David Ortiz hit a pair of homers off David Price, Jacoby Ellsbury led Boston with three hits and the Red Sox won Game Two of the ALDS, 7-4, over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rays vs. Red Sox, 2013 ALDS Game 2 final score: David Ortiz homers twice in Boston’s 7-4 victory
Boston is now one win away from wrapping up the series.
The Red Sox jumped over Price in the top of the first inning. Ellsbury led off the game with a single and then stole second base. Jose Molina made an errant throw on the play, allowing Ellsbury to advance to third base. Dustin Pedroia then hit a sacrifice fly, giving Boston a 1-0 advantage.
Ortiz increased the Red Sox’s lead during the next at-bat, smacking a 399-foot homer to right field:
Tampa Bay scored their first run in the top half of the second on a Delmon Young sacrifice fly, driving in Ben Zobrist.
However, Boston added to their lead in the bottom of the third. David Ross and Ellsbury hit back-to-back doubles to start the frame, plating Ross. Shane Victorino followed with a single, advancing Ellsbury to third. Pedroia then hit a RBI-groundout, driving in Ellsbury to push the Red Sox ahead 4-1.
The Rays chipped into the lead a second time during the top of the fifth. James Loney smacked a two-out, opposite field double that drove in Yunel Escobar and David DeJesus, cutting the Red Sox's lead to one.
The Red Sox picked up another run in the bottom half of the fifth. Ellsbury was a catalyst again, leading off the inning with a single. Pedroia then roped a one-out double and Ellsbury raced around the bases to score.
Escobar responded for the Rays with a one-out, RBI-single in the top of the sixth, which chased Red Sox starter John Lackey. Lackey worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out six. Craig Breslow replaced Lackey, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless relief.
Price ended up pitching into the eighth inning. The southpaw faced Ortiz for the fourth time during the frame, and Ortiz smacked his second home run of the game against the starter:
That ended up chasing Price, who finished the game allowing seven runs on nine hits.
Junichi Tazawa tossed a scoreless eighth for Boston, setting up Koji Uehara for the save. Uehara struck out the first two batters he faced before recording a Wil Myers groundout to end the game.
Boston now leads Tampa Bay 2-0, needing one more win to reach the ALCS. The two teams will have an off-day Sunday before traveling to Tropicana Field on Monday for Game 3.
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• ALDS updates: Red Sox-Rays | A’s-Tigers
• NLDS updates: Dodgers-Braves | Pirates-Cardinals
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