Red Sox 5, Rays 2: Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and broke up a no-hit bid with a two-run, go-ahead homer in the sixth inning as visiting Boston put another dent in slumping Tampa Bay’s postseason hopes.
Aaron Cook (4-10) snapped a five-game losing streak by limiting the Rays to one run on five hits over six innings and sending them to their sixth loss in seven games. Tampa Bay dropped 4 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.
Mauro Gomez had a pinch-hit, two-run single and Ellsbury added an RBI single in a three-run seventh inning, giving the Red Sox only their fifth win in their last 19 games.
Rays rookie right-hander Alex Cobb (9-9) had his five-game winning streak snapped, allowing four runs – three earned – on two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He lost his no-hit bid and the lead with two outs in the sixth when Ellsbury drilled a fastball into the seats in right field to make it 2-1.
B.J. Upton had three hits for Tampa Bay, which pushed across a run in the fifth on a squeeze bunt by Ryan Roberts before adding one in the ninth on Ben Zobrist’s groundout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cook won for only the second time since July 29. He had gone 1-9 in his previous 12 outings. … Rays 3B Evan Longoria was not in the starting lineup in order to rest his tired legs. … Ellsbury was throw out trying to steal third base in the ninth inning, ending Boston’s streak of 17 straight successful attempts.
