BOSTON — The pitch was a 91 mph fastball low and outside, supposedly away from David Ortiz’s wheelhouse.

But Ortiz knows how to hit at Fenway Park. He simply swatted that pitch the other way, over the Green Monster. His two-run, first-inning home run Sunday afternoon helped propel the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 win over Tampa Bay, before 36,669 at Fenway.

David Price (9-6) pitched eight scoreless innings as Boston won its fourth straight game and sixth of its last seven. The Red Sox (49-38) head into the All-Star break in second place in the American League East, two games behind Baltimore (51-36).

“We look up, we’re 11 (games) over (.500),” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said. “We’re in a decent spot right now as far as the standings go, but a lot of important baseball is still ahead.”

After Price escaped a jam in the first inning, stranding two base runners, the Red Sox pounced on Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (3-5) in the bottom of the inning.

Mookie Betts (single) and Dustin Pedroia (double) led off with hits. Xander Bogaerts drove in Betts with a sacrifice fly to right.

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Then Ortiz came to bat, with the Fenway crowd cheering the 40-year-old veteran, as always, expecting something to happen. Ortiz delivered.

“That’s the type of player he is,” Bogaerts said. “He always seems to enjoy those situations, when the pressure’s on him.”

It was Ortiz’s 22nd home run of the season – his third homer in his last four games – and the 525th in his career.

In the second inning, Sandy Leon doubled and Betts singled him in for a 4-0 lead.

David Price beat the Rays (34-54), his old team, for the first time in three tries this season. He allowed four hits – none after the third inning – and one walk while striking out 10.

Brad Ziegler, just acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, made his Red Sox debut and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts.

NOTES: Ziegler was officially added to the roster Sunday, replacing pitcher Sean O’Sullivan, who went on the disabled list because of left knee patellar tendinitis. … Farrell announced his rotation after the All-Star break, beginning Friday with Eduardo Rodriguez in Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket on June 28 and made two starts, trying to fix his mechanics. … Stephen Wright will pitch Saturday and Price will pitch Sunday. … Farrell also said he would work Clay Buchholz back into the rotation, although a No. 5 starter is not needed until July 23. …

Reliever Noe Ramirez was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game. … The Rays’ Brandon Guyer was hit twice by Price. Guyer leads the majors with 20 HBP. … Betts (3 for 4) had his league-leading 39th multi-hit game. … Leon continues to surprise with his bat, going 2 for 3. He is batting .455 (25 for 55).

 


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