Rick Porcello pitched seven strong innings to remain unbeaten in his Fenway Park starts this season, Xander Bogaerts homered and the Boston Red Sox sent the Tampa Bay Rays to their fifth straight loss, 4-1 on Saturday.
On a day the Red Sox learned they lost closer Craig Kimbrel with a left knee injury for likely three to six weeks, they won for the fifth time in six games.
Dustin Pedroia added a two-run single for Boston, which looks for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday when former Rays ace David Price is scheduled to pitch.
Brad Miller hit a solo homer for the Rays, who have dropped 21 of 24.
Porcello (11-2) allowed a run on six hits, striking out five and not walking anyone. He’s 8-0 in nine Fenway starts.
Koji Uehara worked the ninth for his fourth save, second in two days.
Matt Moore (5-6) took the loss.
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