ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox were one of baseball’s best teams in April, then become one of the worst in May, their slump creating plenty of doubt.

Manager John Farrell didn’t call a team meeting or change the lineup. He kept faith in the idea that a roster he liked would return to form and doing something radical would only hinder that.

On Wednesday night, Farrell’s patience was rewarded. Stephen Drew’s grand slam capped an eight-run third inning and the Sox went on to a 9-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays before a crowd of 15,767 at Tropicana Field.

Every Red Sox starter except Shane Victorino scored at least one run and reached base via hit or walk. Will Middlebrooks doubled and homered and Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a double in support of Jon Lester and two relievers.

The Sox (23-17) snapped a three-game losing streak. It was their second win in eight games.

The Rays had a six-game win streak ended. They had come from behind to win all six of those games. But on a night when the Sox finally had a big inning, that wasn’t happening again.

The Sox finished with 10 hits and were 5 of 11 with runners in scoring position.

The Sox hit .310 with runners in scoring position in April, the third-best mark in the majors. It was one of the factors contributing to their hot start.

That average fell to .189 in the first 13 games in May, including 4 of the last 40. Predictably, the Sox came into the night with losses in nine of their last 11 games.

The trend continued in the first two innings against Rays starter David Price.

Dustin Pedroia doubled with two outs in the first inning and was stranded when David Ortiz lined to left. Will Middlebrooks doubled with two outs in the second inning, then watched as Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out.

Stephen Drew walked to start the third inning before Jacoby Ellsbury singled. Shane Victorino flied to left, but Pedroia singled in a run.

It was a little leak that led to the dam bursting. Ortiz followed with an opposite-field single to left field, scoring Ellsbury. It was the last pitch Price threw. He came off the mound with what the Rays said was tightness in his triceps.

Price is 1-4 with a 5.24 earned run average after winning the Cy Young Award last season. He has allowed 17 runs (10 earned) on 22 hits over 17 innings in his last three starts.

Jamey Wright replaced Price and a 3-0 game quickly got out of hand.

Mike Napoli’s 18th double, a line drive to the gap in right, scored Pedroia. Jonny Gomes snapped an 0-for-13 skid with an RBI single up the middle.

With two outs, Saltalamacchia walked to load the bases. Drew then sent a cutter over the wall in right field for his third home run.

• Who: Boston Red Sox at
Tampa Bay Rays.
• Where: Tropicana Field.
• When: 7;10 p.m. tonight.
• Starting pitchers: Boston
(Felix Doubront 3-1) vs.
Tampa Bay (Alex Cobb 4-2).
• TV: NESN.