Relentless Red Sox wear down Rays take 2 0 lead

David Ortiz celebrates his first two homer playoff game as the Red Sox take a 2 0 ALDS lead.(Photo Bob DeChiara USA TODAY Sports)

Story HighlightsThe Red Sox take a 2 0 series lead in the ALDSDavid Ortiz hit two home runs off Rays' David Price

BOSTON The Boston Red Sox were going to make the Tampa Bay Rays prove they weren't still reeling from a disastrous first game of their American League Division Series.

We're all still waiting.

The Red Sox now would have to match their longest losing streak of the season to not advance to the League Championship Series after Saturday's 7 4 victory at Fenway Park.

The one word that we've continually tried to drive home is relentless Red Sox manager John Farrell says. Tonight is one example of it.

It's given Boston a huge edge over a Tampa Bay team that might be tired and certainly is running out of straws to grasp.

BOX SCORE Red Sox 7 Rays 4

Or just maybe glossed over in the Rays' magical mystery tour to get to this series is that they're simply not as good as the team that over 162 games finished six games better in the AL East. Tampa Bay has now lost to Boston 14 times in 21 games this year.

The Red Sox made quick work of the notion pitching ace David Price could solve whatever ails the Rays.

You surprised Come on says Boston right fielder Shane Victorino. You capitalize on little things.

Continuing that relentless theme that began in Boston's 12 2 Friday afternoon happy hour leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury parlayed a break and some resolve breaking pressure into a first inning run off Price.

Ellsbury started the inning with a broken bat single to short right field but quickly did his best to step on a team when it's down getting a huge jump on Price to steal second base. Catcher Jose Molina's throw went into center field sending Ellsbury to third where he could score on Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice fly.

David Ortiz immediately contributed a big thing overwhelming a pitch into the right center field seats for a 2 0 first inning lead.

WIL MYERS A good sport about his Game 1 blunder

So much for the notion of Price as savior.

Ortiz would add the exclamation point in the eighth by driving Price's final pitch of the evening over yes over the foul pole in right field. It's Ortiz's first post season two homer game.

In between was a relentless onslaught of those little things.

I think that's a key for a pitcher like Price Ellsbury says. Don't let him get comfortable. Put pressure on him each inning. I thought we did a pretty good job of that.

In fact Price allowed 10 baserunners over the first five innings the same number he had allowed combined in his previous three starts against the Red Sox since late July encompassing 24 1/3 innings.

He allowed 11 total runners Saturday a number topped in only four of his 27 previous starts this year.

Tip your hats to us says left fielder Jonny Gomes. All three of his pitches were there. His velocity was there. You can talk about taking pitches seeing pitches grinding at bats. We don't do that every single night.

Victorino talked about a tough but clean takeout slide to keep Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist from turning a double play in what became a two run third inning. On a similar play an inning later Zobrist's relay bounced off the top of the Boston dugout and helped the Red Sox score a two out run.

Another of the uncharacteristic mistakes by the Rays in the first two games.

Did that first slide make a difference Victorino said. I don't know. But you put pressure on. Those kinds of things collectively add up. I know that's not the way the Rays usually play.

Relentless is how the Red Sox play.

GALLERY BEARDS OF BEANTOWN

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That's also what the Rays' four city criss crossing of North America has been.

It finally slowed down when they got to Boston this week. Wow three consecutive days in the same town something they hadn't experienced since last weekend.

Step back take a deep breath find out you really are weary.

I don't think so Rays third baseman Evan Longoria says of the fatigue theory. This is a tough environment to play. We have to play better bottom line.

Even if they really are tired the Rays would never admit to it might not even realize it. And they weren't nearly as sloppy as in their Game 1 loss.

Whether it was that or the Red Sox being opportunistic relentless better or all of the above Tampa Bay was left to play from behind all night and they simply didn't do it as well.

Both teams had their leadoff batter on base in four of the first five innings. The Red Sox scored in four of them the Rays in one. Boston turned three double plays for the first time in the postseason since a game in which Babe Ruth was the winning pitcher. That was the 1918 (remember when that year was significant ) World Series.

Now the Tampa Bay savior has to be Alex Cobb who truth be told has pitched better than Price the past two months.

The Rays get two nights in their own beds before they have to play again. We'll see if that helps.

Or maybe it's the opportunity to play three consecutive elimination games again.

Boston this time of year is kind of lovely. And I'm looking forward to coming back in a few days says Rays ever positive manager Joe Maddon.

Or it could just be the lack of sleep talking.

GALLERY RAYS VS RED SOX IN ALDS

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