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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Rick Porcello stepped off the mound, gathered his thoughts and went back to work.I was off a little mechanically. It was kind of tough for me to regain my focus, so I was doing everything I could to slow the game down, the Boston pitcher said after minimizing the damage during a bases-loaded, fourth-inning jam and helping the Red Sox end a three-game losing streak with an 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.Porcello (9-2) retired the last nine batters he faced after walking Nick Franklin to force in the only run he allowed. The right-hander scattered five hits, walked three and struck out eight over six innings.He had his back against the wall in those first four innings, but he did an outstanding job, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. Even when he lost a little bit of the strike zone in the fourth inning, he didnt give in. He didnt make a mistake that might have cost him multiple runs on base hits.Travis Shaw homered and drove in five runs for the third time this season for Boston, one of just two teams -- along with Cleveland -- that have yet to have a losing streak of four or more games this year.That fourth inning, it was a huge spot to get out of that jam, Shaw said. A lot of things havent been going right, but I dont think our confidence or our faith in everybody in this locker room was swayed one bit.Shaw had a solo homer, a two-run double and a two-run single. David Ortiz continued to climb the career RBI list with a third-inning double, and Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez also drove in runs for Boston.We had a very good offensive night, Farrell said. Travis Shaw hitting the home run kind of jumpstarted us, and a big night he continued to have.Shaw homered in the second inning. Ortizs hit gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead against Chris Archer (4-11), whos gone from being an All-Star a year ago to leading the major leagues in losses this season.One night after moving ahead of Reggie Jackson for sole possession of 24th on the career RBI list, the slugger pulled even with another Hall of Famer, Frank Thomas, for 23rd with 1,704.Overall, I felt like I pitched a decent game, Archer said. But it was not good enough to get the win, so Im not very happy with it.Light-hitting Tampa Bay snapped an 11-game losing streak on Monday night, pounding out a season-high 18 hits in a 13-7 win that saddled Boston with its sixth loss in eight games.The offensive outburst didnt spill over to Tuesday.The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but only scored once -- with Porcellos third walk of the inning forcing in the run. The Boston right-hander, who had not walked more than two batters in any of his previous 19 starts, wiggled off the hook by getting Logan Forsythe to fly to right field and fanning Hank Conger and Brad Miller.Ultimately, it came down to the fourth inning, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. We didnt get it done when we had an opportunity.Porcello and reliever Junichi Tazawa didnt allow another baserunner until Millers solo homer trimmed Tampa Bays deficit to 6-2 with two outs in the seventh.Archer, who allowed four runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings, fell to 1-8 lifetime against the Red Sox, whove won eight straight decisions against the right-hander.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts, who leads the majors with 109 hits and is batting .343, had a scheduled day off. ... C Ryan Hanigan (strained neck) will have his status evaluated after catching a full game Wednesday with Triple-A Pawtucket.Rays: OF Corey Dickerson (sore left thumb) missed his third straight but was available to pinch hit. ... RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to throw a batting practice session Thursday.CLOSING TIMERays closer Alex Colome was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right medial biceps tendinitis. The move was retroactive to June 19, so the right-hander is eligible to come off the DL on Monday. Were not too concerned, said manager Kevin Cash, who plans to mix-and-match late in games with Colome sidelined.UP NEXTRed Sox: LHP David Price (8-4, 4.68 ERA) starts the series finale against his former team. The 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner ranks among the league leaders in strikeouts, innings pitched and wins. He has an AL-leading four outings with double-digit strikeouts, most by a Boston pitcher in a single season since Jon Lester had seven in 2010.Rays: LHP Matt Moore is 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA in eight career appearances against Boston, including seven starts. Hes 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.Zach Gentry Womens Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Louis Lipps Womens Jersey . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Juju-Smith-Schuster-Jersey/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. L.C. Greenwood Womens Jersey . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Justin Layne Womens Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Sindarius Thornwell scored 18 points and South Carolina cruised to an 85-76 victory over Louisiana Tech on Friday night.Thornwell was 7 of 16 from the floor. PJ Dozier and Duane Notice added 17 points apiece for the Gamecocks, who overcame foul trouble and Louisiana Techs trapping defense. Thornwells steal and ensuing dunk with 2:37 left gave the Gamecocks a 10-point lead.Derric Jean had 18 points and Jacobi Boykins added 14 to lead Louisiana Tech. DaQuan Bracey and Omar Sherman chipped in 12 apiece.Trailing by 15 points early in the second half, Louisiana Tech climbed back with 3-point shooting. South Carolina began to earn more trips to the free-throw line but couldnt convert, and the Bulldogs 3s cut the deficit to 65-61 with about eight minutes to play.Thats when they cut it to four, South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. So we locked in and did a better job. We werent very good today.The teams combined for 48 fouls, and the Gamecocks made just 16 of 26 from the line. South Carolina allowed only three field goals in the final six minutes.I started off with a lot of turnoverss and forcing a lot of stuff that wasnt there, Thornwell said.dddddddddddd Once I settled down, I was all right.BIG PICTURESouth Carolina: The Gamecocks were expected to lean on their guards all season and Thornwell, Dozier, and Notice lived up to the billing.Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs press was disrupting South Carolina all evening, leading to 15 turnovers. The problem was the Bulldogs left so many points at the rim, missing several layups.STAT OF THE NIGHTThe Gamecocks had 19 second-chance points to the Bulldogs nine, using their superior height to win the rebounding total 35-29. South Carolina hauled in 25 defensive boards.TURNING POINTThornwells dunk was the second of two straight for the Gamecocks after the Bulldogs had cut the deficit to four. The first was Silvas one-hand jam, fed from Thornwell after a Louisiana Tech missed layup.UP NEXTSouth Carolina is in a marathon sprint of three games in five days, and welcomes Holy Cross to Colonial Life Arena on Sunday. ' ' '