When Scott Kazmir said in spring training that his Tampa Bay Rays team could be a contender, I wrote that Tampa Bay would be improved. But a contender? No.

On June 30, the first-place Rays host the Red Sox, the start of a three-game series.

The Rays always showcase good, young talent. But they have never had the pitching. For this series, they have their three best starters going.

James Shields (5-5, 3.76) goes tonight (against Justin Masterson), followed by Matt Garza (6-4, 3.76) and Kazmir (7-3, 2.28).

Boston dropped 2-of-3 in Houston. Apparently the Red Sox had to deal with a minor clubhouse incident Saturday night when Manny Ramirez shoved traveling secretary Jack McCormick, according to Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal.

But the real fireworks occured in the minors where Boston's Triple-A and two Class A teams combined for 39 runs.

As for Portland, the Sea Dogs mustered little against the Trenton (Yankees affiliate) pitching. Michael Bowden got the loss.

Pawtucket won 10-0 in Rochester with all the runs coming on homers - 3 by Jon Van Every (5 RBI), 2 by Jed Lowrie (4 RBI), and a solo shot from Gil Velazquez ... Devern Hansack remained hot on the mound (7 IP, 2 H, 8 K) ... in his last 3 starts, Hansack has not allowed an earned run, giving up 8 hits and 2 walks in 21 innings, while striking out 19.

In Lancaster, the wind was blowing 28 m.p.h. out to right. Jon Still (grand slam), Josh Reddick and Reid Engel all homered ... Reddick went 3-for-5 and is now at .351 ... The JetHawks won 16-9.

Greenville's 19-year-old outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin went 4-for-5, including a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, in a 13-12 win.

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