Rivals have No. 1 priority

Dustin Pedroia and the Red Sox got the last laugh after Lyle Overbay was called out at second. (John Bohn/Globe Staff)

It could be argued that the three-game series between the Red Sox and Rays, which begins tonight in St. Petersburg, Fla., isn't as important as some might make it out to be. After all, both teams are likely playoff bound. But some Sox are talking about how much they'd like to win the American League East, which is possible if they can finally break through at the Trop, where they are 0-6 this season.

The Rays are also in defense mode. They're trying to hold on and win their first AL East title.

The Rays think so much of this series that Matt Garza will pitch Wednesday on three days' rest.

There is likely to be a good representation of Sox Nation at the Trop, where the Rays are 18-1 when they draw a crowd of at least 30,000.

Suffice it to say, the Rays are expecting a very determined Red Sox club.

"Real intense and they want to win the division bad," said Tampa's Cliff Floyd after the Rays lost at Yankee Stadium yesterday. "We have to take it from them again. It's sad that we have to say it like that 'cause we're in first place, but they want what we have, so we just have to make sure they don't get it"

Rookie third baseman Evan Longoria believes this is a big series.

"They're all big now," he said. "It's coming down to the wire obviously, there's going to be some scoreboard watching going on, especially from our standpoint never being in this situation [before], we're kind of like gritting our teeth and wondering how it's going to finish up, but I think we just need to keep taking it a day at a time."

One thing is clear, in spite of some occasional bad blood, the teams have great respect for each other.

"They're a tough team with tough hitters," said Boston captain Jason Varitek. "We saw what happened here against us. They can win games. They're not in first place because they're lucky. They're awfully good."

Scouts jettisoned
According to major league sources, the Red Sox have not renewed the contracts of three scouts. Marc DelPiano, John Sanders, and Jesse Levis were informed they've not been retained.

The Sox are reorganizing their professional scouting and are eliminating DelPiano's job. DelPiano was mentioned in the Mitchell Report.

In a Nov. 1, 2006 e-mail, general manager Theo Epstein sent to DelPiano, he asked, "Have you done any digging on [Eric] Gagné? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medicals?"

DelPiano responded, "Some digging on Gagné and steroids IS the issue. Has a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body, and reinvent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce-back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did."

Levis was arrested March 4 and charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts in the presence of children under 16 on the balcony of his Port St. Lucie, Fla., hotel room.

Case is closed
Jonathan Papelbon had a tough time finishing off the Jays yesterday, giving up two runs and three hits before recording his 38th save.

"It's the part of the season where you have to grind it out and I know how to grind it out," he said. "I think this was a huge, huge game for us."

Papelbon said he needs to work on his fastball command. Terry Francona pointed out that Papelbon threw a couple of splitters in the dirt and then came in too fat with his fastball on a couple of hitters."

"Am I worried? No, I'm not. Not really. I've worked four out of six days," said Papelbon.

International news
Sources in Tokyo indicate the Red Sox appear to be in the lead for the services of 22-year-old righthander Junichi Tazawa. The Sox have been the most aggressive team with Tazawa, though the Yankees have a contingent of four scouts trying to lure Tazawa. Atlanta GM Frank Wrenn and four Diamondbacks officials have been in Japan as well . . . Julio Lugo is hoping to play before the end of the season. The Sox shortstop, who has been on the disabled list since July 15 with a strained left quadriceps, has begun doing "baseball activities" such as hitting and taking ground balls. "I'm going on the trip and I'm going to continue what I've been doing," said Lugo. "I'm more optimistic now. It feels better. But like that last time when I tried to test it all out, I haven't done that yet. When I do, I'll know better, but right now I'm just going to keep doing the baseball things and I'll have to pick a time to really test it and see how it responds." Asked about his level of frustration he said, "It's been really tough. I've never had something last this long. I broke my elbow one time, but as far as lingering type thing, this has been hard to shake. I just want to get out there, but I've got to make sure I don't hurt myself again." . . . The Sox will have a powwow today to discuss how Bartolo Colon might be used the rest of the way. It doesn't appear Colon would have any more starting opportunities. The Sox have been reluctant to use him out of the bullpen because Colon isn't a fan of it, but he might be asked anyway . . . J.D. Drew will make the trip, but after getting an injection in his back Friday, he's not likely to be available to play until this Friday in Toronto according to a report in the Providence Journal . . . Jed Lowrie got the day off just "to keep fresh" according to Francona . . . Paul Byrd said he hasn't thought about his role if the Sox reach the postseason. "And nobody in this clubhouse should be thinking about it," Byrd said. "We haven't won anything yet. We've got to keep playing hard and there's still a lot of the regular season left."

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.