Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz power Red Sox to 6-1 victory over baseball-best Rays

Buchholz, Red Sox cool off Rays with 6-1 win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz homered to back the strong pitching of Clay Buchholz and lead the resurgent Boston Red Sox to a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

The Red Sox beat baseball’s top team for the first time in five tries, climbing a season-best four games over .500 (25-21) with their third straight win on a difficult road trip that began in Philadelphia.

Buchholz (6-3) won his eighth consecutive road start dating to last August, the longest such streak by a Red Sox pitcher since Roger Clemens won nine in a row from July 18, 1992 to April 20, 1993.