Lineups and Game Notes: Despite Back Spasms Thursday, David Ortiz in to Face David Price

What began as a very promising start to a four-game set in Toronto after a 14-1 win on Monday turned into a disaster, as the Red Sox lost three straight games and were outscored 21-7 in those contests. Now the Sox travel to Tampa Bay for three games at Tropicana Field in a series between two 2013 playoff teams that will probably miss the postseason this time around. Despite suffering a back spasm in his last at bat against the Blue Jays yesterday, David Ortiz is in the lineup to face David Price and the Rays. Here’s a rundown of the rest of the starting nine:

RED SOX (47-55)
1. Brock Holt (SS)
2. Dustin Pedroia (2B)
3. David Ortiz (DH)
4. Mike Napoli (1B)
5. Jonny Gomes (LF)
6. Shane Victorino (RF)
7. Xander Bogaerts (3B)
8. Jackie Bradley, Jr. (CF)
9. David Ross (C)
SP: Jon Lester (LHP) (10-7, 2.50 ERA)

RAYS (49-53)
1. Desmond Jennings (CF)
2. Ben Zobrist (RF)
3. Brandon Guyer (LF)
4. Evan Longoria (3B)
5. Sean Rodriguez (DH)
6. Yunel Escobar (SS)
7. James Loney (1B)
8. Jose Molina (C)
9. Logan Forsythe (2B)
SP: David Price (LHP) (10-7, 3.06 ERA)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, 93.7 WEEI

Notes: The Red Sox have lost 3 straight games after winning 5 in a row…Despite this stretch, the Sox have won 8 of their last 12 games since falling a season-high 12 games below .500 on 7/8 (39-51)…The 8 wins are tied for the ML lead beginning on 7/9 (also Tigers, Angels, Yankees, Giants)…The Sox have outscored the opposition 64-40 in these 12 games…In this time Boston is batting .285 after entering this stretch with a .243 team AVG…Boston won its first 4 games out of the All-Star break for the 1st time since the 1996 team won its first 5…The Sox and Rays match up for the 10th of 19 times this season…Boston won their last 3 games in a sweep at Fenway Park from 5/30-6/1…The Sox have taken 4 of 9 games against TB this year but are 0-3 at the Trop…Boston last won here with a 3-1 clinching victory in Game 4 of the 2013 ALDS.