Red Sox 5, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox got to Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer on Sunday, tagging him for three home runs on the way to a 5-3 win at Tropicana Field.
The Red Sox (34-43) got solo home runs from third baseman Pablo Sandoval and left fielder Alejandro De Aza, then a two-run shot from designated hitter David Ortiz, helping them take two of three in the divisional series.
The Rays (42-35), who had sole possession of first in the American League for 13 days, dropped into a virtual tie with the Yankees (41-34).
Archer (9-5) had allowed a total of seven earned runs in his previous six starts, giving him the AL's lowest ERA at 2.01 entering the game. And while he struck out 10 batters, the five runs he allowed matched a season high, and the three home runs allowed were a career high.
Tampa Bay rallied for two runs in the seventh on shortstop Asdrubal Cabera's RBI double and an RBI single from designated hitter Grady Sizemore, who made his Rays debut and had three hits against his old team.
Sizemore doubled with two outs in the ninth, but Boston closer Koji Uehara got the final out from Rays third baseman Evan Longoria for his 16th save.
Boston jumped ahead in the second inning, on the solo home runs by Sandoval (his seventh of the season) and De Aza (sixth) for a 2-0 lead. For De Aza, it was his third home run in four games, after having just three in his first 45 games of the season.
The Red Sox doubled their lead in the fourth on the two-run home run by Ortiz, his 12th home run of the season, for a 4-0 lead. The three home runs accounted for all but one of the Red Sox's four hits in the first six innings.
Tampa Bay got on the scoreboard in the fifth, with center fielder Brandon Guyer reaching on an infield single, taking second on a passed ball and scoring on an RBI single by Cabrera, who batted leadoff for the first time this season as outfielder Kevin Kiermaier got the day off.
Boston starter Justin Masterson got the win. He gave up five hits in five innings but pitched well, buoyed by the early lead.
Boston first baseman Mike Napoli was ejected in the second inning for arguing a called third strike. Second baseman Brock Holt moved to first to replace him, with rookie Deven Marrero making his major-league debut by entering the game at second.
NOTES: The Rays selected former Indians All-Star Grady Sizemore from Class A Charlotte and added him to the 25-man and 40-man roster. Sizemore, signed by the Rays after he was cut by the Phillies, batted second Sunday as Tampa Bay's designated hitter. ... To make room for Sizemore on the 25-man roster, RHP Matt Andriese, who pitched a gem Saturday, was optioned to Triple-A Durham, and to make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred OF Desmond Jennings (knee surgery) to the 60-day disabled list. ... With Andriese down, the Rays are showing confidence that LHP Matt Moore, out since last summer recovering from Tommy John surgery, can make his season debut on Thursday. ... Red Sox OF Shane Victorino (calf) went 1-for-4 Saturday as he continues a rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket. He is 3-for-9 after three games there.