Boston at Tampa Bay

Boston is holding onto first place in the AL East, but the Red Sox will have to beat the Rays tonight to stay there after losing 8-2 on Wednesday. It snapped a seven-game losing streak for Tampa Bay, which had lost five straight to Boston. Michael Wacha will get another chance to start a bullpen game, but it might be his last after he got destroyed his last time out, allowing five runs on 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings against Seattle. Wacha has faced the Red Sox once this year and gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings. Nick Pivetta pitched five scoreless innings in one appearance against the Rays this season. Boston is 18-6 its past 24 games versus AL East teams and it has won eight of its last 11 road games. Take the Red Sox.