ST. PETERSBURG -- Denard Span returned to his hometown with authority by hitting a bases-loaded triple to fuel a six-run eighth and leading the Rays to a 6-4 win over the Red Sox at Tropicana Field on Thursday.
Trailing 4-0 after seven, the Rays got busy in the eighth when Matt Duffy doubled home a run off Joe Kelly with one out. Kelly then walked the next two two batters to load the bases for pinch-hitter Brad Miller. The Red Sox countered by bringing in Carson Smith, who walked Miller to drive in a run and cut the lead to 4-2.