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Suddenly the New York Yankees are breathing down the Red Sox’s neck again as Boston opens a series against the No. 2 team in the AL West, the Texas Rangers.

Those back-to-back losses in Toronto cost Boston two games of its lead, now down to a game, as New York swept the Tigers. Not to mention the Tampa Bay Rays are certainly back in the East race at 4.5 games out of first.

Boston’s Kevin Youkilis, who went 2-for-4 on Sunday, appears to be out of his slump. He is riding a five-game hitting streak, which includes two two-hit games and one three-hit game.

The Red Sox do have a bit of a problem at leadoff, however. For the season, the Sox have a .309 on-base percentage from their leadoff hitters, ranking them next-to-last (13th) in the American League and 26th overall among all 30 teams in the game. Only the Cubs, A’s, Reds and Phillies have a lower figure.

Boston has recently been trying J.D. Drew at leadoff. But he went hitless in Toronto (0 for 12) and is hitting just .190 from the leadoff spot. He has just 11 hits in 14 games, and his ability to get on base hasn’t been there either. Drew has eight walks and 15 strikeouts while batting leadoff, leading to a .299 on-base percentage in 14 games.

The Rangers, meanwhile, salvaged a win in extra innings on Sunday after dropping the first two games of a series at home against Minnesota. When the Red Sox hosted the Rangers in early June, Texas won two of three games.

Boston starts John Smoltz (1-2, 5.40 ERA) tonight. He allowed one run in five innings last time out against Kansas City. Smoltz’s pitch count was a high 97 in his five innings, yet it was enough to earn his first win in a Red Sox uniform. Boston is a slight underdog tonight at -107 on WagerWeb.com but it is 5-1 in its past six as a dog.

Texas starts Kevin Millwood (8-7 3.46 ERA). He is just one win shy of tying his total from last season, when he went 9-10 with a 5.07 ERA. He has lost his last two starts, giving up four runs in six innings against Seattle and allowing nine runs on five innings against the Angels.

The Rangers are 0-4 in their last 4 Monday games.

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