Rays 6, Red Sox 2 (2nd)

Jeff Niemann pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10, and Desmond Jennings homered as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the host Boston Red Sox 6-2 on Tuesday to salvage a split of a day-night doubleheader.

Niemann (8-4) retired 20 of the last 21 batters he faced.

The Red Sox fell out of first place in the American League East - they are one-half game behind the New York Yankees.

Boston won the first game of the doubleheader 3-1 on Jacoby Ellsbury's three-run homer. Ellsbury hit a solo shot in the second game - his 22nd - to trim Tampa Bay's lead to 3-2 in the sixth before the Rays blew the game open with three runs in the eighth.

B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist had three hits apiece for the Rays.

Erik Bedard (4-8) allowed three runs in six innings and Jason Varitek had a solo homer in the third for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox turned a triple play when Tampa Bay's Sean Rodriguez grounded to third baseman Jed Lowrie, who stepped on the bag and went around the horn 5-4-3. It was Boston's first triple play since 1994, when shortstop John Valentin accomplished the feat unassisted.
Final1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9thRHE
Tampa Bay RaysRays0200100306120
Boston Red SoxRed Sox001001000231
Season Series
BostonStatsTampa Bay
6-12Vs12-6
.189Batting Average.240
3.2Runs / Game5.3
20Home Runs18
13Errors4