Morales, Red Sox start second half strong

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Red Sox moved back over .500 Friday night, beating the Rays, 3-1, in the teams' first game back from the All-Star break.

Setting the tone at Tropicana Field for the Sox was starter Franklin Morales, who allowed no runs and just two hits over five innings. The lefty has now allowed three or fewer runs in four of his five starts with the Red Sox this season, lowering his ERA to 3.16.

Helping pick up the slack for Morales after the lefty exited having thrown 95 pitches were relievers Scott Atchison, Andrew Miller, Matt Albers, Vicente Padilla and Alfredo Aceves. The group surrendered one run over the final four innings, with Aceves picking up his 20th save.

The Red Sox' offense was sparked by a first-inning, solo home run by David Ortiz, his 23rd of the season. The other two Red Sox runs came in the second when Pedroi Ciriaco's ground ball up the middle snuck between Tampa Bay shortstop Elliot Johnson and second baseman Jeff Keppinger for a bases-loaded, two-run single. The base hit scored Jarrod Saltalmacchia and Ryan Sweeney.

Ciriaco had another stellar offensive showing, going 3-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt, while collecting his third stolen base. The Sox infielder is now hitting .625 (10-for-16) in his brief stint with the Sox.

In his first game back since coming off the 60-day disabled list, Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.

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