Matt Andriese knocked around early, Rays can't recover in loss to Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) -- Matt Andriese found out pretty quickly why the Boston Red Sox are the majors' highest scoring team.
Facing them for the second time in five days, Andriese gave up a season-high seven runs in just four-plus innings as the Red Sox rode another solid start by Rick Porcello to 9-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Andriese (6-6) allowed 10 hits and noticed Boston's hitters laid off his changeup that was effective last Thursday when he went six innings, giving up three runs.
"I think they did. Seemed like they weren't chasing the changeup like they were in my last outing," he said, a day after turning 27. "They probably recognized that from the last outing and I just wasn't as good with the fastball locations."
Porcello (18-3) became the majors' first 18-game winner and the first Red Sox pitcher in 70 years to open a season 13-0 in Fenway Park, and Mookie Betts hit his 30th homer, a solo shot, and drove in two runs for Boston.
"That's why he's got 17, 18 wins on the season," Rays catcher Bobby Wilson said. "He knows how to pitch and he's obviously been pretty tough this year. He threw the ball well and we just had a couple of chances there, but he's a good pitcher and he made some quality pitches to get out of some stuff."
Evan Longoria had two sacrifice flies for the Rays, who split a four-game series against the Red Sox at home last week.
The Rays, buried in last in the AL East, have lost three of four.
The Red Sox hold the AL's first wild-card spot but had lost four of five.
Brock Holt had three hits and drove in two runs, Travis Shaw had three hits and Chris Young added a tiebreaking two-run double for Boston.
Porcello allowed three runs and six hits, striking out seven without issuing a walk to become the first Boston pitcher since Dave "Boo" Ferriss finished 13-0 at home in 1946 to start a season by winning his initial 13 decisions in Fenway.
Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia missed the game after a death in the family, but he's expected back Tuesday.
The game was tied 2-2 after three innings before Boston took charge with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Young lined his two-run double past third baseman Longoria, moving the Red Sox ahead 4-2. Longoria seemed to mistime the speed of the liner, raising his glove a bit late. Holt added an RBI double.
After the Rays cut it to 5-3, Betts lined a run-scoring double into the left-field corner. He scored on Shaw's infield hit.
Betts homered over the Green Monster, hitting a billboard with the ball bouncing onto the field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: Manager Kevin Cash has decided to go with six starters when RHP Aex Cobb returns to the rotation this weekend against Toronto after being sidelined since Tommy John surgery in May 2015. "We have six guys, all with the reason to be starters," Cash said.
Red Sox: Manager John Farrell said RHP Koji Uehara (strained chest muscle) had another strong bullpen session. The next steps are for him to have bullpen on Wednesday before facing live hitters Saturday. ... Farrell said C Ryan Hanigan (left ankle tendinitis) is expected to come off a rehab assignment and join the team when they start a road trip in Oakland on Friday.
MAGICIAL MOOKIE
The 23-year-old Betts joined Ted Williams (1939, 1941) and Tony Conigliaro (1965) as the only Red Sox with 30 homers in a season before turning 24.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (9-5, 3.53 ERA) is set to start Tuesday. He pitched seven innings at home against the Red Sox last Thursday, his longest outing in a month.
Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-3, 4.06) is looking to build on his strong start last Thursday against the Rays when he struck out a career-best 11, but got the loss despite giving up only two runs in six innings.
