Rays overcome early deficit to beat Red Sox
ST. PETERSBURG -- A home run from an unlikely source and a four-run rally led the Rays to a 7-5 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
With the score tied at 5 in the seventh, Asdrubal Cabrera scored the go-ahead run when Desmond Jennings grounded into a double play. Jake Elmore, who had two home runs in 120 career at-bats, then gave Tampa Bay an insurance run with a solo shot off Edward Mujica.
Home runs by Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz helped stake the Red Sox to a 5-1 lead, but the Rays answered in the sixth with four consecutive singles and a bases-loaded walk before pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer singled home two to tie the game.
"You know, we needed that one," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "For the guys to come back from that deficit against that team, it just keeps impressing all of us, showing us what they're all about."
For the Red Sox, the night unraveled all too quickly.
"We're staked to a 5-1 lead, I thought we had a number of good at-bats throughout the course of the ballgame up to that point," said manager John Farrell. "And then we couldn't shut the inning off."
Video: BOS@TB: Elmore on his homer in first Rays at-bat
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Elmore's blast: Elmore was selected from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day to take over for Ryan Brett, who went on the 15-day disabled list. Opportunity came for the journeyman in the sixth when he pinch-ran and scored to tie the game at 5. With the Rays leading, 6-5, in the seventh, Elmore hit a solo homer, making him the 11th player in club history to go deep in his first at-bat with the team. More >
Video: BOS@TB: Kelly whiffs Rivera for his 7th strikeout
Kelly latest Sox starter to falter: In what has become far too much of a recurring theme for the Red Sox, a starter came out of the gate strong and couldn't make it last. Joe Kelly had a 5-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth before facing five batters and not getting any of them out. Kelly came out after walking in a run. Craig Breslow replaced him, but he gave up a game-tying, two-run single to Guyer. All four runs in the inning were charged to Kelly.
"I didn't get ahead of the hitters," said Kelly. "I fell behind with my fastball, which was pretty good for me tonight, and that sixth inning, I tried to get too fine with it and fell behind hitters and had to throw it down the middle from then [on]." More >
Video: BOS@TB: Boxberger sits down Red Sox in order in 7th
Closing time comes early: Brad Boxberger is normally the Rays' late-inning guy out of the bullpen, but Cash went to the dependable right-hander in the seventh. Facing Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Mike Napoli, Boxberger struck out the side, setting the table for Tampa Bay to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. More >
Video: BOS@TB: Ortiz launches a milestone solo home run
Papi joins select company: When Ortiz's drive to right-center cleared the fence in the top of the fifth, he passed Chipper Jones for 32nd on the all-time homer list with 469. And the RBI was No. 1,538, pushing Big Papi past Joe DiMaggio for 46th in that category. More important, it was a sign that Ortiz -- who has gotten off to a modest start this season -- might be ready to get hot. More >
QUOTABLE
"My batting was very similar to our challenge record right now." -- Cash, when a reporter mentioned that he had homered in his first at-bat with Tampa Bay
Video: BOS@TB: Souza blasts a solo shot for the lead
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
When Steven Souza Jr. connected for a home run in the first off Kelly, the blast gave the outfielder four home runs in April, setting a Rays rookie record for the month. More >
Video: BOS@TB: Victorino steals second, tweaks hamstring
VICTORINO LEAVES WITH INJURY
Right fielder Shane Victorino had to leave the game in the fifth inning with a right hamstring injury. He was hit by a pitch and stole second in the fourth. The discomfort was caused by the steal and Farrell said the injury is not serious. Allen Craig pinch-hit for Victorino and replaced him in right field. Farrell was already planning on resting Victorino for Thursday's series finale. More >
Video: BOS@TB: Double play confirmed in the 8th after review
UNDER REVIEW
Cash made his ninth challenge of the young season in the eighth when the call on the field ruled a 5-3-5 double-play in the eighth. Cash challenged both outs. After a two-minute, nine-second review, the calls on the field were confirmed. The Rays' manager is now 0-for-9 on the season with challenges.
WHAT'S NEXT
Red Sox: Will the real Clay Buchholz please stand up? The talented righty closes out this three-game series for Boston. Buchholz was magnificent on Opening Day against the Phillies. Next time out, he got rocked at Yankee Stadium. And in his third start, against the Orioles, Buchholz gave up 11 hits but just two earned runs in six innings.
Rays: Jake Odorizzi will make his fourth start of the season after pitching into the seventh inning in each of his first three outings. He is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox and has gone 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against them at Tropicana Field.
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