runs across their last five losses.

Boston ranks last in the majors with 48 home runs. Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the club would approach the series with a forward focus. "You still have to, in our position, look at it like we're going to get on a plane, get to Tampa and try to win a series," Tracy said.

"And look at it like it's a good road trip against a tough AL East stretch. That's how you have to look at it. 26 ERA) will start for Boston. 64 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11 innings across two career appearances against Tampa Bay.