Enny Romero earned his first major league save, relieving with two outs in the ninth inning and fanning Red Sox slugger David Ortiz to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 2-1 win Wednesday and a four-game split with the Red Sox.
After Tyler Sturdevant struck out Hanley Ramirez and Jackie Bradley Jr. to begin the ninth, Romero was summoned. Romero sent Ortiz to the ground with a high-and-tight 1-2 fastball, then got him to look at strike three.
A day earlier, the 40-year-old Ortiz reached 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Ortiz was rested for the final day of an 11-game road trip that saw Boston go 7-4. The Red Sox, who began the day tied with Toronto for the AL East lead, lost the final two games of the series.
Mikie Mahtook ended a stretch of 34 hitless at-bats with a go-ahead double in the seventh off Drew Pomeranz (10-10), who is 2-3 since being traded from San Diego to Boston.
Jake Odorizzi (9-5) improved to 6-0 in eight starts since the All-Star break. He gave up one run and five hits in seven innings.
Mookie Betts was thrown out by Mahtook from left field trying to stretch a single into a double in the eighth.
Pomeranz struck out a career-high 11 in six-plus innings.
After Betts put the Red Sox up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, Odorizzi avoided a big inning by getting an inning-ending double play from Bradley with the bases loaded.
Tampa Bay tied it at 1 in the bottom of the sixth when Evan Longoria doubled and scored on Brad Miller's single. Miller had 31 RBIs since the All-Star break.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: LF Andrew Benintendi (left knee sprain) was put on the 15-day disabled list. Manager John Farrell is hopeful the rookie will return before the season ends. . LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (left hamstring) felt fine after a bullpen session and is lined up to start Sunday against Kansas City.
Rays: INF Tim Beckham (left hamstring tightness) sat out for the second consecutive game.
HITLESS WONDER
The Rays record for most consecutive at-bats without a hit is 41, set by Luke Scott in 2012.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Knuckleballer Steven Wright (13-5) will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list after missing 2 1/2 weeks with a strained right shoulder and start Friday night at home against Royals RHP Ian Kennedy (8-9).
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (6-11) will Astros RHP Mike Fiers (9-6) at Houston on Friday night.
