Red Sox 7, Rays 5
BOSTON -- Mike Napoli was one of the Boston Red Sox many figured would be shipped out of town by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
But the veteran first baseman wasn't moved on a quiet deadline day for the club -- and Friday night launched a go-ahead two-out, two-run homer in the seventh inning as Boston pulled out a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Napoli, who has had a tough year at the plate, connected on a towering shot into the first row of the Monster Seats at Fenway Park off left-hander Jake McGee (0-1) on a 2-2 pitch. The hit followed a tough two-out walk to DH David Ortiz and came after the Rays had taken the lead with two runs in the top of the inning.
Napoli's 13th homer of the season made a winner of reliever Junichi Tazawa (2-3), who gave up a two-run double to pinch hitter John Jaso that gave Tampa Bay a 5-4 lead.
Tazawa pitched out of an eighth-inning jam and the Red Sox scored an insurance run in their half on a double by catcher Blake Swihart, a groundout and a wild pitch by right-hander Brandon Gomes.
Koji Uehara worked the ninth for his 23rd save -- his 13th straight -- as the last-place Red Sox (46-58) won their second straight. He ended the game with a 12-pitch strikeout of catcher Rene Rivera.
Swihart had a two-run single in a three-run first and left fielder Alejandro De Aza stroked a pair of RBI singles off Tampa starter Erasmo Ramirez.
Third baseman Evan Longoria had three hits and left fielder Mikie Mahtook, recalled earlier in the day, added two hits and an RBI for the Rays (51-53).
Rookie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez worked the first five innings for the Red Sox in a sloppy game that saw the teams combine for five errors and several other shaky plays.
Bad defense and wildness left the score tied 3-3 after three innings.
The Rays scored in the first thanks to two walks by Rodriguez.
The Red Sox came back with three unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. Errors by first baseman Logan Forsythe and second baseman Tim Beckham led to an RBI single by De Aza and Swihart's two-run hit.
With Mahtook on second via a double and two outs in the Tampa second, center fielder Brandon Guyer struck out but got to first on a Rodriguez wild pitch. Right fielder Steven Souza Jr. then reached on an infield hit thanks to a bad throw by third baseman Josh Rutledge as a run scored.
In the third, shortstop Azdrubal Cabrera singled off Rodriguez's body and took second when Rodriguez had another smash go off his body but got the out at first. Mahtook singled home the run.
Another Beckham error started the Boston third, but Ramirez pitched around it.
Rodriguez battled through five innings, issuing a career-high four walks and throwing 110 pitches, but the team got him the lead when De Aza came through with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. More sloppy infield play by the Rays helped the Red Sox.
NOTES: Red Sox LF Hanley Ramirez (shin) and 3B Pablo Sandoval (wrist) were out of the lineup with injuries sustained Thursday night. ... The Rays beat the trade deadline by sending RHP Kevin Jepsen to the Minnesota Twins for minor league RHPs Alexis Tapia and Chih-Wei Hu. They also designated C Bobby Wilson for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers. Tampa Bay recalled RHP Kirby Yates and OF Mikie Mahtook from the minors. ... Boston acquired RHP Ryan Cook, 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in four major league appearances this year but an All-Star in 2012, from the Oakland A's for a player to be named or cash considerations. ... Tampa Bay LHP Matt Moore makes his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery when he faces Boston's struggling RHP Joe Kelly on Saturday. Kelly has one major league win since his first start of the season and none since June 6.