(My Sportsbook) - James Shields will toe the rubber this afternoon at Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Rays, who will try to close out a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox with a victory.

Shields comes into this matchup with an even 2-2 mark, but he has been the victim of a lack of run support over his last two starts. After losing 1-0 to Seattle on April 23, the right-hander held Minnesota to just three runs in 6 2/3 innings of work this past Tuesday. Shields struck out four batters, but also walked four and allowed seven hits in the no-decision.

One of the losses for Shields this season occurred in the season opener against Boston. The 27-year-old was pummeled by the Red Sox, allowing five runs on nine hits in just over five innings of work.

In nine career starts against Boston, Shields has endured plenty of struggles, having posted a 2-5 mark and a lackluster 5.59 ERA.

Countering Shields will be Brad Penny, who is 2-0 on the season despite having a horrendous earned run average of 8.66. Penny did not last long in his previous outing, as the right-hander was pounded for seven runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and three walks in just 2 2/3 innings of work Tuesday at Cleveland.

Penny has enjoyed little success against Tampa in his career, having posted a 1-2 ledger with a 5.49 ERA.

In yesterday's game between these teams, Nick Green finished 3-for-5 with three RBI as Boston outslugged Tampa Bay, 10-6.

Kevin Youkilis also drove in three runs for the Red Sox, who had lost the first two games in the series by 13-0 and 6-2 scores. J.D. Drew added two RBI, Mike Lowell homered and Dustin Pedroia also knocked in a run in the win.

Boston starter Tim Wakefield (3-1) was not strong in the win, allowing seven hits and five runs with five strikeouts and three walks over five-plus innings.

Carlos Pena hit his major-league leading 11th homer and knocked in a pair of runs for the Rays, who suffered their fifth loss in their last eight games. Evan Longoria and Pat Burrell also knocked in two runs apiece.

Jeff Niemann (2-3) was tagged with the loss for allowing seven hits and six runs -- five earned -- while walking three and fanning three in just three frames.

Since the beginning of last season, the Rays have collected a solid 14-10 mark against Boston during the regular season. Tampa Bay also edged the Red Sox in seven games during last October's AL Championship Series to claim its first- ever pennant.