The Red Sox began a crucial three-game stint against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night with the kind of subtlety taught in the Tony Montana School of Thought: guns blazing, eyes a little crazy-like, bodies falling to the wayside. Sure, the Boston weapon of choice was bats, rather than guns, but Scott Kazmir will be the first to tell you that they are just as brutal and deadly.

The slaughter ended with a 13-5 final score and a who's who of Red Sox players hitting home runs over the course of the game. David Ortiz, Mike Lowell (even a guy with a torn hip labrum could homer off the Rays last night), Jason Bay (whose blast never even came down from the catwalks at Tropicana Field), Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury hit blasts.

What does this mean? The Red Sox and Rays are tied at the top of the standings. We have ourselves a battle for the AL East and tonight's showdown is going to be crazy. Josh Beckett's taking the mound for the Sox, while Andy Sonnanstine gets the nod from the Rays.

Image by flickr user jaycoxfilm