MLB: Boston 9, Tampa Bay 1

BOSTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Alex Gonzalez drove in three runs and scored two and four other Boston players had at least one RBI as the Red Sox crushed struggling Tampa Bay 9-1.

The win in the rain-shortened game marked Boston's third straight and increased its lead in the AL wild-card race to three games over Texas, which lost to Seattle Saturday.

In the Sox slugfest, Kevin Youkilis drove a home run over the Green Monster and had two RBI, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Victor Martinez and David Ortiz each knocked in one.

Starter Josh Beckett (15-6) held the Rays to one run on four hits, while striking out four and walking one in five-plus innings.

Jason Bartlett drove in the only run for Tampa Bay, which lost its ninth straight.

Starter Wade Davis (0-1) gave up six hits and eight runs in just 2 2/3 innings in his first major league defeat.

Rain delayed the start of the game more than two hours, but if it cooled the Boston bats, they got hot in a hurry in the third, when the Sox scored eight runs.

Downpours stopped play for the second time in the sixth inning and, after a one-hour delay, the game was called.