SCOUTING REPORT: The Red Sox were built for power, with Manny Ramirez imported to join Nomar Garciaparra and Carl Everett in the middle of the order. But Garciaparra is going to be out until June or July due to wrist surgery, and Ramirez and Everett have hit just one home run each. Instead it has been the league-best pitching staff that has carried the Sox, with surprising depth from their rotation behind Pedro Martinez and a slew of arms in the bullpen.

THE PAST WEEK: Since sweeping the Rays, the Sox have had a pretty good week. They won two of three from impotent Baltimore and won three of four in the big Fenway Park showdown series with the Yankees.

EX-RAYS: Rolando Arrojo, the first Tampa Bay All-Star, seems to be slowly finding a home in the Boston bullpen. Bumped from the rotation after a poor spring, Arrojo was sentenced to middle relief for a while but has recorded saves in his past two outings, including a fist-pumping ninth inning to seal Sunday's win over the Yankees. The Rays traded Arrojo to Colorado for Vinny Castilla in December 1999 and the Rockies passed him on to Boston last season.

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Today: RHP Tomo Ohka (1-0, 4.50) vs. RHP Travis Harper (0-1, 7.20); Wednesday: RHP Paxton Crawford (1-0, 4.50) vs. RHP Albie Lopez (2-1, 1.50); Thursday: RHP Pedro Martinez (1-0, 1.23) vs. RHP Paul Wilson (0-1, 5.79).

2001 SEASON SERIES: The Sox pretty much had their way with the Rays, winning the three games April 6-8 at frigid Fenway Park by a combined score of 20-6. The Rays had just 16 hits, and they're facing the same three pitchers this series as they did then. Overall, the Rays are 18-19 against the Sox, going 3-9 in 1998, 9-4 in 1999 and 6-6 last season.

WHO'S HOT: Ramirez has seven hits in his past 17 at-bats and ranks among the league leaders with 13 RBI in 13 games.

WHO'S NOT: Catcher Jason Varitek, one of those important other guys in the Boston lineup, is just 3-for-15 over his past four games.

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