Sizemore swats first homer, backs solid Buchholz

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Grady Sizemore's first spring homer, a two-run shot, gave the Red Sox the lead in the sixth inning in a 4-2 win over the Rays on Tuesday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park.

Jake Odorizzi made his first start since being told on Saturday that he had earned the fifth spot in Tampa Bay's rotation.

After pitching two scoreless frames, Odorizzi surrendered a leadoff home run to Will Middlebrooks in the third.

Xander Bogaerts added an RBI single off Odorizzi in the fourth that tied the game at 2.

Odorizzi left the game after walking Mike Carp to start the sixth. Cesar Ramos took over and surrendered a two-run homer to Sizemore that cleared the boardwalk in right field and landed on the walkway outside the Rays' executive offices.

Odorizzi allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five in five-plus innings.

"I'm really happy [with the outing]," Odorizzi said. "It was good to get out there more relaxed this time than the past outings this spring. And I think that made a big difference going out relaxed and comfortable. I think it had a great deal to do with today and I'm really happy how today went."

Clay Buchholz started for the Red Sox and surrendered two runs in the third on an RBI double to Jose Molina and an RBI single to Wil Myers that gave the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Buchholz allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five in six innings in his last Grapefruit League start.

Up next: Right-hander Allen Webster starts for the Red Sox on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET against righty Miguel Gonzalez and the split-squad Orioles at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla. Relievers Andrew Miller, Tommy Layne, Burke Badenhop and Francisco Cordero are also expected to see action. Sizemore will once again be in the starting lineup, the second day in his progression of playing three games in a row. Jon Lester will also have his final tuneup in a Minor League game before his Opening Day start Monday in Baltimore.