G88: Rays 5, Red Sox 3

Red Sox - 000 201 000 - 3  7  1
Rays    - 001 010 21x - 5  5  1

Buchholz (6.1-3-4-1-8, 87) allowed only three hits and two runs through six innings, a strong showing coming off the disabled list.

But he began the seventh with a walk and an HBP and Matt Albers allowed both of those runners to score - on a bases-loaded walk and a sac fly - turning a 3-2 Boston lead into a 4-3 deficit. The Rays scored those two key runs on no hits; their first two runs scored on a sac fly and an infield error.

Down 4-3 after seven, the Red Sox rallied in the eighth. Jacoby Ellsbury began the frame with a double to right. However, he advanced no further. Pedro Ciriaco popped up a bunt attempt (he said he was doing it on his own - grrrrrr) and, after David Ortiz walked, Joel Peralta came in and got both Cody Ross and Will Middlebrooks to fly harmlessly to center.

B.J. Upton's home run in the eighth off Andrew Miller added some insurance. Mike Aviles singled to begin the Boston ninth, but Fernando Rodney got the next three batters, two by strikeout.

Middlebrooks hit a two-run dong in the fourth. ... Ellsbury and Aviles had two hits each.

Boston dropped back to .500 (44-44).

Clay Buchholz / David Price

Ellsbury, CF
Ciriaco, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Ross, RF
Middlebrooks, 3B
Aviles, SS
Shoppach, C
Lillibridge, 1B
Nava, LF

Buchholz makes his first start since June 19. He went on the disabled list after that outing with esophagitis and gastrointestinal bleeding. He made one rehab appearance, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings for Pawtucket last Sunday. Buchholz has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his last seven starts.

Price faced the Red Sox on May 26 in Boston, allowing only one run in seven innings. (Boston won that game 3-2 on a pinch-hit, two-run, walk-off home run by Jarrod Saltalamacchia.)

Carl Crawford played nine innings in left field for Pawtucket last night, going 0-for-4 with a walk and stolen base. He is expected to play a full game today, take Sunday off, and join the Red Sox on Monday when they host the White Sox.

Whether I'm ready or not, I'll be out there, hopefully. It's time to get out on the field and see what I can do. I feel the pressure of everybody wanting me to be out there. I want to be out there myself.

Also: Ryan Westmoreland underwent surgery on Friday for a complication of a cavernous malformation in his brain.