The 28-year-old outfielder's struggles were so pronounced that he seemed to be the odd man out this season after losing his job to heralded rookie Jacoby Ellsbury during last season's ALCS. Despite a jam-packed outfield situation, though, Crisp has 105 games played and 323 at-bats this year -- a generous helping of playing time that has allowed Crisp a chance to regain his slashing stroke over the last two weeks.

Crisp is currently enjoying the highest batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of his Sox career and is riding a 10-game hitting streak that's raised his batting average 45 points over the last three weeks. Crisp is batting a robust .568 (21-for-37) over the aforementioned 10-game stretch, and his average is at its highest point (.291) since he entered a game on May 24 hitting .295.

The streak has included everything from his offensive game -- line drives, gap shots that the speedy Crisp turns into extra bases and a series of bunt hits that have pushed him to fourth in the American League with a total of 10.

While Crisp voiced a preference to talk about other players rather than himself during his offensive outburst, teammates him have been more than happy to fill in the blanks.

"He's gotten some bunts down, some balls have found holes -- he's using the whole field and with his speed he's going to get some hits," said manager Terry Francona. "It's been very welcome, especially if he's hitting down in the nine hole."

RED SOX 3, RAYS 0: LHP Jon Lester was in lockdown mode amid a playoff atmosphere at Fenway Park and threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout baseball while improving to 14-5. DH David Ortiz and 1B Kevin Youkilis contributed RBI hits in the first inning, and OF Jason Bay capped it all off with a first-inning solo homer that gave Lester all the offense he would need.