ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Red Sox earned another victory thanks to yet another unearned run.
The Sox managed just one run - with the help of an error - but made it stand up the rest of the way, blanking the Tampa Bay Rays, 1-0.
Wade Miley went 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and four walks and got plenty of help from the bullpen, which retired nine of the 10 hitters it faced. Koji Uehara allowed a leadoff single in the ninth but preserved the lead for his second save.
The only run of the night came in the third when a hard takeout slide at second by Mookie Betts forced an errant throw by Tampa Bay second baseman Ryan Brett, allowing Ryan Hanigan to score from second.
The run was the 19th unearned run scored by the Red Sox this season and sixth in the last two games.
The Sox had a baserunner at third with one out in the ninth after Shane Victorino lined an opposite-field leadoff double just inside the right field line. But after a bunt by Brock Holt moved him over, Hanigan went down swinging and Mookie Betts flied out to left.
Boston stranded nine baserunners, including six in scoring position.
Boston Red Sox
Tampa starter Chris Archer was electric, with nine strikeouts and just the one unearned run allowed. But he was through after just 5 2/3 innings thanks to a high pitch count (106).
The win marked the fifth straight time this season that the Sox have won the opening game of a series.