Red Sox 3, Rays 1 (1st)
Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings and Jacoby Ellsbury cracked a three-run homer to lift the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Lester (12-6) fanned eight and allowed just three hits and a walk to break a personal two-game losing streak.
Ellsbury provided all the offense Boston needed with his 21st homer in the third inning. Ellsbury’s blast over the bullpens in right field scored both Josh Reddick and Mike Aviles. Boston had all three of its hits in the inning.
Tampa Bay led 1-0 in the first after Desmond Jennings led off the game with a double. After stealing third base, Jennings scored on a groundout by Evan Longoria. Zobrist followed with a double but the Rays didn’t get another hit until Longoria singled in the sixth.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save.
James Shields (11-10) dropped to 1-8 lifetime at Fenway Park. It was his ninth complete game of the season. He struck out six and walked one.
Boston entered the game tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East.
David Ortiz missed the first game of the doubleheader with bursitis of his right heel. It was originally reported he was ill. Ortiz also sat out the second game.