ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- "The past is history. Tomorrow's a mystery."

Leave it to Vanilla Ice to bring everything back into perspective.

The rapper/reality star/anchor of 'Where Are They Now' specials everywhere uttered those words of wisdom during a conference call promoting his Tropicana Field concert Friday night. (So close, yet so far away.)

Yes, Vanilla, we will stop, collaborate and listen because you have managed to sum up the essence of the American League East now that the Tampa Bay Rays have swept the Red Sox out of town thanks to the punctuation that was a 6-4 win, Wednesday night. (Click here for a recap.)

To put it another way -- a far less rhythmic way -- the race is officially on.

There were things to take stock of in these three games (David Price, for one), and other elements that simply are bound to change (the Red Sox' MASH unit). What you should have garnered from the experience was it is time to start paying attention. 

The Sox are 2 1/2 games out of the Wild Card and 4 1/2 behind the Yankees for the division's top spot. They played with a dugout full of crutches, splints and resiliency. This was a downturn, but not quite characterization of more than a few that the season has taken a turn for the worst. Manager Terry Francona relayed a message of calm after the game.

"This was a disappointing three days as far as getting wins. We ask our guys to try their best, to do their best, and that's exactly what they're doing," the Red Sox manager said. "We'll get on the plane, regroup and keep battling. This is actually kind of a fun group right now. This wasn't a real fun three days but this is a good group to work with. We'll figure it out… We'll find a way to figure it out."

Believe it or not, while in the midst of being outscored by a total of four runs, the Red Sox started to figure it out. Here are some reasons why the Sox were able to head to Canada not feeling quite as "cursed" as David Ortiz suggested they might be after Tuesday night's loss:

MIKE CAMERON AND ADRIAN BELTRE ARE SETTING A TONE

It wasn't just the Cameron going 3-for-3 with a home run Wednesday night, it was what he has represented of late. Cameron has led by example (playing through a painful abdominal injury), but also supplied the Red Sox' some much-needed punch, especially against left-handed pitching.

Since the absence of Victor Martinez, the Red Sox are hitting just .222 against left-handed pitching. But Cameron has helped carry the load, going 9-for-21 (.429) vs. southpaws.

Beltre struggled a bit offensively during the series, coming away with just a pair of hits, but he displayed the kind of toughness that is becoming a hallmark of many corners of the club. First he stayed in the game Tuesday night after fouling a ball off his left knee ("I'm OK if it's not broken, and it's not broken," he said). And then Wednesday night Beltre went diving into the crowd, tumbling over even with the still-painful leg.

Both players might be new this year, but they have become leaders thanks to their examples.

THE UNKNOWNS AREN'T FADING

You can say what you want about the bit players turned lineup anchors -- the likes of Daniel Nava, Darnell McDonald and Eric Patterson -- but they continue to not only produce, but help define the fabric of the clubhouse.

This time it was McDonald who left the biggest impression, knocking out three hits, including an 11-pitch at-bat (his longest of the season) in the ninth inning that scored J.D. Drew with a double off of temporary closer Matt Garza.

Nava is hitting .417 in July, McDonald continues to offer a valuable offensive option against lefties and Patterson showed his worth with two home runs in the series opener and then a potentially key ninth-inning triple the next night.

BELIEVE OR NOT, THE INJURIES ARE HEALING

Dustin Pedroia joked that he was going to announce at the All-Star Game that he would be returning to the field after two weeks of healing. Not true. What is accurate is that while the Red Sox were falling short on the scoreboard, they were making great strides in other areas while in Florida.

Josh Beckett got through his simulated game/first rehab start, perhaps putting him just two minor league starts away from rejoining the rotation.

Jeremy Hermida took batting practice on the field for the first time since going on the disabled list with an injury to his ribs.

Jed Lowrie began playing again, albeit with Single-A Lowell.

Jacoby Ellsbury will reappear with the team Friday in Toronto before amping up his rehab starting Monday in Fort Myers.

Manny Delcarmen will most likely throw off a mound Friday, and perhaps Sunday, staying on target to coming off the disabled list two days after the All-Star Game.

Clay Buchholz threw a side session Wednesday and doesn't figure to allow his injured hamstring to make him miss more than one start after the break.

Even the images of Victor Martinez and Pedroia throwing while either on a chair or with somebody else catching offered some more distant hope.

The caveat is Kevin Youkilis' status. The first baseman still appeared to be in pain after leaving Tuesday night's game with a spasmed capsule in his right foot, a condition he doesn't know when, or how, will go away.

Youkilis' injury, along with three straight losses, isn't the only reality check offered up by this week's events. 

The separation between Bill Hall and Pedroia's defensive abilities came into view. Hideki Okajima's bad back didn't look much better judging by his Tuesday night performance. And J.D. Drew offered little hope he would turn around his struggles against lefties (sitting out vs. Price while carrying a .184 average against southpaws, though he did collect a pinch-hit single against lefty Randy Choate, ending a spell of six hitless at-bats against southpaws in which Drew had struck out five times).

The guarantees are few, as the Red Sox' entire season has suggested. There are two certainties, however: It won't be easy, and it will be interesting. As Robert Van Winkle said, tomorrow is a mystery, and that's good enough for these Sox.