Time to lose? Or time for a win?

So the Rays lose tonight against the Red Sox, right?

Recent history says that will happen when Andy Sonnanstine faces Justin Masterson at Tropicana Field.

In this win one, lose one, win one, lose one season, it's time for the Rays to lose simply because they won Thursday night.

But, if the Rays are going though a rough patch, as manager Joe Maddon said before Thursday night's 13-0 win that included six perfect innings from Matt Garza, than it's time for them to shake the slump and put some wins together.

Third baseman Evan Longoria called tonight's game a "test of character."

It is. Sonnanstine has not looked good and the offense lacks consistency and the Rays tend to come out flat after winning the day before. They haven't won back-to-back games since April 12 and 13. They haven't beaten the same team twice since taking the last two games of the season-opening three-game series at Boston.

The players like to mention the season is still young. It's only May 1. They have 139 games left on the schedule.

No time to panic. No time to blow up the roster. No time to stray from the game plan.

All true.

But it is time to prove you can follow up one win with another.