Rays beat Red Sox 5-2

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox rookie Henry Owens started perfect then finished far from it.

Owens had a perfect game through four innings, but the Tampa Bay Rays tagged him for seven hits after that while rallying for a 5-2 victory Tuesday night.

The Rays finished off Owens with three hits in the eighth, including a two-run homer by Mikie Mahtook to seal it.

Boston manager Torey Lovullo said he wasn't ready to pull the rookie before the eighth inning, especially with Boston only down 3-2.

"Overall I think Henry Owens has gotten us deep into games," Lovullo said. "I thought he deserved that opportunity tonight. I don't think I could have slept tonight if I didn't take him out of the game."

Owens (3-3) didn't get a lot of help from his teammates. After Boston took a 2-0 lead in the first, the Red Sox failed to score again and added a costly error that put Tampa Bay in front for good.

Logan Forsythe doubled to lead off the fifth and break up the no-hit bid, then Owens and the Red Sox unraveled in the sixth.

Owens walked Richie Shaffer to start the sixth and hit Brandon Guyer with one out. Mahtook singled to load the bases and the Rays got some help after that from Boston's defense.

Evan Longoria hit a sacrifice fly to right and Tampa Bay got an extra run out of it when Mookie Betts' throw home sailed and ended up in the stands.

Tampa Bay's Matt Moore (2-4) recovered from a rocky first inning and kept it close enough for the Rays to rally.

Owens pitched 7 1-3 innings. He struck out five and allowed five runs, four earned.

Moore allowed seven hits and didn't give up another run after the first inning.

The Red Sox loaded the bases with one out and Travis Shaw drove in two runs with a single, his first of three hits.

TRAINERS ROOM

Rays: RHP Nathan Karns won't make another start this season because of tightness in his forearm, manager Kevin Cash said. Cash said it was a precautionary move and the club didn't want to risk turning something minor into a major injury with the season about to end.

Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia, who had three hits Monday in Boston's 8-7 win, had the night off, Lovullo said. ... 3B Pablo Sandoval missed his second straight game with a respiratory infection.

UP NEXT:

Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (3-2) threw a season-high 107 pitches Friday in an 8-6 win over Baltimore. He allowed a season-high five earned runs, but had enough offensive support to get the victory.

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (8-13) will face the Rays for the fourth time this season. He has gone 2-0 against them so far, with 19 strikeouts and only four walks.