Red Sox hurt Rays’ chances at playoffs

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. â€”  Clay Buchholz pitched six effective innings, Jason Bay drove in two runs and Boston hurt Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes with a 6-3 win over the Rays.

The Red Sox took two of three from the Rays -- Boston’s first series win at Tropicana Field since Sept. 21-23, 2007 -- to extend their AL wild-card advantage over Tampa Bay to six games. Texas trails Boston by three games.

Buchholz (4-3) gave up three runs and six hits. Bay, with 21 RBIs in his last 22 games, hit a two-run double that put the Red Sox ahead, 2-0, in the first.

Evan Longoria had a run-scoring double for the Rays. The AL All-Star has 27 RBIs against the Red Sox this season. Since 1954, the most runs driven in against Boston during one season is 29, by Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline in 1959.

Tampa Bay left-hander David Price gave up four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.