Rays Vs. Red Sox Recap: Sean Rodriguez's Ninth Inning Home Run Lifts Tampa Bay To 4-3 Win

Less than 24 hours after the Boston Red Sox dealt a crushing blow to the Tampa Bay Rays with a walk-off win, the Rays flipped the script, with Sean Rodriguez's two-run homer in the top of the ninth to propel the Rays to a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon.

The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with an RBI groundout by Ben Zobrist. A Will Rhymes RBI single in the top of the seventh increased the lead to 2-0.

Jeremy Hellickson cruised through the first six innings, however he stumbled in the seventh, allowing a three-run home run to Adrian Gonzalez to give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead. Hellickson finished the game with 7.2 innings pitched while allowing seven hits and striking out three.

In the top of the ninth, the Rays would get their revenge. After walking the lead-off hitter, Zobrist, Boston closer Alfredo Aceves was able to get one out before yielding the game-winning home run to Rodriguez. Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney rebounded with a clean ninth to pick up the save.

The Rays will return home to face the Chicago White Sox Monday afternoon.

DRays Bay is your full time source for Rays news and analysis, and if the Red Sox are your team, check out Over the Monster.

Rays Vs. Red Sox, Game 3 Preview: Tampa Bay Looks To Take Series Victory, Move Closer To First

The Tampa Bay Rays (28-19) take on the Boston Red Sox (23-23) Sunday afternoon in game three of their three game series. The series is currently tied 1-1, with the Rays taking game one and the Sox taking game two.

Friday's game ended with Boston pitcher Franklin Morales hitting Luke Scott in the leg to clear the benches, and Saturday's had more traditional late-game drama with Jarrod Saltalamacchia hitting a pinch-hit two run home run in the ninth to give the Red Sox a 3-2 victory.

Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 2.73 ERA) will take the mount for the Rays and face Clay Buchholz (4-2, 7.84 ERA). The Red Sox will be looking to move above .500 for the first time this season. If the Rays can win and Baltimore loses, Tampa Bay will be tied for first place in the AL East. They'll have a good chance against the struggling Buchholz, who posts a league-worst ERA with a league-best run support. The Rays saw Buchholz in late April, getting five runs on six hits. Carlos Pena is 3-7 with a double against Buchholz this season.

Start Time: 1:35pm EDT

Location: Fenway Park

Television Coverage: Sun Sports

Streaming: via MLB.tv

Stick with this storystream for updates, results and more from the Tampa Bay vs. Boston series. DRays Bay is your full time source for Rays news and analysis, and if the Red Sox are your team, check out Over the Monster.

Rays Vs. Red Sox: Tampa Bay Gives Up Two Runs In The Ninth, Falls 3-2

For several innings on Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Rays (28-19) held a narrow lead over the Boston Red Sox (23-23) despite collecting just four hits. That all changed in the bottom half of the ninth. Holding a 2-1 edge, closer Fernando Rodney surrendered a two-run, walkoff home run to the pinch-hitting Jerrod Saltalamacchia, and the Rays stumbled, 3-2 in the second game of the weekend series at Fenway Park.

Tampa Bay grabbed its one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning after a sacrifice fly from Ben Zobrist plated B.J. Upton and Matt Joyce scored on a one-out single from Luke Scott.

David Price was on the hill for the Rays, keeping the Red Sox hitters at bay. Price surrendered eight hits and three runs, but managed to strike out five and allow just one run over the course of seven innings.

The rubber-match finale is slated for tomorrow at 1:35 p.m. EST. Boston is looking to move up in the A.L. East standings after sitting in last place for much of April and May.

Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.

Rays Vs. Red Sox Game 2 Preview: Bad Blood Brewing Between Tampa And Boston

Teh Tampa Bay Rays may have taken game one of their series with the Boston Red Sox, but the story of Friday night wasn't the Rays beating the Red Sox by a final score of 7-4, it was the two dugouts clearing and exchanging a heated war of words with one another.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Red Sox relief pitcher, Franklin Morales, nailed the Rays' Luke Scott in the right leg to which Scott took exception and jawed at Morales while approaching the pitchers mound.

Boston's catcher, Jarrod Saltalamacchia tried to iintervene and as a result, both benches and bullpens emptied. No punches were thrown but there was some pushing and shoving and it was easy to tell that these two teams don't like each other.

Game two of the series kicks off at 7:05 P.M. EST from Fenway Park.

Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.

VIDEO: Joe Maddon Rips Red Sox For Brawl

Rays Vs. Red Sox Final Score: Homer Power Rays To Testy Win, 7-4

In the top of the ninth inning, with two outs, RP Franklin Morales threw two pitches that nearly hit DH Luke Scott and a third that did indeed peg the lefty slugger in the knee. That prompted some words from Scott, who edged towards the mound with his bat in hand.

The net result was this:

And the dugouts clear...Scott gets struck by Morales and it's on! #redsox #rays #itzyaboyscottyb #MLB twitter.com/im_ScottyB/sta…

— Scotty B (@im_ScottyB) May 26, 2012

Though no players were tossed from the game and no punches were thrown, the field did become a battleground of words as players and even coaches pressed together for an unpleasant conference of rivals.

