Tampa Bay 6 at Boston 8 - Recap

BOSTON -- Aaron Hill picked the perfect time to end a hitless drought.

Mired in an 0-for-20 slump, the veteran infielder singled home the tie-breaking run in the eighth inning as the Boston Red Sox rebounded after squandering a two-run lead to pull out an 8-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the rubber game of a three-game series on Wednesday.

Jackie Bradley, who hit his 22nd home run, provided insurance with an RBI double.

Hanley Ramirez, who hit a grand slam to wipe out a 4-1 deficit in the fifth inning, walked against Erasmo Ramirez (7-10) and took second on a sacrifice by Sandy Leon. Brock Holt stroked a pinch-hit single and Hill lined his hit to right field.

The Red Sox had rallied from a 4-1 deficit a blast from Ramirez and a solo shot by Bradley Jr., taking a 6-4 lead. The Rays tied the game when Boston manager John Farrell decided not to use closer Craig Kimbrel for a four-out save with setup man Brad Ziegler sidelined by the flu.

Junichi Tazawa replaced Fernando Abad with the bases loaded and two out and allowed a two-run single by Logan Forsythe, who homered earlier.

Tazawa (3-2) wound up with the win and Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save.

The Red Sox, playing for the 23rd straight day before heading out on their second West Coast trip since July 27, survived a shaky start by Steven Wright and moved to within a game and a half of the Toronto Blue Jays atop the American League East. Toronto was at Baltimore Wednesday night.

Ramirez, who also homered Tuesday night, hit his 19th and pushed his RBI total to 84 to continue his hot second half. He is 23-for-63 (.365) with five homers and 22 RBIs in his last 17 games. It was his seventh career grand slam, second with Boston.

Xander Bogaerts also homered, his 17th of the season. Dustin Pedroia, also sizzling with the bat, had three more hits and is 19-for-33 during an eight-game hitting streak. He also has 18 hits in his last 24 at-bats at Fenway Park.

Forsythe matched his career high with his 17th homer, and Logan Morrison (No. 11) also went deep for the Rays.

Wright, in his second start since injuring his right shoulder running the bases in Los Angeles, yielded four runs in four innings. In two starts since his return, he has permitted nine earned runs on 14 hits, including four homers, in 10 innings.

Smyly had been 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in his last seven starts coming in, but gave up five runs in five innings.

The Rays lost a run in the fourth inning when Tim Beckham (two hits) failed to cross home plate before Kevin Kiermaier (three hits) was called out at second base.

NOTES: There was nothing official, but it appeared the Red Sox were going to recall speedy super prospect 2B Yoan Moncada when the rosters expand -- in time for Friday night's opener of a nine-game road trip in Oakland. "We've talked about Yoan, and not just as a pinch runner," manager John Farrell said. "(He's) an exciting young player, extremely talented guy. There's all positive reviews and evaluations of him. When that major league experience is going to initiate, time with tell that. But in terms of playing the position of third base, yes, that conversation has been had." ... Boston RHP Brad Ziegler was unavailable for the second straight day because of the flu. ... SS Matt Duffy rested a sore Achilles for the Rays. ... RHP Alex Cobb, who hasn't pitched since late 2014 because of Tommy John surgery, returns to start for Tampa Bay at home against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday night, while David Price opens for the Red Sox in Oakland.