St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run home run and Clay Buchholz threw six strong innings as the Boston Red Sox took down the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
Clay Buchholz, Boston Continues Resurgence With Win Over Rays
Buchholz (6-3) gave up just one run on six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts for the Red Sox, who have won six of their last seven. Adrian Beltre went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Jason Varitek scored twice in the win.
Wade Davis (4-4) was touched for five runs on seven hits with three walks over just 3 2/3 innings for the Rays, who came into the game having won eight of their previous nine. Carols Pena hit a solo home run in the loss.
Buchholz found himself in some trouble in the first as the Rays loaded the bases with one out, but he got John Jaso to hit into a double play to escape the inning.
David Ortiz led off the second by drilling an 0-1 fastball over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead.
Boston added three more in the third for a 4-0 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, J.D. Drew walked to forced home Dustin Pedroia. Beltre then hit a grounder to third and Evan Longoria came up with the ball, but was unable to make the throw, allowing Varitek to score. Jeremy Hermida then punched a single to left to plate another run.
With two outs in the fourth, Varitek singled to chase Davis from the game. Lance Cormier then took the mound and Youkilis drilled a ball into the left field seats for a 6-0 lead.
Tampa got one back in the bottom of the fourth when Pena hit a towering blast just inside the right field foul pole.
Buchholz set the Rays down in order in the sixth before stepping aside for Hideki Okajima, who retired the all six Rays batters he faced in the next two innings.
Daniel Bard worked a perfect ninth to close the win.
Youkilis has reached base safely in 23 straight games and has hits in 19 of those games...Buchholz improved to 4-0 over four road starts this year. Also, he is 3-2 in six starts against Tampa...Davis fell to 0-2 in three starts against Boston...Jon Lester takes the mound for Boston on Tuesday and will be opposed by James Shields...Tampa swept a four-game set in Boston in April.
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