MLB: Tampa Bay 6, Boston 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Carlos Pena gave Tampa Bay the lead with the first of his team's four homers Wednesday, powering the Rays past Boston 6-4.

Boston dropped 2 ½ games behind New York for the lead in the American League East and will open a four-game series in Yankee Stadium Thursday.

Pena's homer gave the Rays a 2-1 lead in the second and Carl Crawford added a two-run blast one inning later. Pat Burrell delivered a solo homer in the sixth and Jason Bartlett had another one in the seventh.

The home runs made a winner out of David Price (5-4), who is 5-1 in his seven home starts this season. He allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

Tampa Bay has won five out of six and moved within three games of Boston for the lead in the American League wild-card chase.

Brad Penny (7-6) surrendered five runs on six hits in six innings. Boston has dropped two in a row after winning four straight.