The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays Are set For Another Pitching Duel

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The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays Are set For Another Pitching Duel

The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays have very strong pitching staffs so it’s not a suprrise to see close low scoring games in this series.

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That trend could continue with Clay Buchholz opposing David Price in the decisive finale. Two of the majors’ top young pitchers meet when the AL East rival Red Sox and Rays conclude their series Thursday night.

One night after Tampa Bay’s James Shields tossed a five-hitter in a 4-0 victory to snap Boston’s season-high nine-game winning streak, Josh Beckett answered for the Red Sox with a one-hit gem in Wednesday’s 3-0 victory.

Boston (40-27) has a 1 1/2-game lead over New York, and is 4 1/2 ahead of third-place Tampa Bay (36-32), which has alternated wins and losses in its last 10 home contests.

“That’s why I think this (race) is going to go back and forth,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “I don’t see one team running away and hiding at any point.”

Though Beckett’s dominant effort was overshadowed Wednesday in New England by the Bruins hoisting Boston’s first Stanley Cup since 1972, he helped the Red Sox win for the 15th time in 18 road games.

The Rays could find it hard to bounce back versus Buchholz (5-3, 3.59 ERA), who has allowed three earned runs over 25 1-3 innings in his last four starts against them.

The right-hander is also 4-0 with a 2.66 ERA in his last eight starts overall after he went 1-3 with a 5.33 ERA in his first five. Pitching with an extra two days’ rest because of a sore back, Buchholz yielded one run and three hits in seven innings of a 5-1 win at Toronto on Friday.

Buchholz has opposed Price (7-5, 3.51) once, Sept. 3, 2009 at Tropicana Field, when he allowed three runs in six innings and Price gave up four in 5 1-3 of a 6-3 Red Sox victory.

Price, however, is 3-1 with a 2.54 ERA in four starts versus Boston since that outing. He’s allowed three earned runs in 13 2-3 innings to win his last two - both at Fenway Park. He gave up two runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 3-2 victory over the Red Sox on April 12.

The left-hander hopes for a more efficient outing after he allowed four runs and threw 117 pitches in six innings of a 7-5, 11-inning win at Baltimore on Saturday.

Kevin Youkilis, batting .385 with two doubles in 13 at-bats against Price, provided all the offense Wednesday with a three-run homer off Jeremy Hellickson in the seventh.

Dustin Pedroia added two hits, and is batting .400 in his last nine games. However, he’s 1 for 9 versus Price.

The Rays get the edge in the pitching matchup and Price will get the win against the Red Sox.

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