Bogaerts, Pedroia lead Red Sox past Rays
BOSTON -- Xander Bogaerts belted a two-run home run and Dustin Pedroia drove in a pair as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.
It was the 10th homer of the season for Bogaerts, who has now reached base in 20 consecutive games, while Pedroia has had at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games.
Boston (48-38) improved to 6-2 in July and is 10 games over .500 for the first time since June 19.
Red Sox starter Rick Porcello (11-2) claimed the team lead in victories, holding the Rays to one run on six hits and no walks while striking out five in seven innings.
Porcello is 8-0 in nine starts at Fenway this season.
Koji Uehara picked up his fourth save in place of All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, who is expected to miss 3-6 weeks after undergoing surgery for a left knee injury.
Brad Miller hit a solo home run, his fourth blast this month and his 14th of the campaign, as last-place Tampa Bay (34-53) extended its franchise-worst stretch of 21 losses in 24 games.
Rays starter Matt Moore (5-6) exited after six innings, allowing four runs -- but just two earned -- on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
A pair of monster shots accounted for the early offense.
The Rays struck first as Miller deposited a 1-1 two-seam fastball from Porcello into the third-row seats of the Green Monster in left field in the first inning.
Bogaerts one-upped Miller, walloping Moore's 0-2 heater over the Monster entirely for a two-run blast in the fourth, which flipped the one-run advantage to the Red Sox.
That ended Moore's scoreless streak against Boston at 14 2/3 innings.
Pedroia extended the lead in the fifth, ripping a single to left to plate two runs after Boston opened the frame by putting runners on second and third with nobody out.
NOTES: Boston acquired closer RHP Brad Ziegler from Arizona for RHP Jose Almonte and 2B Luis Alejandro Basabe on Saturday but Ziegler wasn't active. The move is a result of Red Sox All-Star closer RHP Craig Kimbrel (left knee medial meniscus tear) being placed on the 15-day disabled list. Kimbrel, hurt catching fly balls during batting practice Friday, will undergo surgery Monday and is expected to miss 3-6 weeks. Ziegler is 2-3 with a 2.82 ERA and 18 saves. Ziegler and RHP Koji Uehara will share the closer role in Kimbrel's absence. ... Red Sox 1B Hanley Ramirez (left shin contusion) wasn't in the lineup after fouling a ball off his leg for the second straight game Thursday. INF/OF Brock Holt (left ankle sprain) and RHP Junichi Tazawa (shoulder tightness) are both day-to-day, but aren't expected to land on the DL. ... Boston added INF/OF Michael Martinez, acquired from Cleveland on Friday, to the 25-man roster and recalled RHP Noe Ramirez from Triple-A Pawtucket. INF Marco Hernandez was optioned to Pawtucket and LF/C Blake Swihart (left ankle sprain) was transferred to the 60-day DL. ... Tampa Bay LHP Dana Eveland cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham. Eveland has been designated for assignment by the Rays twice this season. ... Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-4, 4.33 ERA) counters Red Sox David Price (8-6, 4.64 ERA) in Sunday's series finale.