BOSTON — Joey Butler’s two-run, bases-loaded single to right field in the top of the fifth inning plated the eventual game-winning runs, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Butler, called up from Triple-A Durham on Sunday, started all three games in Boston, hitting a home run and driving in four for Tampa Bay (15-13). It was the fifth loss in six games for the Red Sox (13-15).
Alex Colome (2-0) turned in a solid outing in his first career start against Boston, as the Tampa Bay right-hander allowed only two earned runs on four hits and struck out four in five innings.
Brad Boxberger silenced the Red Sox in the ninth, picking up his seventh save. The Rays right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last six appearances in 2015 and has held Boston scoreless three times out of the bullpen this season.
Evan Longoria, who had his 1,000th career hit Monday, blasted a pair of solo home runs in the game, including a ninth-inning shot that cleared the Green Monster to seal the victory.
Justin Masterson (2-1) suffered his first loss of the year. The right-hander was chased after 4 1/3 innings, walking six and surrendering all four earned runs on seven hits for the Red Sox.
Boston threatened a late comeback after center fielder Mookie Betts hit a solo home run to left, his third of the series and fifth on the season, on a 2-0 fastball in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game. Later that inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with only one out.
Daniel Nava, pinch-hitting for left fielder Allen Craig, grounded into a fielder’s choice at first and right fielder Brock Holt followed suit with a groundout to first to crush the rally.
The Red Sox were 2-for-26 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Second baseman Logan Forsythe singled to left with two outs in the top of the third, plating right fielder Brandon Guyer from second to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.
Blake Swihart hit a couple of milestones in the bottom of the inning, doubling to left-center to give him his first career RBI and his first extra base hit in the majors. Xander Bogaerts, who doubled to leadoff the inning, scored from second to tie it.
Swihart later scored the go-ahead run on Pedroia’s sacrifice fly.
Longoria opened the Rays’ half of the fourth with his first home run of the contest, depositing a 2-2 slider over the wall in left, evening the score.
Masterson pitched himself into trouble in the fourth and fifth, walking the bases loaded in both frames. In the fifth, Butler’s timely single ultimately did him in, giving the lead back to Tampa Bay for good.