Rays Up Next: Red Sox

By MARC TOPKIN
Published August 20, 2007

. UP NEXT

Red Sox

Tonight-Wednesday

What's new: Amazingly, a few things in the five days since the Rays last saw the Red Sox in Boston. OF Wily Mo Pena was traded, backup C Doug Mirabelli was placed on the DL and C Kevin Cash (an ex-Ray) and OF Bobby Kielty were called up. Plus, RHP Clay Buchholz and OF Jacoby Ellsbury were brought up and sent down. Otherwise, the Sox still have the best record in the majors, are still built around the best front-to-back pitching staff in the league and still have a fearsome lineup anchored by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. And they still have loud, obnoxious fans.

Key stat: In 69 games at the Trop, Ramirez has a .313 average, 68 RBIs and 25 homers. Only Aubrey Huff, Fred McGriff, Carl Crawford and Greg Vaughn have more roundtrippers.

Who's hot: SS Julio Lugo, an ex-Ray, is finally heating up, hitting .410 (16-for-39) over his past 10 games with seven doubles and 10 RBIs.

Who's not: 1B Kevin Youkilis, above, is hitting .114 (4-for-35) in his past 10 games and sure to be whining about it; RHP Eric Gagne has two blown saves, a loss and a 12.86 ERA in eight games since being acquired from Texas.

Connections: Hitting coach Dave Magadan (Jesuit High) and Cash (Gaither) are Tampa products, and reliever Kyle Snyder is a Sarasota Riverview grad (and former Rays draft pick); Rays 1B Carlos Pena was briefly with Boston last season.

Series history: The Sox lead the season series 7-2, at the Trop 46-33 and overall 105-55.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 19, 2007, 22:36:27]