There's no greater balancing act than sweeping a rival that's already swept you.
This afternoon - weather permitting - the Red Sox have the opportunity to return the slap in the face Tampa Bay served them last weekend when the Rays took a three-game series.
They could add double insult to the Rays if they can beat comebacking Scott Kazmir, who will be making his first start of the season, after they squashed James Shields last night in a 12-4 win before 37,700.
The Rays' talented righthander had thrown a two-hit shutout against the Sox last weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"I don't think we changed our approach," said Sox shortstop Julio Lugo. "I just think it was the second time around and some of the pitches he made to get us out the last time we were maybe a little more prepared for.
"We just had some good at-bats against him. There's no game plan or explanation. It just happens."
The Sox, who buzzed Shields for 10 hits and seven runs over 3 2/3 innings, had been looking forward to this homestand, feeling it was a time and place for them to jump-start their offense.
They have.
After a couple of tight walkoff wins against Toronto, they have pummeled Rays pitching to the tune of 19 runs and 28 hits the last two games.
As a result of the offensive outburst, the Sox are leading the American League with a .285 batting average.
Seven Sox batters drove in runs last night, led by Jason Varitek (three), David Ortiz, Manny Ramírez, and J.D. Drew (two each).
Dustin Pedroia stroked three of the Sox' 15 hits for the second straight game to raise his average to .316.
The Sox hit seven doubles - and Varitek was thrown out at second in the eighth trying to stretch a hit that had already brought home two more runs.
Josh Beckett was the beneficiary of the run support. The Sox ace (3-2) withstood some early bumps, then smoothed out through the seventh.
In the eighth, Akinori Iwamura went the other way with a 2-and-0 pitch for a solo homer just over the Green Monster, cutting the margin to 9-4.
Beckett completed the eighth, ending the night having thrown 100 pitches. He struck out five, walked one, and allowed seven hits (including two homers).
Beckett, whose ERA rose to 4.19, gave way to David Aardsma, who mopped up with 28 pitches in the ninth.
Beckett was aided not only by the offense, but a gem of a defensive play by Ramírez in left field, as he threw out Carlos Peña at the plate to end the fourth inning.
Nathan Haynes had hit a liner to Ramírez and Peña was sent from third. Ramírez's throw was dead on and Varitek blocked the plate and applied the tag.
At the time the Sox only led, 5-3, and the game certainly could have turned had Peña scored.
