ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) - In what will likely be his final home game in a Rays uniform, Alex Cobb allowed three runs while pitching into the sixth, while Rick Porcello and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Boston Red Sox took their second straight from Tampa Bay 3-1 Saturday at Tropicana Field.
Boston took the lead in the top of the second inning, as Mookie Betts led off the inning against Cobb by blasting his 22nd home run of the year.
The contest remained 1-0 until the sixth when Cobb allowed a base hit by Christian Vazquez, who was erased on a fielder's choice by Andrew Benintendi. A balk allowed Benintendi to move into scoring position, and he took third on a stolen base. Cobb thought he had struck out Betts on a 2-2 fastball, but home plate umpire Jeff Nelson called the pitch a ball and Betts singled in Benintendi on the next pitch to end Cobb's evening.
Dan Jennings walked Mitch Moreland and struck out Chris Young, but Rafael Devers doubled in Moreland to push the lead to 3-0.
Tampa Bay was held off the scoreboard until the eighth when Adeiny Hechaverria doubled and took third on a passed ball following a walk to Mallex Smith. Kevin Kiermaier grounded out, but Moreland's throw to try and get Smith at second base hit the runner and ricocheted into center field, allowing Hechaverria to score the Rays only run.
The loss drops the Rays back to five games under .500 at 72-77.