ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Travis Shaw had a solo home run and five RBIs, helping the Boston Red Sox bounce back with an 8-2 victory Tuesday night over Chris Archer and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Boston (42-35) dropped six of eight games entering the game before starter Rick Porcello (9-2) keep the Rays bats in check, one day after an 18-hit, 13-run barrage. Tampa Bay (32-44) saw Archer (4-11) become the majors’ first 11-game loser, matching the team record for losses before the All-Star break. Archer has also lost his last eight decisions against Boston.
Archer kept the Rays close, leaving in the seventh down 3-1, but reliever Enny Romero could not do the same. Romero inherited a runner, gave up a single to David Ortiz, an RBI single to Hanley Ramirez and after an out, Shaw’s two-run double to make it 6-1.
Shaw, who had been 1-for-12 on Boston’s road trip, had a solo home run in the second, a two-run double in the seventh and a two-run single in the ninth. It’s his third game this season with five RBIs.
The Rays got a solo home run from Brad Miller — his 10th — in the seventh but otherwise had little to show offensively, finishing with six hits. Rays pitchers have allowed at least five runs in 13 straight games, the longest such streak by any major league team since the 2005 Royals, and one game short of the franchise record of 14 straight games set in 1999.
Porcello, consistently giving Boston six innings or more in his starts, went six again, striking out eight batters for his best total since April.
Boston got single runs in the second, third and fifth innings in building a 3-1 lead against Archer.
Shaw got it started, leading off the second with a solo home run to right field — his eighth on the season.
Boston added a run in the third when Rays right fielder Oswaldo Arcia, playing in just his second home game at Tropicana Field, lost a high fly from Ortiz that dropped in for an RBI double, scoring Mookie Betts, who had doubled to lead off the inning. The Red Sox had the bases loaded with one out, but Archer struck out Shaw and fielded a comebacker from Bryce Brentz to end the inning without more damage.
The Rays had a major opportunity in the fourth as Porcello loaded with the bases with two walks and a bloop single, then walked Nick Franklin to make it 2-1. The Rays had the bases loaded and no outs, but couldn’t score any more runs with Miller striking out looking to end the inning.
Boston added a run in the fifth as Ramirez walked and scored from first on a double down the right-field line from Jackie Bradley Jr. for a 3-1 lead.
NOTES: The Red Sox, with their bullpen overworked after getting only 2 2/3 innings from starter Eduardo Rodriguez in Monday’s loss, recalled RHP Pat Light from Triple-A Pawtucket to add a fresh arm. Rodriguez was optioned to Pawtucket to make room. Light has pitched in one MLB game — earlier this season, he gave up two runs in one inning against the Braves in April. He has five saves and a 2.05 ERA for Pawtucket. … Brandon Guyer, one of four Rays outfielders on the disabled list, was scheduled to DH for Class A Charlotte on Tuesday as he continues his rehab assignment. … Speaking of injured outfielders, Rays OF Corey Dickerson was not in the starting lineup Tuesday, still limited by a jammed thumb from last week. He was available to pinch hit if needed.
Rangers 7, Yankees 1
NEW YORK — Cole Hamels pitched seven shutout innings for his ninth straight road victory and the Texas Rangers extended their road winning streak to eight games with a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Adrian Beltre hit a two-run home run off CC Sabathia (5-5) and it was enough for Hamels (9-1). Beltre added an RBI single and Prince Fielder contributed an RBI double as Texas won for the 28th time in its last 36 games.
Pinch hitter Nomar Mazara, Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar had RBI singles for the final margin for Texas.
Hamels allowed six singles but held Alex Rodriguez hitless with two strikeouts in three at-bats. Rodriguez, who returned from sitting against right-handers Tyler Duffey and Chi-Chi Gonzalez, had a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Hamels had little difficulties with the rest of New York’s lineup. He gave up infield hits in the first and second and had two on in the fourth before Aaron Hicks ended the inning by lining into a double play.
After allowing a single to Rob Refsnyder with two outs in the fifth, Hamels retired the last seven hitters on 21 pitches.
Hamels won his fourth straight start and improved to 9-0 on the road since Aug. 15. He’s allowed 18 earned runs in 82 1/3 innings for a 1.97 ERA during his road winning streak
Sabathia lasted seven-plus innings and was charged with six runs and eight hits as the Yankees lost their third straight.
New York also lost right fielder Carlos Beltran to a tight right hamstring with one out in the first after he singled. Beltran was slated for an MRI exam.
Texas held a 2-0 lead on Beltre’s first-inning home run until adding five in the eighth.
Beltre drove in his third run with a single that took a high hop and went under third baseman Chase Headley. Fielder followed with a double to right field on a ball that eluded a diving attempt by first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Mazara batted for Ryan Rua and followed with a single to left just out of shortstop Didi Gregorius’ reach, Odor singled up the middle and Profar reached on an infield single when Gregorius made a rushed throw after Headley cut in front of him.