Tampa Bay Rays would relish role as Boston Red Sox spoiler

BOSTON — If the Rays aren't going back to the playoffs, they say there can be some satisfaction in making it tougher for the teams battling to get there.

Especially if that team is the Red Sox.

"Nothing better than that," closer J.P. Howell said. "That would feel very good. That would turn something, you don't want to say ugly, but a little disappointing into kind of disappointing.

"There would be something in there for us. A little piece of pie for us — something sweet."

"They'd pretty high (on the list) I would imagine," starter James Shields said. "They're in our division, and we don't really want anybody else in our division besides us to go to the playoffs."

Until the Rays' recent collapse, the three-game series that starts tonight at Fenway Park was considered a major showdown for the final AL playoff spot. Now it's just a question if the Rays — who are 9½ back and more concerned with snapping an eight-game losing streak — can sabotage Boston's two-game lead over Texas.

"Very, very disappointing," Howell said. "I wish we could turn back the clock about 10 days and start all over, but that's life. I wish we could turn it back to April, too, but we can't. I think we learned a lesson, that we don't want to come from behind any more. We'll start out early next year."

Peña SURGERY: 1B Carlos Peña is expected to be fully recovered by the end of November after having pins inserted in his two broken fingers Thursday in a two-hour surgery by Dr. Doug Carlan in St. Petersburg.

Peña's left index and middle fingers were broken by a CC Sabathia pitch Monday. The Rays said the surgery went well, that the pins will be removed in 4-6 weeks and Peña will make a full recovery in 8-10 weeks.

WELL INSTRUCTED: Top 2008 draft pick SS Tim Beckham heads a list of 45 players announced to participate in the monthlong instructional league program starting Sunday in Port Charlotte. The team will play 14 games, starting with the Sept. 21 opener at Tropicana Field and running through Oct. 9. For the schedule and roster, see blogs.tampabay.com/rays.

MISCELLANY: Class A Charlotte beat Fort Myers (Twins) 3-2 in the deciding game of their first-round Florida State League playoff series Thursday. Tampa (Yankees) will host the Stone Crabs at 7 tonight in the first game of the FSL championship series. Tickets are available. … Triple-A Durham lost 5-2 to Louisville (Reds) to even their International League first-round, best-of-five series at one.