BOSTON — Jarren Duran went 3-for-5 with a homer and two doubles to help Boston tie the game after they trailed by four runs after four innings.
But Kenley Jansen couldn’t keep it tied in the ninth and the Red Sox lost 7-5 to the Rays.
Boston dropped the four-game series, 3-1.
The Rays scored twice against Jansen who struck out Josh Lowe to begin the ninth. But the closer then walked Randy Arozarena and allowed a single to Jonathan Aranda, an RBI single to Isaac Paredes and an RBI sac fly to Richie Palacios.
Red Sox’ ninth inning rally falls short
After two quick outs, Rob Refsnyder walked and Rafael Devers singled to put runners at the corners.
The Rays had to change pitchers, replacing Jason Adam with Erasmo Ramírez because pitching coach Kyle Snyder started out to the mound without Tampa having any more mound visits remaining.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora argued to have Adam removed. It went to review and it was decided the Rays had to change pitchers.
Ramírez got Romy Gonzalez to ground back to the mound to end it.
Duran homers, doubles twice
Duran tied it 5-5 in the sixth inning with a 426-foot home run to right field off reliever Kevin Kelly. It left his bat at 107.7 mph. He raised his arms in the air as he ran between first and second base.
Duran made hard contact in all of his at-bats. Even his groundout in the first inning left his bat at 101.3 mph
His double to lead off the third inning went 109.7 mph. His double to lead off the fifth inning had a 104.9 mph exit velocity.
Duran also had a 102.9 mph flyout in the ninth.
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Cooper strokes two-run double
Garrett Cooper cut the deficit to 5-4 in the fifth inning with a two-run double to left field.
It was part of a three-run fifth inning that included a leadoff double from Duran, an infield single by Rob Refsnyder when nobody covered first, a walk to Rafael Devers and an RBI groundout by Dominic Smith.
Criswell pitches just 3.2 innings
Cooper Criswell struggled against his former team. He lasted only 3 ⅔ innings and gave up five runs (three earned runs), four hits and two walks while striking out three. Josh Lowe’s 380-foot two-run homer to right field in the third inning, making it 3-1 Rays.
Lowe connected on an 85.4 mph inside cutter. Three of the four hits against Criswell came on sinkers.
Criswell also threw a wild pitch with a runner at third in the fourth inning to allow a run.
What’s next?
The Red Sox begin a three-game series in St. Louis on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m., eastern. Righty Brayan Bello (4-1, 3.13 ERA) will start for Boston opposite right-hander Kyle Gibson (2-2, 3.67 ERA).
