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Red Sox get best of Rays in twinbill opener

Jun 18, 2013 - 11:42 PM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - David Ortiz registered three RBI and Jacoby Ellsbury scored three runs and finished a home run shy of the cycle, as the Boston Red Sox downed the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-1, in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader at a rain-soaked Fenway Park.

Shane Victorino added a pair of hits, an RBI and two runs scored, while Dustin Pedroia also plated a run for the Red Sox, who dropped three of four to the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend.

Alfredo Aceves (4-1) limited the Rays to one run on three hits and three walks over five frames to earn the victory.

Luke Scott knocked in Tampa Bay's lone run, while starter Chris Archer (1-3) was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and five walks over 4 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.

Jose Molina registered two of the six hits for the Rays, who have lost seven of their last nine games.

The Red Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Ellsbury scorched a leadoff double, moved to third on a fly out, and scored on Pedroia's sacrifice fly to deep center field.

The Rays got the run back in the second. Evan Longoria and James Loney worked back-to-back walks to start the frame, then, after Wil Myers flied out in his first major league at-bat, Scott ripped a double down the first-base line to plate Longoria.

Molina followed with a walk to load the bases, but Aceves induced an inning- ending double-play groundout from Yunel Escobar to escape the jam.

"Five solid innings of work," Boston manager John Farrell said of Aceves' performance. "I think most importantly, other than the three walks in the second inning, he was around the plate."

The Red Sox regained control in the third. Ellsbury and Victorino smacked consecutive singles to put runners on the corners with no outs, and Victorino swiped second. Pedroia lined out, then Ortiz laced a base hit back up the middle to plate a pair and give Boston a 3-1 edge.

Boston tacked on a run in the fifth when Victorino reached on Loney's throwing error and Pedroia worked a walk before Ortiz ripped a single to right to plate Victorino for a 4-1 lead.

Archer bounced back with a strikeout of Mike Napoli, but walked Daniel Nava to load the bases and spell the end of his outing.

Josh Lueke entered from the bullpen, but the heavy rain started and forced a two-hour, 59-minute delay before Lueke could throw a pitch. When play finally resumed, Lueke fanned Jarrod Saltalamacchia to escape the threat unscathed.

The Red Sox added to their lead in the sixth when Ellsbury and Victorino scorched back-to-back two-out triples to right, with the latter plating the former for a 5-1 lead.

Game Notes

Boston's Felix Doubront will start the nightcap of the doubleheader against the Rays' Jake Odorizzi ... Myers, the Rays' top prospect, finished 0-for-4 in his major-league debut after having his contract selected from Triple-A Durham prior to the game ... Tampa Bay finished 1-for-8 with RISP and stranded eight baserunners.