BOSTON — 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.
VICTORINO TO PORTLAND
Out since April 22, right fielder Shane Victorino is scheduled to get his rehabbing done in Portland on Friday and Saturday, but what happens after that isn’t so clear.
“He’s going to get Friday and Saturday (in Portland) at minimum and if everything goes accordingly, there’s a chance he could, or the plan would be for him to join us in Oakland,” on Monday, Manager John Farrell said.
UP NEXT
WHO: Red Sox (Miley 1-3) at Blue Jays (A. Sanchez 2-2)
WHEN: 7:07 p.m. Friday
TELEVISION: NESN
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, then 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 Sunday from Triple-A Durham 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.
NOTES: The Rays expect to learn more about right-hander 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.
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