Offense sputters again vs. Boston

Eight days after being no-hit by Derek Lowe, the Rays' bats were silenced once again by Boston pitching on Sunday.

Tampa Bay failed in its best scoring chance during the fourth. Randy Winn was hit by a pitch and Steve Cox singled to right with two outs, but Greg Vaughn struck out.

"We didn't generate enough offense," manager Hal McRae said.

Boston starter Frank Castillo and closer Ugueth Urbina combined on the four-hit shutout.

Red Sox manager Grady Little credited the shutout, his team's second against Tampa Bay and the fourth time this season the Rays have been held scoreless, to Castillo's effort and luck.

"You've got to be lucky to do that in the major leagues," Little said. "They didn't get the big part of the bat on the ball too much today."

Added Boston catcher Jason Varitek, "(Castillo) was able to get first-pitch strikes. He's got such good offspeed stuff that he was able to use his fastball to keep them off balance."

DON'T BLAME THEM: Sure, there is plenty of blame to go around on a team that has lost 10 straight, but take the starters off the hook.

Rays starters, who before Sunday had the fourth-best ERA (4.27) in the AL, have allowed two earned runs in 22 innings on this homestand against Boston.

"They are pitching pretty good," pitching coach Jackie Brown said. "They are doing a good job. Things like that are kind of forgotten when something is going on like it's going on right now."

Ryan Rupe did his part by allowing three Boston hits and one run in 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander matched a single-game high with nine strikeouts and at one point retired 13 in a row.

"Ryan Rupe threw a phenomenal game," said Nomar Garciaparra, who homered off Estaban Yan in the ninth. "He didn't deserve to lose that game either."

"He did everything well," McRae said. "He's been experimenting with the two-seamer and today he used it to perfection. He trusted the two-seamer and used the four-seamer when he needed to."

COMING ALONG: Wilson Alvarez, on the disabled list because of a rib-cage injury, threw in the bullpen before the game and said he is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday.

"I've been careful," he said. "I've been going by what they (trainers and coaches) tell me. I really don't know what to expect with this. I've been feeling fine lately."

Alvarez was placed on the 15-day disabled list after straining a muscle in his ribcage against the Blue Jays on April 14 at Tropicana Field.

MEETING RECAP: Though unusual in professional sports, McRae and Brown both classified Saturday's postgame meeting with managing general partner Vince Naimoli as constructive and cordial.

McRae and Brown were seen leaving the joint suites of Naimoli and general manager Chuck LaMar about an hour after Saturday's loss. It was the third consecutive ninth-inning loss.

GOT YOUR NUMBER: Boston, which beat Tampa Bay twice at Fenway Park last week, has taken the first three games of the four-game series at the Trop.

The Red Sox are 5-0 against the Rays this season.

"This is the big leagues," Garciaparra said. "Nobody has anybody's number. You go out there and you just play hard. We focus on ourselves. We don't focus on the other team we're playing."

ODDS AND ENDS: Ben Grieve did not play because of a bruise on his left thumb. He is day-to-day. ... Vaughn's strikeout in the second gave Castillo 1,000 for his career. ... Johnny Damon stole his 10th base to become the second AL player in double figures. Chicago's Kenny Lofton has 14. ... With Garciaparra's homer, the Rays have been outscored 21-0 in the ninth.

-- STEVE LEE, KEVIN KELLY