BOSTONJarrod Saltalamacchias first career walk-off home run rescued the Red Sox Saturday night, as they took a 3-2 win over the Rays.
Saltalamacchia, pinch-hitting for Marlon Byrd with one out and Daniel Nava on second base, took an 0-1 pitch from Rays closer Fernando and deposited it into the Red Sox bullpen for the win.
Rodney had been a perfect 15-for-15 in save situations this season until Saltalamacchias blast.
Rich Hill, who pitched the ninth for the Sox, got the win and his first decision of the season, 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA.
Josh Beckett started and cruised through the Tampa Bay lineup for six innings. In that span, he held Rays batters to just one hita Jose Molina third-inning singlewith no walks and three strikeouts.
The Red Sox offense gave him a one-run lead in the sixth when David Ortiz, who reached on a single and took second on Adrian Gonzalezs single to center, scored on Will Middlebrooks single.
Despite the slim lead, with the way Beckett was setting down the Rays, it appeared that may be enough for the right-hander.
Boston Red Sox
But the seventh inning was his undoing. Beckett gave up a lead-off single to B.J. Upton, who took third on Matt Joyces single to right. Upton scored on Ben Zobrists sacrifice fly with Joyce scoring on Luke Scotts single to right.
Beckett was done after that. His line: Seven innings, four hits, two runs, no walks, five strikeouts. His ERA fell from 4.38 to 4.15.
Rays starter David Price was in line for his seventh win of the season before Saltalamacchias blast.
It was the eighth home run of the season for Saltalamacchia.