Rays 5, Red Sox 3
BOSTON -- Joey Butler’s two-run, bases-loaded single to right field in the top of the fifth inning plated the eventual game-winning runs, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
The left fielder had the hot hand in his first full series with the Rays after being called up from Triple-A Durham on Sunday prior to the team’s rubber match against the Baltimore Orioles.
Butler started all three games in Boston, hitting a home run and driving in four.
Tampa Bay (15-13) claimed a series victory with a pair of wins, outscoring Boston 9-5. It was the fifth loss in six games for the Red Sox (13-15), who have dropped their last two series.
Alex Colome (2-0) turned in a solid outing in his first career start against Boston, as the Tampa Bay right-hander allowed only two earned runs on four hits and struck out four in five innings.
Brad Boxberger silenced the Red Sox in the ninth, picking up his seventh save. The Rays right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last six appearances in 2015 and has held Boston scoreless three times out of the bullpen this season.
Evan Longoria, who had his 1,000th career hit Monday, blasted a pair of solo home runs in the game, including a ninth-inning shot that cleared the Green Monster to seal the victory.
Justin Masterson (2-1) suffered his first loss of the year. The right-hander was chased after 4 1/3 innings, walking six and surrendering all four earned runs on seven hits for the Red Sox.
Boston threatened a late comeback after center fielder Mookie Betts hit a solo home run to left, his third of the series and fifth on the season, on a 2-0 fastball in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game. Later that inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with only one out.
Daniel Nava, pinch-hitting for left fielder Allen Craig, grounded into a fielder’s choice at first and right fielder Brock Holt followed suit with a groundout to first to crush the rally.
With a runner on second and nobody out in the ninth, Boston’s rookie catcher Blake Swihart popped out to the catcher. Betts walked after teasing the fans with a couple of rockets into foul territory to put runners on first and second.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia struck out swinging for the second out. Newly acquired infielder Luis Jimenez, who entered the game as a pinch runner for designated hitter David Ortiz, sent a dribbler out in front of the catcher to record the game’s final out.
The Red Sox were 2-for-26 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Second baseman Logan Forsythe singled to left with two outs in the top of the third, plating right fielder Brandon Guyer from second to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.
Swihart hit a couple of milestones in the bottom of the inning, doubling to left-center to give him his first career RBI and his first extra base hit in the majors. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who doubled to leadoff the inning, scored from second to tie it.
Swihart later scored the go-ahead run with one away in the frame on Pedroia’s sacrifice fly to center after Betts’ groundout moved him over.
Longoria opened the Rays’ half of the fourth with his first home run of the contest, depositing a 2-2 slider over the wall in left, evening the score.
Masterson pitched himself into trouble in the fourth and fifth, walking the bases loaded in both frames. A fly out to center got him out of the former, but he wasn’t as fortunate in the latter.
Butler’s timely single ultimately did him in, giving the lead back to Tampa Bay for good.
NOTES: Wednesday was the 100th anniversary of former Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth's first home run. Ruth's granddaughter, Linda Ruth Tosetti, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park. ... Tampa Bay RHP Alex Colome faced Boston for the first time. ... Rays LHP Jake McGee (elbow) made his third rehab appearance Tuesday, striking out one in one scoreless inning for Triple-A Durham. He will pitch again Friday. ... LF Hanley Ramirez (shoulder) remained out of Boston's lineup for the second consecutive game. ... CF Mookie Betts, who had his first career multi-homer game Tuesday, became the youngest Red Sox player to do so since Jim Rice in 1975. ... Tampa Bay opens an eight-game homestand Thursday against Texas. Boston heads out for a 10-game trip that starts Friday in Toronto.