ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays made a statement to the American League heading into the All-Star break: Don't count us out of the playoff race.
Brad Miller hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Rays took three of the four from AL East-leading Boston, beating the Red Sox 5-3 Sunday.
"That felt good," Miller said. "That was a lot fun."
Miller connected with two outs off Joe Kelly (3-1), sending a drive over the center field wall. Kelly had made a career-best 23 straight scoreless appearances.
"Wow!" Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "What a way to go into the break. That's pretty exciting, man."
Brad Boxberger (1-0) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth before Alex Colome got three outs for his 25th save.
Tampa Bay, at 47-43, has 13 more wins than last year at the All-Star break and trails the Red Sox by 3 1/2 games.
Boston completed a 10-game road trip at 6-4.
"Losing three against these guys kind of stung a little bit, but hopefully we can come out in the second half and have the same attitude of winning every day and winning series," Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts said.
Dustin Pedroia hit his second homer in three days and fourth of the year during the seventh off AL All Star Chris Archer, a two-run shot that put Boston up 3-2. It was the fourth time this season that an opponent hit a go-ahead homer against Archer in the sixth or seventh inning.
Mookie Betts homered on Archer's third pitch of the game to set a Red Sox record with his 11th career leadoff homer.
Tampa Bay tied it at 3 in the seventh on Corey Dickerson's sacrifice fly.
Archer, who gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, and one-time Rays ace David Price both had effective starts.
Price allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. He entered with a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak against his former team.
"I still don't think we've played our best baseball yet," Price said. "I think everybody in this clubhouse understands that.
Steven Souza Jr. hit a leadoff double in the Rays first and scored on Evan Longoria's single.
Longoria got his 53rd RBI, his most at the All-Star break since 2013 (52), on a third-inning sacrifice fly.
Boston had two on in both the third and fourth but failed to score. Souza made a full-extension diving catch in the fourth on Christian Vazquez's right-field foul drive.
"Once I closed in on it, I thought I had a legit chance," Souza said.
Hanley Ramirez, who failed to tag up at second on Souza's catch, was doubled up at first in the sixth after Dickerson made a leaping catch at the left-field wall on fly ball by Jackie Bradley Jr.
BREAK TIME
The Red Sox are first in the AL East at the All-Star break for the first time since 2013. Under the current 10-team playoff setup, all five of the AL East leaders entering the break have reached the postseason.
DODGING DANGER
Archer ducked and fell to the ground to avoid Pedroia's line single to center in the fifth. He lost his glove on the play.
TARINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in his third rehab appearance at Triple-A Pawtucket and is scheduled to start against Toronto on July 17. ... INF Brock Holt (vertigo) is nearing a return but will remain with Triple-A Pawtucket this week.
Rays: SS Adeiny Hechavarria was out of the lineup due to a groin injury but entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Betts, LHP Chris Sale and RHP Craig Kimbrel will participate in Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Miami.
Rays: Dickerson will join Archer at the All-Star Game. Cash will be the AL bench coach.
Brad Miller hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Rays took three of the four from AL East-leading Boston, beating the Red Sox 5-3 Sunday.
"That felt good," Miller said. "That was a lot fun."
Miller connected with two outs off Joe Kelly (3-1), sending a drive over the center field wall. Kelly had made a career-best 23 straight scoreless appearances.
"Wow!" Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "What a way to go into the break. That's pretty exciting, man."
Brad Boxberger (1-0) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth before Alex Colome got three outs for his 25th save.
Tampa Bay, at 47-43, has 13 more wins than last year at the All-Star break and trails the Red Sox by 3 1/2 games.
Boston completed a 10-game road trip at 6-4.
"Losing three against these guys kind of stung a little bit, but hopefully we can come out in the second half and have the same attitude of winning every day and winning series," Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts said.
Dustin Pedroia hit his second homer in three days and fourth of the year during the seventh off AL All Star Chris Archer, a two-run shot that put Boston up 3-2. It was the fourth time this season that an opponent hit a go-ahead homer against Archer in the sixth or seventh inning.
Mookie Betts homered on Archer's third pitch of the game to set a Red Sox record with his 11th career leadoff homer.
Tampa Bay tied it at 3 in the seventh on Corey Dickerson's sacrifice fly.
Archer, who gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, and one-time Rays ace David Price both had effective starts.
Price allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. He entered with a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak against his former team.
"I still don't think we've played our best baseball yet," Price said. "I think everybody in this clubhouse understands that.
Steven Souza Jr. hit a leadoff double in the Rays first and scored on Evan Longoria's single.
Longoria got his 53rd RBI, his most at the All-Star break since 2013 (52), on a third-inning sacrifice fly.
Boston had two on in both the third and fourth but failed to score. Souza made a full-extension diving catch in the fourth on Christian Vazquez's right-field foul drive.
"Once I closed in on it, I thought I had a legit chance," Souza said.
Hanley Ramirez, who failed to tag up at second on Souza's catch, was doubled up at first in the sixth after Dickerson made a leaping catch at the left-field wall on fly ball by Jackie Bradley Jr.
BREAK TIME
The Red Sox are first in the AL East at the All-Star break for the first time since 2013. Under the current 10-team playoff setup, all five of the AL East leaders entering the break have reached the postseason.
