Rays' running game could pose issues for Red Sox

Boston also has three right-handers in their rotation, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and knuckleball-throwing Tim Wakefield, who are not adept at holding runners on, and a catcher, Jason Varitek, whose throwing arm is average, at best. So, measures will have to be taken to control the Rays.

"All of our pitchers have the ability to incorporate a slide step as well as varying their hold times," Boston pitching coach John Farrell said. "It's a combination of using all of those things, so you're not predictable and giving added information to the opponent to pick what pitches to steal on."

The best deterrent, Farrell said, will be early leads.

"A lot of times the game situation dictates if a team is going to run a lot," Farrell said. "The importance of scoring early and first is one of the keys to help slow down a running game. The Angels only ran when the game was tied or they were up, when could gamble a little more.

"Yes, you have to contain the running game, but at the same time, you don't want to sacrifice the pitches you throw to the hitter."

Knockout punch

Matsuzaka, the Game 1 starter, confounds the Red Sox with his walks (94 this season, most in the AL), but he went 9-0 on the road and held opponents to a .211 average, .164 with runners in scoring position and .000 (0 for 14) with the bases loaded.

The right-hander was in constant trouble in his Game 2 start against the Angels in the division series, when he needed 108 pitches to throw five innings, giving up three runs, eight hits and three walks. The Angels left two runners on in each of the first, third, fourth and fifth innings.

"The challenge against Dice-K is to make him throw strikes," Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria said. "He can really lull you to sleep, the way he throws so many balls, walks so many guys and gives up hits. But he finds a way out. If we get him on the ropes early, we have to really put a dagger in him."

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com