(Sports Network) - The Red Sox are showing the Rays who is still the boss of the American League East. Back in first place in the standings, Boston will try for a sweep of second-place Tampa Bay this evening in the finale of a three-game series at Fenway Park.

Tampa has been near the top of the standings for much of the season and recently held the top spot in the AL East from May 25-June 3. However, the Rays are now a half-game back of Boston after losing the first two tests of this series.

Tampa Bay's lead over Boston fell to a half-game after Tuesday's setback, and the clubs switched spots last night thanks to the Red Sox's 5-1 victory. Josh Beckett (6-4) worked six effective innings for Boston, surrendering just one run while fanning five without issuing a walk.

The win was Boston's fifth in six games and its 12th straight at Fenway Park. The Red Sox haven't lost as the host since May 1 and are an excellent 23-5 at home this year. Seeing as the club began a nine-game homestand with this set, the pressure is on Tampa Bay to respond.

However, the Red Sox have now won five straight over the Rays and can post their second straight home sweep of Tampa Bay after also accomplishing the feat on May 2-4 of this season.

J.D. Drew, batting third in place of the injured David Ortiz, was 2-for-3, scoring twice with a run batted in. Manny Ramirez served as designated hitter in Ortiz's absence and had an RBI single.

Edwin Jackson (3-5) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in taking the loss for Tampa, which dropped its second straight after a three-game win streak.

Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske had two hits apiece in the loss with Hinske driving in Longoria for Tampa's only run, as the Rays fell to 11-14 on the road this year.

James Shields starts for the Rays tonight and did not fare well last time he pitched at Fenway Park. That outing came on May 3 and the right-hander allowed seven runs on 10 hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs in the first inning only, including a two-run single by Ramirez.

Shields, who had beaten Boston at home six days prior to his Fenway pounding, has posted three straight no-decisions heading into today's start and is 4-3 on the season with a 3.24 earned run average.

The 26-year-old will be glad Ortiz is out of the lineup due to a left wrist injury. Ortiz is a career .500 hitter against him with two homers and six RBI. Though Ramirez has struggled against Shields, going just 2-for-15 (.133) against him, he does have a homer and four RBI as well.

Jon Lester starts for Boston and has struggled since his no-hitter. After tossing the milestone on May 19 versus Kansas City, the left-hander has gone 0-1 while giving up seven runs (6 earned) and 14 hits in two starts since. That includes a no-decision against Baltimore on Saturday.

Lester did beat Tampa Bay on May 4 behind six innings of one-run ball, yielding just a homer to Carlos Pena, who won't play today after being placed on the disabled list yesterday due to a broken left index finger.

The 24-year-old Lester is 2-0 with a 4.71 ERA in five career starts versus Tampa Bay.