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BOSTON (AP) — Evan Longoria hit two solo homers, Kevin Jepsen worked out of an eighth-inning jam and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Joey Butler had given the Rays a 4-2 lead with a two-run single in the sixth, two nights after hitting his first major-league homer.
The Red Sox cut that lead on Mookie Betts' fifth homer of the season, his third in two days, leading off the eighth against Jepsen.
Then, after Dustin Pedroia grounded out, the Red Sox loaded the bases on a walk to David Ortiz, a single by Mike Napoli and a walk to Pablo Sandoval. But Daniel Nava grounded to first baseman James Loney, who got the force out at home. And Brock Holt grounded to Loney for the final out.
Longoria gave the Rays a cushion with his third homer of the season, a deep shot into the seats in left off Alexi Ogando with one out in the ninth.
Brad Boxberger pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.
The Rays had taken a 1-0 lead against Justin Masterson (2-1) in the third when Brandon Guyer doubled and scored on a single by Logan Forsythe.
The Red Sox went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning against Alex Colome (2-0) on consecutive doubles by Xander Bogaerts and Blake Swihart and a sacrifice fly by Pedroia after Swihart moved to third on a groundout.
Longoria tied it in the fourth with a leadoff homer to left, his first since the season opener.
Masterson retired the leadoff batter in the fifth, then let the remaining four hitters he faced reach base. Loney singled before Longoria and David DeJesus walked, loading the bases. Butler followed with a single to right, scoring Loney and Longoria for a 4-2 lead.
Butler was called up from Triple-A Durham on Sunday and made his 2015 debut that day against Baltimore. On Monday night, he hit a two-run homer in Tampa Bay's 5-1 win in the opener of the three-game series in Boston.
Masterson, who allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last three starts, had trouble finding the plate with six walks and a wild pitch. He also hit a batter.
Colome, making his second start after missing a month with pneumonia, left with a runner on first and no outs in the sixth after allowing two runs, four hits and no walks with three strikeouts.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LHP Jake McGee (offseason elbow surgery) and INF Nick Franklin (left oblique strain) both did well in rehab appearances Tuesday, according to manager Kevin Cash. ... The Rays expect to learn more about RHP Alex Cobb's pitching elbow after returning home for a four-game series against Texas starting Thursday night. The Tampa Bay Times reported he has a partial ligament tear.
Red Sox: RF Shane Victorino is scheduled to start a rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Portland. He is on the DL with a right hamstring strain. ... LF Hanley Ramirez remained day-to-day after spraining his left shoulder when he ran into the side wall in left field pursuing a fly ball on Monday.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (3-1, 1.64 ERA) pitches against RHP Nick Martinez (2-0, 0.84) and the Texas Rangers on Thursday night in the opener of an eight-game homestand.
Red Sox: After a day off Thursday, LHP Wade Miley (1-3, 7.15) faces RHP Aaron Sanchez (2-2, 4.62) of the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday when the Red Sox open a three-city, 10-game road trip.
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