ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox spoiled Chris Archer’s audition for a potential All-Star Game start by launching three home runs in six innings in a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Pablo Sandoval and Alejandro De Aza hit bases-empty home runs in the second, David Ortiz hit a two-run home run in the fourth and Xander Bogaerts doubled, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Sandoval’s sacrifice fly in the fifth as the Sox built a 5-1 lead.
It was the first time in 76 career starts that Archer allowed three home runs in a game, and only the second time in the last 58 games that the Sox have hit three or more in a game. Boston hit five in the season opener in Philadelphia.
Archer entered the game ranked first in the American League in ERA, third in strikeouts and tied for second in wins. After the Sox were through with him, his ERA had climbed from 2.03 to 2.31, though his 10 strikeouts in six innings gave him the league lead with 133.
Justin for all: Justin Masterson, who replaced Joe Kelly in the Sox rotation, made his first start since May 12 after going on the DL with shoulder tendinitis. Masterson, featuring a sweeping slider, gave up an unearned run in five innings and struck out six, or one fewer than he whiffed in his previous four starts combined.
Marrero marvel: Infielder Deven Marrero made his major-league debut one to remember, his diving stop on Brandon Guyer’s hard shot saved a run in the eighth. Marrero entered the game in the bottom of the second after Mike Napoli was ejected by plate umpire Tripp Gibson after being called out on strikes in the top of the inning.
27 outs and counting? Koji Uehara registered his 16th save, though it ended weirdly. With former Sox outfielder Grady Sizemore on third after his two-out double and wild pitch, the Sox closer retired Evan Longoria on a fly ball to right fielder Jackie Bradley, who fired a strike home, apparently having lost track of how many outs there were in the inning.
Ah, De Aza: In four games since replacing the injured Hanley Ramirez in left field, De Aza is batting .400 (6-for-15) with three home runs.
The Sox took the rubber match of this three-game set with the Rays and head to Toronto for four against the Blue Jays.
