ST. PETERSBURG (WDAE) -- Back to back home runs by Mookie Betts and Mitch Moreland off Diego Castillo broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning and propelled the Boston Red Sox to 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa Bay jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a solo home run by Brandon Lowe in the second off Eduardo Rodriguez, and a RBI triple by Avisail Garcia an inning later, but Boston jumped on Ryan Yarbrough, who took over after Ryne Stanek tossed a perfect pair of innings to open, in the fifth. J.D. Martinez opened the frame by drawing a walk, and scoring two batters later on a double by Rafael Devers. Christian Vazquez then hit a two-run homer to center just over the glove of Guillermo Heredia, giving Boston a 3-2 lead.
Boston added another run in the sixth with three straight hits off Wilmer Font: a double by Betts, a single by Moreland and a base hit by Martinez.
Tampa Bay tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Meadows singled and Garcia reached on a fielder's choice. Daniel Robertson, who was mired in a 0 for 21 slump, broke out of it with a double down the left field line that scored both runners and made it a 4-4 game.
Tampa Bay could not get the go-ahead run across, and in the eighth Betts and Moreland led off the inning with back to back solo home runs, setting the score at 6-4.
The Rays got the tying run to the plate with two out, but Ryan Brazier struck out Michael Perez to end the game, and send Tampa Bay to consecutive losses for the first time this season.
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (14-6) vs. Boston Red Sox (7-13), 6:10 pm first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 5:00 with The Inside Pitch.
Rays starter: RHP Charlie Morton (2-0, 2.18 ERA)
Red Sox starter: RHP Rick Porcello (0-3, 11.12 ERA)