Price Goes 7, Martinez Hits 38th HR; Red Sox Beat Rays 5-2
BOSTON (AP) — David Price pitched seven solid innings, J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 38th homer after Boston jumped to a quick lead and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Saturday night for their 17th victory in 20 games.
Mitch Moreland added an RBI double during Boston's four-run first inning. The Red Sox, who own the majors' best record, improved to a season-high 52 games over .500 and maintained their 10 ½-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees in the AL East.
C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer for the Rays. Tampa Bay fell to 4-11 against Boston this season.
Price (13-6) gave up two runs on five hits, striking out eight, walking two and hitting a batter. He is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his five starts since the All-Star break.
Tyler Glasnow (0-1), making his fourth start since being acquired from Pittsburgh at the non-wavier trading deadline, gave up five runs, four earned, and three hits. He walked three and struck out four in 6 2/3 innings.
Craig Kimbrel got the final three outs for his 37th save.
The Red Sox took advantage of Glasnow's wildness to jump ahead 4-0 in the first. Moreland's RBI double made it 1-0 before Martinez and Xander Bogaerts walked to load the bases. The righty then walked Ian Kinsler, forcing in a run.
First baseman Jake Bauers then fired Brock Holt's grounder into left field attempting a force at second and two runs scored, making it 4-0.
In the third, Martinez homered into Boston's bullpen.
Cron's homer cleared the Green Monster and left Fenway Park completely in the sixth.
HEADS UP
Tampa Bay's Carlos Gomez advanced to third when it was left uncovered on a popup that was caught between first and the plate in the first inning.
NOT HEADS UP
With Kinsler on second and Holt on first in the first, Kinsler got caught trying to steal third too quickly when Glasnow stepped off and got him in a rundown. Holt was unsure where to go, standing between first and second before he was tagged out in a rundown for an inning-ending double play.
Three innings later, Tampa Bay's Tommy Pham was doubled off second on a fly ball to the left-field warning track.
FRIENDLY FENWAY
The Red Sox improved their home record to a majors' best 44-15.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: C Jesus Sucre missed his fourth straight game with a sore right wrist.
Red Sox: Ace lefty Chris Sale was placed on the 10-day disabled list for the second time in nearly three weeks with mild inflammation in his left shoulder. "It's definitely less than it was last time," Sale said. . LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (DL since July 15, sprained right ankle) is scheduled to make a rehab start on Monday.
UP NEXT
Rays: Manager Kevin Cash hadn't named his starter for Sunday's series finale.
Red Sox: RHP Hector Velazquez (7-0, 2.77 ERA) will take Sale's turn.
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