BOSTON (AP) – The Red Sox 5-2 West Coast road trip was successful by any standards, but Boston cannot afford to let up with a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays this week, and a pivotal three-game weekend set against the Yankees in New York on the horizon.

Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners dropped the Red Sox to 31/2 games behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East and reduced their lead in the wild-card race to five games ahead of Anaheim, before Monday’s games.

The Red Sox had Monday off.

Manager Terry Francona was not concerned that Seattle’s Gil Meche was able to shut out the Red Sox powerful offense for just the third time this season. The silent bats were an aberration against a pitcher having the game of his life.

“I just don’t think we can be discouraged right now,” Francona said Sunday. “We’re doing too many good things. I mean, we didn’t score today, but we’re fine.”

The Red Sox remain one of the hottest teams in the majors, having won 30 of 40 games since the start of August.

But the Yankees, winners of seven of their last eight, are also hot. The teams play six times before the end of the regular season, games which could decide who wins the East.

Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon expects Boston’s hot streak to continue.

“We’re in a good spot,” Damon said after Sunday’s game. “We know the teams in the West are going to start beating each other up. We’re just going to have to play good ball if we want to get to the playoffs. And we know we’re going to play good ball.”

The Red Sox are confident with Pedro Martinez (16-5) on the mound for the opener against the Devil Rays on Tuesday.

The right-hander is 11-2 with a 1.66 ERA lifetime against Tampa Bay, including a complete-game six hitter in a 6-0 win against the Devil Rays on Aug. 12.

Scott Kazmir (1-1) is the scheduled starter for the Rays.

Tampa Bay is out of the playoff race, but the team still has a goal. By winning nine of their last 20 games, the Devil Rays can post a 70-win season for the first time in the franchise’s seven-year history.

AP-ES-09-13-04 1953EDT