DODGING DANGER
Archer ducked and fell to the ground to avoid Pedroia's line single to center in the fifth. He lost his glove on the play.
TARINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in his third rehab appearance at Triple-A Pawtucket and is scheduled to start against Toronto on July 17. ... INF Brock Holt (vertigo) is nearing a return but will remain with Triple-A Pawtucket this week.
Rays: SS Adeiny Hechavarria was out of the lineup due to a groin injury but entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Betts, LHP Chris Sale and RHP Craig Kimbrel will participate in Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Miami.
Rays: Dickerson will join Archer at the All-Star Game. Cash will be the AL bench coach.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Boston - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Betts homered to left center (406 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Pedroia struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Bogaerts lined out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Moreland walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Benintendi grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| David Price pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Souza Jr. doubled to deep left center. | 1 | 0 |
| Dickerson grounded out to second, Souza Jr. to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Longoria singled to center, Souza Jr. scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Morrison grounded into fielder's choice to second, Longoria out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| Ramos grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Morrison out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Ramírez struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Bradley Jr. struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Vázquez lined out to center. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| David Price pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Plouffe flied out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| Miller grounded out to first. | 1 | 1 |
| Featherston walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Bourjos grounded into fielder's choice to second, Featherston out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Lin singled to center. | 1 | 1 |
| Betts walked, Lin to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Pedroia struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Bogaerts struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Moreland flied out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| David Price pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Souza Jr. walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Dickerson doubled to left, Souza Jr. to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Longoria hit sacrifice fly to right, Souza Jr. scored, Dickerson to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Morrison struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramos struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Benintendi struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramírez singled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Bradley Jr. singled to right center, Ramírez to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Vázquez fouled out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Lin grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| David Price pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Plouffe flied out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Miller grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Featherston struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Betts grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Pedroia singled to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Bogaerts flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Moreland struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| David Price pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Bourjos struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Souza Jr. flied out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Dickerson lined out to left. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Benintendi lined out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramírez singled to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Bradley Jr. flied into double play, left to second to first, Ramírez doubled off first. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| David Price pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Longoria grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Morrison struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Ramos singled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Plouffe singled to left, Ramos to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Miller grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Archer pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Vázquez struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Lin singled to left. | 1 | 2 |
| Betts grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Lin out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| Pedroia homered to right (370 feet), Betts scored. | 3 | 2 |
| Hunter relieved Archer. | 3 | 2 |
| Bogaerts struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Matt Barnes pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Barnes relieved Price. | 3 | 2 |
| Smith hit for Featherston. | 3 | 2 |
| Smith walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Bourjos sacrificed to pitcher, Smith to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Souza Jr. reached on infield single to third, Smith to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Kelly relieved Barnes. | 3 | 2 |
| Dickerson hit sacrifice fly to left, Smith scored, Souza Jr. to second. | 3 | 3 |
| Longoria flied out to right. | 3 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Brad Boxberger pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Smith in center field. | 3 | 3 |
| Hechavarria at shortstop. | 3 | 3 |
| Boxberger relieved Hunter. | 3 | 3 |
| Moreland flied out to left. | 3 | 3 |
| Benintendi flied out to center. | 3 | 3 |
| Ramírez walked. | 3 | 3 |
| Bradley Jr. walked, Ramírez to second. | 3 | 3 |
| Vázquez struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Joe Kelly pitching for Boston | BOS | TB |
| Morrison walked. | 3 | 3 |
| Ramos lined out to right. | 3 | 3 |
| Plouffe struck out looking. | 3 | 3 |
| Miller homered to center (419 feet), Morrison scored. | 3 | 5 |
| Smith grounded out to first. | 3 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | BOS | TB |
| Colomé relieved Boxberger. | 3 | 5 |
| Lin singled to center. | 3 | 5 |
| Betts popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| Pedroia grounded into fielder's choice to third, Lin out at second. | 3 | 5 |
| Pedroia to second on fielder's indifference. | 3 | 5 |
| Bogaerts popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Boston Red Sox | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Betts RF | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .272 | .351 | .487 |
| Pedroia 2B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 27 | .300 | .379 | .394 |
| Bogaerts SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .303 | .359 | .447 |
| Moreland 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | .257 | .348 | .445 |
| Benintendi LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .279 | .357 | .446 |
| Ramírez DH | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .261 | .350 | .445 |
| Bradley Jr. CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | .280 | .363 | .490 |
| Vázquez C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .267 | .303 | .358 |
| Lin 3B | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .333 | .435 | .436 |
| Totals | 35 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 144 | |||
| BATTING HR: Betts (16, 1st inning off Archer 0 on, 0 Out); Pedroia (4, 7th inning off Archer 1 on, 2 Out) RBI: Betts (53), Pedroia 2 (41) 2-out RBI: Pedroia 2 Red Sox RISP: 0-7 (Vázquez 0-2, Pedroia 0-1, Bogaerts 0-2, Lin 0-1, Moreland 0-1) Team LOB: 9 | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Attendance | 20,812 (67% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:07 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Chris Conroy, First Base - Ed Hickox, Second Base - Jerry Meals, Third Base - Ron Kulpa |
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