VENUE: Tropicana Field
If the Boston Red Sox are going to make a run at the postseason, now is the time.
Clay Buchholz has been on an impressive run of his own for a while already.
Buchholz seeks to pitch the Red Sox to their second straight victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night as the AL East rivals continue their crucial three-game set at Tropicana Field.
Boston (74-55) entered the weekend 5 1/2 games behind the Rays (78-50) and Yankees in a division race where the runner-up is highly likely to capture the wild card. While that deficit is significant, it's certainly not impossible for the Red Sox to overcome - this is the first of their four remaining series versus Tampa Bay and New York.
They opened the series on a strong note Friday, getting seven two-hit innings from Jon Lester and two homers from Victor Martinez en route to a 3-1 victory over the Rays. Meanwhile, the Yankees lost 9-4 in Chicago, enabling the Rays to stay in a first-place tie and moving Boston within 4 1/2 games of the co-leaders.
"We are the three teams that are fighting for first place and the wild card," said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who doubled and scored a run Friday. "Every game is important from now on."
The Red Sox have to feel good about their chances of winning again with Buchholz (15-5, 2.26 ERA) on the mound. The right-hander opened the season at the back of the rotation, but is emerging as a strong Cy Young candidate. He has won five straight decisions, given up three runs or fewer in 15 of his last 16 starts and is riding a streak of 23 1-3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
"I think he's gaining confidence with every start," Boston utilityman Bill Hall said. "He knows what he needs to do. He expects to go out and be dominant and he's been that all year long."
Buchholz continued his run Sunday, throwing six innings of five-hit ball in a 5-0 victory over Toronto. He has split two starts against the Rays this season, but has limited them to one earned run over 11 innings in those outings. He is 3-2 with a 1.93 ERA in six career starts versus Tampa Bay.
Looking to avoid their third straight loss following a four-game win streak, the Rays will give the ball to a hot pitcher of their own in Matt Garza (13-7, 3.62).
Garza has limited opponents to one run and nine hits in 14 2-3 innings to win his last two starts, including a 3-2 victory at Oakland on Sunday, when he outpitched Dallas Braden in a matchup of pitchers who have thrown no-hitters in 2010.
The right-hander is 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA against Boston, and also earned a save in a 6-4 win over the Red Sox on July 7.
Carl Crawford was scratched from the Rays' lineup for the series opener due to a stomach virus. The All-Star left fielder's status is uncertain for Saturday.
