Red Sox 2, Rays 0
BOSTON -- Mookie Betts logged his first career multi-home run game, hitting solo shots in the sixth and eighth innings to power the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
The center fielder's first home run came on an 0-1 slider to lead off the sixth inning, bouncing off the Sports Authority sign on the Green Monster in left field to give Boston its first hit off of Rays left-hander Drew Smyly (0-1).
Betts' second blast came on a 90 mph hour fastball from Tampa Bay right-handed reliever Ernesto Frieri two innings later.
Rays third baseman Evan Longoria recorded his 1,000th career hit on a leadoff single to center in the fourth inning, providing one of the lone highlights for a Tampa Bay team that mustered eight hits.
Smyly had no-hit stuff working early in the ballgame, but the Red Sox still made him and his teammates work for it.
Boston designated hitter David Ortiz was robbed of extra bases on a spectacular running catch from Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier in the fourth. In the fifth, Tampa Bay shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera robbed rookie Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart of a hit on a diving play to end the inning.
Right-hander Rick Porcello (3-2) followed up on last Wednesday's one-run outing by holding the Rays scoreless, striking out six and giving up eight hits in seven scoreless innings. Boston closer Koji Uehara tossed a clean ninth to pick up his fifth save.
Smyly allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings.
NOTES: Twenty six members of the 1975 World Series Red Sox team, including Carlton Fisk, were on hand for a special 40th anniversary celebration prior to first pitch Tuesday. Boston wore its 1975 throwback uniforms and fans in attendance received a Fisk bobblehead. ... Red Sox LF Hanley Ramirez is listed as day-to-day after spraining his left shoulder attempting to make a catch Monday in Boston's 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay. Ramirez could return as soon as this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to CSNNE.com. ... Rays LHP Drew Smyly gave up fewer than two earned runs for the seventh consecutive start. ... On Monday, OF Joey Butler became the first player in Tampa Bay history to homer in his first career at-bat at Fenway Park. ... Tampa Bay and Boston wrap up their three-game series Wednesday night.