BOSTON -- Coming off a rare loss, the Boston Red Sox actually won on their off-day on Thursday.
While Boston had its second day off in four days, the New York Yankees were losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in the Bronx -- increasing the Red Sox's lead atop the American League East to a season-high 10 1/2 games.
The Rays, fresh off their first series win at Yankee Stadium in four years, now come to Boston, where the high-flying Red Sox sent to the mound against another Rays "opener" in the first game of a seven-game homestand Friday.