ST. PETERSBURG -- It seems inevitable that the Rays’ four-game series at Yankee Stadium next week will decide the American League East race, one way or another. It’s impossible to avoid the anticipation for that showdown, which has enormous regular-season implications in addition to being a potential postseason preview.

But don’t forget about what’s taking place this weekend at Tropicana Field. The Rays can’t afford to look past the Red Sox, who are hoping to punch their ticket to the postseason before leaving town Sunday night, and it’s equally possible that these two clubs will meet again in a couple of weeks.

While the Red Sox moved a step closer to their goal, the Rays’ march toward a division title was temporarily stalled by a 4-2 defeat before a crowd of 23,342 on Friday night at the Trop. The loss ended Tampa Bay’s six-game winning streak and reduced the club’s edge in the AL East standings to 4 1/2 games, pending the result of the Yankees’ late game in Arizona.

Either way, losing Friday night eliminated the already unlikely possibility of seeing the Rays clinch their first division title since 2021 at home. That would have required Tampa Bay pulling off a three-game sweep and the Yankees being swept by the D-backs.

All the scoring took place early in the series opener. Roman Anthony hit a solo shot in the first inning and a two-run single in the second against Ian Seymour, and the Red Sox jumped out to a 4-1 lead after three innings. But the Rays had plenty of chances to get back in the game.

Although they managed only three hits against Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez in his 5 2/3 innings of work, the Rays managed to work nine walks on the night and threatened to break through on several occasions. But Tampa Bay finished 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, struggling to find the big hits that have seemingly come so easily most of the season.

Their best opportunity came in the sixth, when they loaded the bases with a trio of walks against Suarez and reliever Wyatt Olds. Manager Kevin Cash summoned Jake Fraley to pinch-hit for shortstop Taylor Walls, and Fraley worked a full count before whiffing on a 97.2 mph fastball.

Seymour worked five innings, and his main issue was a familiar one: home runs, specifically solo shots. The left-hander allowed the leadoff blast to Anthony and another to Jahmai Jones leading off the third. Seymour has yielded 21 homers -- with at least one in 15 of his 19 appearances -- since moving back into a starting/bulk-inning role, and 17 of those have been with nobody on base.