Rays beat Red Sox to lengthen lead

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- With first place on the line in the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox stuck to playing baseball Monday night.

James Shields scattered five hits over 6 1/3 innings and B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered, helping the Rays remain unbeaten at home against the Red Sox with a 5-4 victory that hiked their lead to 1 1/2 games in the division.

“This is an intense series,” Boston’s Mike Lowell said. “I know there’s a little history, but I think both teams played good baseball.”

The Rays (50-32), surprising owners of the best record in baseball, have won six of seven and shrugged off a six-game losing streak to Boston.

It was the first meeting between the combative division rivals since their much talked about June 5 benches-clearing brawl at Fenway that led to the suspensions of eight players, including Shields (6-5).

Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival limped off the mound after appearing to tweak a sore hamstring backing up the plate in the ninth inning. Percival had an animated argument with Rays Manager Joe Maddon before leaving.