Erasmo, Longo lead Rays to series win vs. Boston
BOSTON -- Erasmo Ramirez shook off an early two-run homer by David Ortiz and was magnificent thereafter, leading the Rays to a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday night at Fenway Park.
The Rays were shut down early by Wade Miley, but were energized by a solo homer by Evan Longoria in a three-run sixth.
Video: TB@BOS: Longoria launches 428-foot home run at Fenway
"Great win," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Erasmo was outstanding. Little hiccup in the first. Actually, from our view, it looked like he just made one bad pitch and it cost him a little bit."
Ramirez gave up four hits and two runs, walking none and striking out six. Miley went 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs.
Video: TB@BOS: Souza Jr. doubles in Cabrera, puts Rays ahead
After losing the opener in Boston, the Rays came back to win the last three.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
More milestones for Papi: It seems that every time Ortiz goes deep, there are more milestones. Big Papi's two-run shot over the Green Monster in the first put him over the 100-RBI mark for the ninth time in his career. Ortiz joined Ted Williams as the only players in club history to have nine 100-RBI seasons. The homer was Ortiz's 36th homer of the season, giving him his sixth 35-100 season, surpassing Jimmie Foxx and Manny Ramirez for the most in team history. More >
Video: TB@BOS: Ortiz drills two-run shot for the early lead
"When you start to throw Ted Williams' name around and you're drawing comparisons, that's impressive," said Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo.
Longo's 20th: Longoria's solo homer in the sixth off Miley gave him 20 for the season. He has now reached the 20-homer mark for the seventh time in his career. Only three other third basemen in Major League history have hit 20 home runs in seven of their first eight seasons: Eddie Mathews, Chipper Jones, and Scott Rolen. More >
Video: TB@BOS: Longoria on Rays' win, hitting his 20th homer
Miley dominant early, falters late: Red Sox lefty Miley seemed en route to a gem on Thursday, when he held the Rays to two hits over five scoreless innings. But his fortune ended in the sixth, when he gave up three runs, and again in the seventh, when Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier led off with a solo home run.
Video: TB@BOS: Kiermaier drills solo shot to extend the lead
"I think tonight Wade was outstanding for the first two times through the order. He just started making some mistakes out over in front of the plate," Lovullo said. "He was trying to throw a curveball in and missed middle. He was trying to throw something soft and it ended up in the middle of the plate. And when you make mistakes like that, against some of the good hitters they have, you're going to pay for it."
Three sevens: Ramirez allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out six. Ortiz's homer was the first career hit for the Red Sox slugger in 11 plate appearances against Ramirez, but the Rays' right-hander survived the first-inning blast and went on to pitch seven innings. Ramirez has now gone at least seven innings in his last three starts, the first time that's happened in his career.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
In 18 starts with at least two runs of support this season, Ramirez is 11-1 with a 2.87 ERA.
Though the Red Sox were largely shut down on Thursday, they lead the Majors in runs scored since July 26 with 311.
Video: TB@BOS: Lovullo on 4-2 loss to the Rays
WHAT'S NEXT
Rays: The Rays begin the final leg of their seven-game road trip with a Friday night game against the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m. ET. Jake Odorizzi (8-8, 3.38) will try and get back on track after getting a no-decision against the Orioles on Sunday. He is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in two starts at Rogers Centre this season.
Red Sox: Lefty Rich Hill will try to duplicate the success of his first two starts when he opens a three-game series against the Orioles on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Fenway. Hill has struck out 10 in each of his last two starts, giving up a total of three earned runs over 14 innings. The lefty hadn't started a game in the Majors since 2009 until this month.
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