Red Sox 4, Rays 2
Adrian Gonzalez homered and Jonathan Papelbon worked out of ninth-inning jam to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 road win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.
Casey Kotchman led off the ninth with a double off Papelbon and B.J. Upton followed with an infield hit. Elliot Johnson then tried to sacrifice but Kevin Youkilis made a diving catch of his bunt for the first out of the inning.
Papelbon then fanned Justin Riggiano and Sean Rodriguez to end the game for his 13th save of the season.
The Red Sox, who wrapped up an 8-1 road trip, led from the start. David Ortiz drove home the first run with a bases-loaded walk in the first inning.
Boston scored twice in the second inning on RBI singles by Darnell McDonald and Dustin Pedroia.
The Rays cut the deficit to 3-2 getting an RBI double by Sam Fuld in the second inning and a solo homer by Kotchman in the sixth.
Gonzalez blasted his 14th homer of the season in the ninth inning to close out the scoring.
Both starters lasted just five innings.
Clay Buchholz (6-3) allowed one run and two hits, but he left after five innings due to tightness in his lower back.
David Price (7-6) took the loss after allowing five hits and three runs. He walked five and struck out five.
Boston shortstop Jed Lowrie left the game with a shoulder injury.