Josh Beckett is bracing for a stiff challenge from the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the AL championship series tonight.

Beckett is undefeated in two ALCS starts for the Red Sox and posted solid numbers against Tampa Bay this year, but the hard-throwing right-hander said the Rays have a difficult lineup.

“I think just situationally, you’ve got to make sure that you put yourself into a good situation because they can hit with runners in scoring position,” said Beckett, who went 2-1 with a 2.06 earned-run average in five starts against the Rays this season.

Scott Kazmir, who grew up in the same part of Texas as Beckett, will get the ball for the Rays. The All-Star left-hander was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts against Boston this season and said he isn’t feeling any added pressure ahead of the matchup with Beckett.

“I don’t think there’s going to be any pressure from here on out,” he said. “We’re kind of underdogs, and wasn’t even expected to make it this far. So we’re just having fun.”

Kazmir struggled early in his playoff debut in Game 2 of the division series against the Chicago White Sox, but settled to work 51â3 innings and get the win.

“The main thing for me is to keep the first batter every inning off the basepaths,” Kazmir said.

Beckett is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA over five games, including four starts, in league championship series for the Red Sox and Florida Marlins. He beat Cleveland twice in the 2007 ALCS and pitched a two-hit shutout for the Marlins against the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the 2003 NLCS.

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Manny’s daddy: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has a close relationship with Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez. Manuel managed Ramirez in Cleveland’s minor-league system and for one season with the Indians in 2000.

“Manny is like my son,” Manuel said. “I’ve been around him a long time. I spent a lot of time with him. I spent a lot of time in the cage with him. I spent a lot of time throwing extra batting practice to him. I spent a lot of time talking to him.

“Manny, he’s fun, he’s different. He’ll do some things sometimes you don’t understand. But if you get to know him, I guarantee you you’ll like him. Manny is tension-free in life.”

Manuel compared Ramirez to Barry Bonds, the major-league home run king.

“I look at Manny in this series like Barry Bonds,” Manuel said. “He’ll make you change your ideas on things at times.”

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Sold on Rays: Boston designated hitter David Ortiz thinks Tampa Bay has a chance to be a force in the AL East for many years to come.

The Rays had never won more than 70 games in any season before earning their first division title and playoff berth this season.

“I can tell you one thing, those kids, if they stay out of trouble like they have and focus on the game, they’re going to do a lot of damage in this division,” Ortiz said.