(Sports Network) - First place in the American League East will again be on the line this evening, when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox in the second of three critical matchups from Tropicana Field.

Boston slugged six home runs on Monday and won for the first time in seven chances this season in St. Petersburg to move into a virtual tie with the Rays atop the division standings. Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay and Jason Varitek each went deep for the Red Sox, who have won four of their last five games.

Ortiz finished with four RBI while Youkilis drove in three runs for Boston, which hasn't had sole possession of first place since leading by a half-game at the All-Star break. It still holds a seven-game advantage in the AL Wild Card standings.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2) allowed a run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, pitching the minimum five innings to pick up the win.

Scott Kazmir (11-7), who was unbeaten in his previous five starts, was shelled for nine runs on six hits and four walks in only three-plus innings of work for Tampa, which has dropped three straight and seven of 10.

Justin Ruggiano, Dan Johnson and Akinori Iwamura each homered for the Rays.

Getting the call for the Red Sox tonight will be righty Josh Beckett, who is 12-9 with a 4.10 ERA. Beckett pitched well enough to get the win on Wednesday against the Rays, as he allowed only a run and six hits in six innings, but did not get a decision in his team's 4-2 extra-inning loss.

Beckett is 5-3 lifetime against Tampa with a 3.38 ERA in nine starts.

The Rays will counter with righty Andy Sonnanstine, who opposed Beckett last week and also walked away without a decision despite a tremendous effort. Sonnanstine gave up an unearned run and four hits in seven innings that night, while striking out seven without walking a batter.

Sonnanstine, who is 13-7 with a 4.47 ERA on the year, has faced the Red Sox five times and is 1-1 with a 6.59 ERA against them.

Tampa Bay and Boston have split 16 matchups between the division rivals this season.