The Red Sox beefed up their security for this three-game series at Tropicana Field against the Rays and the reason has nothing to do with the on-field hostilities that occurred between the two teams at Fenway Park in early June.

Down by three runs in the top of the ninth, the Sox cut the deficit to one and had the tying run 90 feet away, only to have the rally fall short when Julio Lugo lined out to shortstop to end a 5-4 loss to the Rays.

No punches, no angry words exchanged. With first place on the line in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox stuck to playing baseball Monday night. James Shields scattered five hits over 6 1-3 innings and B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered, helping the Rays remain unbeaten at home against the Red Sox with a 5-4 victory that hiked their lead to 1 1/2 games in the division.

Why would the Boston Red Sox be interested in trading for C.C. Sabathia? First, because they can.

In a story about the June 29 game between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Boston had won its previous nine interleague series. Boston had won its previous nine interleague road series.

Interleague action benefited the AL, Jim Edmonds benefited from Chicago, and home cooking benefited nearly everyone.

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona declined comment Monday on a report the team received a mailed threat targeting black and Latin players. The Boston Herald, citing unidentified sources, reported the threat was believed to be postmarked in Memphis, Tenn., and that a suspect believed to be from Baltimore but living in the Memphis area was being sought.

This time, it didn't happen in the dugout. And this time, it wasn't caught on camera. But for the second time this season, Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez was involved in an altercation involving someone within the organization.

Manny Ramirez said he patched things up with a Boston Red Sox employee he reportedly shoved to the ground during an argument, and the club said the matter is over. The Providence Journal reported Monday that Ramirez pushed traveling secretary Jack McCormick in the visitors' clubhouse Saturday in Houston after McCormick told Ramirez that he might not be able to come up with the 16 tickets the...

David Ortiz said Monday that he will represent his team, his sport and his fans during the All-Star festivities at Yankee Stadium on July 14-15. That said, Big Papi confirmed that someone else is going to have to start for the American League at designated hitter.

Will the Red Sox decide to bolster their bullpen? Is Curt Schilling going to the Hall of Fame? What's the latest on Clay Buchholz? Beat reporter Ian Browne tackles these questions in the mailbag.