RP Fernando Rodney (S, 15) came in for the bottom of the ninth, and despite some wildness, he notched the save in a 1-2-3 fashion. SP Alex Cobb (W, 2-0) got the win despite walking 4 and striking out only 2, while SP Jon Lester (L, 3-4) earned the loss after allowing 7 ER through just 4.0 innings of work.

LF Matt Joyce (with a grand slam), SS Elliot Johnson and 1B Carlos Pena all homered for the Rays. Pena's homer marks his second such dinger since moving to the Rays' leadoff spot. He also doubled on Wednesday, giving him a weighted on base average above .500 since Wednesday.

Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.

Rays Vs. Red Sox Score Update: Johnson, Pena Homer To Give Tampa Bay 7-1 Lead

The Tampa Bay Rays have clobbered their way to a 7-1 lead over the Boston Red Sox after SS Elliot Johnson and 1B Carlos Pena homered in the fourth inning. Boston entered the game averaging 5.4 runs per game, but have so far scored only 1 off Rays starter Alex Cobb -- playing in lieu of the injured SP Wade Davis.

In the top of the fourth inning, 3B Drew Sutton singled to center, C Chris Gimenez replaced him at first after a fielder's choice and then Johnson and Pena commenced with back-to-back dingers to put Tampa Bay up by 6 runs.

The Rays currently sit at 27-18, a game behind the Baltimore Orioles, who are currently leading the Kansas City Royals 1-0.

Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.

Rays Vs. Red Sox Score Update: Matt Joyce Grand Slam Gives Rays 4-1 Lead

LF Matt Joyce redirected a 3-1 pitch from SP Jon Lester in the top of the 3rd inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-1 lead over the Boston Red Sox.

Lester cruised through the Rays lineup through the first two innings, but with 1 out in the top of the third, 1B Carlos Pena worked a walk, CF B.J. Upton lined a single to right and RF Ben Zobrist worked another walk to bring up Joyce with the bases loaded, two outs. The grand slam gives Joyce his ninth homer of the season and his fourth slam since entering the MLB in 2008.

Meanwhile, SP Alex Cobb has kept a typically dangerous Red Sox lineup to just 1 run, striking out 1 batter while walking 2 through three innings. He has allowed several full counts, but managed to ultimately escape major trouble.

Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.

Brandon Guyer Injury: Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery Will Be Required

The Tampa Bay Rays were dealt some bad news in learning their young right fielder Brandon Guyer will need season-ending surgery on his injured left shoulder. Guyer was placed on the 15-day disabled list more than a week ago after the 26-year-old experienced soreness that didn't seem to go away. Turns out the sprain is worse than expected and Guyer will have to go under the needle.

#Rays Guyer needs surgery on left shoulder, Maddon just said

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 25, 2012

#Rays Guyer is done for the year, surgery is to repair torn labrum (tho it is non-throwing shoulder)

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 25, 2012

Guyer was hitting just .143 on the season with his only home run standing as his lone RBI for the season. That homer came against the now AL East Division leading Baltimore Orioles on May 12, the last game Guyer played in.

For additional news, notes and analysis on the Tampa Bay Rays check out DRaysBay and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Visit Baseball Nation for more news around Major League Baseball.

Rays Vs. Red Sox Lineups: Carlos Pena Batting Leadoff Again

Tampa Bay Rays (27-18) manager Joe Maddon has once again slotted his first baseman at the top of the batting order. The Rays Twitter account reports 1B Carlos Pena will be hitting leadoff as the Rays visit the Boston Red Sox (22-22). Pena had been in a mini-slump before Maddon began hitting the slugger first. Friday will mark the third-straight game Pena has sat atop the order.

The Rays will need Pena and the rest of the lineup to produce against the Red Sox, who have won 10 of their last 13 games. Boston's lineup boasts some of the best offensive numbers in the league, sitting at second in the AL with 236 runs scored. Though they have a higher batting average and slugging percentage than the Rays, the Boston lineup actually compares favorably to the Rays' -- who play in one of the league's more stingier pitcher's parks.

Here is a look at today's lineups:

Rays Lineup (courtesy of @RaysBaseball)

1. 1B Carlos Pena
2. CF B.J. Upton
3. DH Luke Scott
4. RF Ben Zobrist
5. LF Matt Joyce
6. 2B Sean Rodriguez
7. 3B Drew Sutton
8. C Chris Gimenez
9. SS Elliot Johnson

• SP Alex Cobb

Red Sox Lineup (courtesy of @MaureenaMullen)

1. SS Mike Aviles
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 1B Adrian Gonzalez
5. 3B Kevin Youkilis
6. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
7. LF Daniel Nava
8. CF Marlon Byrd
9. RF Scott Podsednik

• SP Jon Lester

Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.

Rays Vs. Red Sox: Game Preview, TV Info And More

American League East Division rivals Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox go head-to-head on Friday.