ST. PETERSBURG — The Red Sox are two games behind the Rays in the American League East standings with 10 games to play. For all intents and purposes, make that three, as the Rays' 10-3 win Wednesday gave them not only a series win but a 10-8 victory in the season series.
Veteran third baseman Mike Lowell could not play Wednesday because of soreness in his right hip stemming from a partially torn labrum. He may play Friday at Toronto. He may not. And he is missed.
So what do the Red Sox do now? Regroup, and begin healing and preparing to enter the playoffs as a wild card?
Not with seven games left at Fenway Park, where they are 52-22. The Rays play eight of their final 12 on the road, where they are three games under .500.
"We gained five games in a week one time," Lowell said. "Obviously, they can control their destiny, but we're just going to keep fighting until (winning the division) is unattainable. We didn't do ourselves any favors in this series, but it's not out of the realm of possibility."
Such was the prevailing sentiment in the Red Sox locker room, a nod to the Rays, but a resolve to make their inexperienced adversaries actually finish off the division and earn a first playoff berth. Underscoring all that was a not-so-subtle confidence in their chances once the playoffs begin. The Red Sox won the World Series as a wild card in 2004.
"If you're in, you're in," DH David Ortiz said. "I never notice it when you win the division and when you go in as the wild card. That's what you're looking for, being in the top four."
There were encouraging signs even as the Red Sox left town a game farther back. Ace Josh Beckett produced a third straight strong outing in a no-decision Tuesday, and Ortiz, who has battled hand problems, hit his 21st and 22nd homers.
"Some nights we didn't have a whole lot to hang our hat on," manager Terry Francona said. "We got knocked around, but to see David swing like that is good."
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