Tampa Bay is enjoying the rarified air of first place in early June, having blasted past previous record of five games over .500 in their history. The next step in the maturation process is to play with the big boys on the road; this is where it can get a little sticky, especially when it means beating the defending World Series champions in their home ballpark.

Tampa Bay had retaken the lead 4-3 in the sixth inning at Fenway Park last evening and was likely feeling pretty good about them selves, being able to play with such confidence, based on previous results. But quicker than the gang at Cheers could yell “Norm”, as Mr. Peterson walked thru the door, Red Sox hitters scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control and move within a half game of first place Tampa Bay. 

This is hardly an unusual occurrence for baseball’s best home team that is 22-5, gaining +16.5 units of profit. Boston has as diverse a lineup as there is in the majors and with David Ortiz out for awhile, this only reinforces how good the other players on this team really are.

The Rays sudden surge has been marked with exceptional pitching, with an offense that still needs some work. Tampa Bay scores a middle of the road 4.5 runs per game, with a .261 batting average. Boston has feasted on teams like this with 18-3 record against the money line in home games vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .265 or worse this season. Another key to Rays uprising, has been the bullpen, which is 10-7, with 3.36 ERA and WHIP of 1.179. Manager Terry Francona’s team’s response has been a 17-2 record at home vs. a very good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.250 or better.

Edwin Jackson (3-4, 3.70) will be the Rays starter asked to break the stranglehold Boston has enjoyed over Tampa Bay in winning 18 of last 22 in Beantown. He’ll face Josh Beckett (5-4, 4.30), who has been prone leaving a few too many juicy pitches over the plate, allowing 11 gopher balls in his 10 starts. Sportsbook.com has the Boston as -178 money line favorites, with total a solid nine. (Take advantage of a Free Foxsheet for this contest.)

The Red Sox are 18-4 against right-handed starters this season at Fenway and 10-0 as a home favorite of -150 to -200 this season. Tampa Bay’s best bet might be just to think of the BoSox as just any other AL East club, as they has 21-13 record versus the collective division. Maybe a slugfest would help, with the Rays 12-3 OVER in road June games of late.

This divisional battle will commence at 7:05 Eastern on ESPN, with Tampa Bay 7-33 in road games after scoring four runs or less three straight games.

StatFox Power Line – Boston -177