ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — The Tampa Bay Rays’ home woes continued, with an unearned run leading the Boston Red Sox and starter Wade Miley to a 1-0 win Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.
Miley (1-1) gave up just three hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings, continuing his personal success against the Rays. Relievers Alexi Ogando, Robbie Ross Jr., Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara combined to complete a four-hitter. Uehara got the last three outs for his second save.
Tampa Bay (6-8) lost its fourth straight to drop to 1-5 at home. The Rays were shut out for the second time in three games. The American League East-leading Red Sox (9-5) bounced back after losing two of their previous three games.
Boston scored the only run in the third inning, and the ball never left the infield. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but rookie second baseman Ryan Brett, playing in his third major league game, committed a throwing error that allowed catcher Ryan Hanigan, who reached on an infield single and advanced on a walk, to score.
Brett left the game after the inning due to subluxated left shoulder. First baseman Logan Forsythe returned to second, his most common position, and rookie Allan Dykstra replaced Brett at first base. If Brett goes on the disabled list, it would make it 11 sidelined players for the Rays, a team record.
The Rays came in hitless in their last 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position, and they had only one shot Tuesday. Miley walked third baseman Evan Longoria to load the bases in the sixth, but Ogando entered and got center fielder Desmond Jennings to hit into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.
Rays starter Chris Archer (2-2) kept the Rays in the game by getting out of jams. He struck out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings, including designated hitter David Ortiz with two on and two outs in the fifth.
Ortiz suspended, fined
Ortiz was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount after an incident with umpire John Tumpane during Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The suspension, which Ortiz plans to appeal, was announced Tuesday by Joe Garagiola Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
Ortiz was expected to begin serving the suspension on Tuesday night during a road game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but it was put on hold until his appeal is heard and a review is completed.
Ortiz made contact with Tumpane during the bottom of the fifth inning at Fenway Park while arguing a strike call and was ejected.