ST. PETERSBURG (WDAE) -- Martin Perez and four Boston relievers combined to throw a four-hit shutout, and Alex Verdugo and Michael Chavis each hit two-run homers as the Red Sox salvaged the back-half of a two-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays in a 5-0 decision Wednesday.
Perez and Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough put up zeroes through the first three innings of play, but it would be Boston who broke through with two out in the fourth, as Chavis singled in front of Verdugo, who tucked a Yarbrough slider into the front row in right for his first home run as a member of the Red Sox.
The game stayed 2-0 until the sixth, when Yarbrough gave up an RBI single to Christian Vazquez and a two-run homer to Chavis that gave Boston the rest of their offense.
Perez allowed all four hits the Rays would get in his five innings of work. He also walked three and struck out four. Colton Brewer, Austin Brice, Matt Barnes, and Brandon Workman each worked a scoreless inning of relief to finish out the game. The Rays bullpen would allow just two hits in four scoreless inning of their own between Andrew Kittredge, Jose Alvarado, Diego Castillo, and Jalen Beeks.
The Rays have now lost six of seven since starting the year 4-1.
Tampa Bay has the day off Thursday before beginning a four-game series with the New York Yankees Friday.