An Important Night

Tonight the Red Sox will break the record for consecutive sellouts held by the Indians. The game also will set the tone for the remainder of the season. The Rays come into Fenway having just been swept by Toronto. It is clear now that the fade everyone had been counting on has begun and it is up to the Red Sox to help it continue. We have the bad blood between the two teams and the division lead at stake in the series. In reality there is not much pressure on Boston; they have the experience to get to the post season even if they lose this series but the same cannot be said for the Rays. Tampa Bay has lost 5 of their last 6, and they have never been in this position before, panic may set in if they get swept. Jon Lester takes the hill for the Red Sox looking to have better control than he had in his last start, he is 8-1 at Fenway this year. He will be opposed by Edwin Jackson for Tampa Bay. Jackson gave up 6 runs in 3 1/3 to the Yanks last week and has an ERA of 6.19 agianst the Sox this season. The Red Sox have the momentum going into this series and should be able to keep rolling towards the division lead tonight.