(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will battle for the right to represent the American League at the World Series, as the best-of- seven ALCS gets underway this evening at Tropicana Field.

While the defending world champion Red Sox are ALCS regulars, appearing in this round for the fourth time in the last six years, the Rays, of course, are new to the party, playing in their first-ever postseason.

These teams are obviously no stranger to one another, having played 18 times throughout the season. Tampa managed to win 10 of those contests with eight of the victories coming on their home field.

Of course, the season series reached a fevered pitch on June 5 when a bench clearing brawl marred Boston's 7-1 win at Fenway. After Coco Crisp slid into second a little too hard for Tampa's liking the night before, Tampa starter James Shields let him know about it the following night, hitting him and setting off an ugly incident.

After several punches were thrown by members of both teams, Crisp, Shields and Rays' designated hitter Jonny Gomes, who threw several shots at Crisp on the ground, were all ejected and suspended.

In all, eight players were suspended and fined for the incident.

The AL East's doormat since their inception in 1998, the Rays managed a franchise-high 97 wins this season on their way to their first-ever division title.

Tampa's surprising run continued in the ALDS, as the Rays disposed of the AL Central-champion Chicago White Sox in four games. Tampa easily won the first two games of that series at home before falling in Game 3 at Chicago. The Rays, though, overcame that hiccup and got a great performance from Andy Sonnanstine in Game 4 to advance.

Evan Longoria's magnificent first season for Tampa Bay continued in the ALDS, as he became the first player since Gary Gaetti in 1987 to homer in his first two postseason at-bats. Longoria cooled off considerably after his three-RBI Game 1 effort and was hitless in eight at-bats over the final two games.

Longoria, though, was one of the few Rays who struggled, as Carlos Pena (.500), Dioner Navarro (.400), Akinori Iwamura (.389) and B.J. Upton (.278, 3 HR) all had big series.

Boston, meanwhile, was relegated to the wild card this year after finishing two games back of the Rays.

Boston advanced in the ALDS, as it knocked off the 100-win Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in four games. Even with a banged up offense and a not-100-percent Josh Beckett, the Red Sox continued their dominance of the Angels, who they have now beaten in 12 of their last 13 playoff meetings.

A lot was made about how the Red Sox would fare without Manny Ramirez's big bat in the postseason. Jason Bay, though, answered any questions anyone may have had, as he batted a team-high .412 in his first-ever postseason action with two home runs and five RBI.

If the Red Sox are going to get by in this series, though, they are going to need more from their big three of David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. The trio combined for just nine hits in the series with the MVP- candidate Pedroia contributing just one.

However, Pedroia's lone hit was an RBI double which put the Red Sox up by two in Game 4. Last year he struggled in the ALDS, but bounced back with a 10-hit LCS before a solid World Series.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona will hand the ball tonight to Japanese right- hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA, despite a league-high 94 walks. Matsuzaka did not get a decision in the Red Sox' Game 2 win, as he surrendered three runs and eight hits in five innings. He also walked three batters.

Matsuzaka, though, has been very good on the road, where he was a perfect 9-0 with a 2.37 ERA.

Rays manager Joe Maddon, meanwhile, will throw Shields in Game 1 with southpaw Scott Kazmir toeing the rubber in Game 2.

Shields, who was 14-8 with a 3.56 ERA in the regular season, won the first game of the ALDS for the Rays, holding the White Sox to three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"Big Game" James went 2-2 against the Red Sox this season, but the righty is 2-4 in eight career starts against them, while pitching to a 5.23 ERA.

Boston will be without last year's World Series MVP Mike Lowell for this set. Lowell will miss the series because of a hip injury.

The Red Sox, who are appearing in their ninth ALCS in team history, come into this series having won 10 of their last 11 playoff games.

Game 2 of this series will be played in St. Petersburg on Saturday.