ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Dustin Pedroia's two-run homer off Jake Odorizzi capped a four-run third inning that the Tampa Bay Rays could not overcome, falling 8-3 to the Boston Red Sox Friday at Tropicana Field.
Boston's big inning came a half-inning after Tampa Bay had runners at second and third base with nobody out, but failed to score as Trevor Plouffe struck out and Mallex Smith decided to bunt, which got both Wilson Ramos, who was at third, and Brad Miller, at second, tagged out on the bases.
The Red Sox countered with an RBI double by Mookie Betts and a run-scoring single by Andrew Benintendi before Pedroia unloaded on Odorizzi, parking a pitch into the seats n left for a 4-0 lead.
Jackie Bradley Jr. added on to the Boston lead an inning later with a solo homer, and after Tampa Bay finally got on the board with an RBI double by WIlson Ramos and an RBI single by Brad Miller, who reached in all four plate appearances in his first game back from the disabled list, Bradley added a bases loaded walk in the fifth to force in a run to make it 6-2 and end Odorizzi's night.
Chase Whitley allowed an inherited run to score on a fielder's choice by Christian Vazquez for a 7-2 score, but escaped with no further damage.
Steven Souza Jr.'s 17th home run of the year in the sevent inning off reliever Heath Hembree got the deficit back to within a grand slam, but Hanley Ramirez's took Adam Kolarek deep in the ninth to set the score.
The loss drops Tampa Bay to 45-43 on the year, five and a half games behind Boston for the division lead.
The Rays will look to rebound Saturday, as Alex Cobb (6-6, 4.01 ERA) takes on the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Rick Porcello (4-10, 5.01 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 3:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Sykes Lakeland.