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Rays take opener of DH from Red Sox

May 1, 2014 - 9:52 PM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Rays avoided matching their longest losing streak of the season by edging the Boston Red Sox 2-1 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park.

David DeJesus knocked in both runs for Tampa Bay, which snapped a three-game skid.

Dustin Pedroia finished 2-for-4 with a walk and was involved in a controversial play that cost the Red Sox the tying run in the seventh inning.

Pedroia tried to score from first on a David Ortiz double off the Green Monster, but was called out on a bang-bang play at the plate. The Red Sox challenged the call and the umpires upheld the ruling after reviewing the play, citing there wasn't enough evidence to overturn the call.

Boston manager John Farrell saw things differently.

"I thought not only did Dustin beat the (relay) throw, beat the tag (from Jose Molina), but felt like his left foot made some contact with home plate," he said. "Our video internally showed that that was the case and upon review, the call came back, it stood. (They) felt like there wasn't conclusive enough evidence to overturn the call on the field."

Pedroia also got on base in the ninth with a one-out chopper to left field. However, he was stranded at second base when Ortiz tapped out to Rays closer Grant Balfour, who earned his fifth save.

Cesar Ramos gave up only one hit in the start for Tampa Bay, but missed a chance on getting the win when he was taken out after 4 2/3 innings. Ramos recorded six strikeouts and walked six, including three in a shaky first inning.

The left-hander limited the damage in the opening frame to an RBI single by Jonny Gomes.

Ramos lost the strike zone again, issuing consecutive two-out walks in the fifth. Brandon Gomes (2-1) retired Mike Napoli on a popup behind the plate to preserve Tampa Bay's 2-1 lead.

The Rays tied the game in the third on DeJesus' leadoff home run to right off Boston starter Jake Peavy (1-1).

Peavy battled control problems in the next inning. After Desmond Jennings doubled to lead off the fourth, the veteran right-hander walked three straight batters with two outs to force in the go-ahead run.

Game Notes

This was the make-up game for Wednesday's rainout ... Boston third base coach Brian Butterfield was ejected for arguing the replay decision ... Tampa Bay lost four straight games from April 13-17 ... The Red Sox were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base ... Peavy allowed three hits, walked five and struck out four in 6 1/3 innings ... Red Sox starting pitchers have held Tampa Bay to three runs or fewer in 13 straight regular- season games, tying for their longest such streak against the Rays (July 5, 1999-Aug. 30, 2000).