Benintendi, who was called up August 2, has hit.324 with an.850 OPS, a.365 on-base percentage and a.485 slugging percentage in his first 21 games with the Red Sox.
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Boston starter Rick Porcello was five outs from being the majors’ first 18-game victor before Longoria took him deep.
Ortiz launched his 30th home run of the year, and picked up his 100th RBI on a two-run blast to put the Sox on the board early.
The Red Sox are now 71-55 and are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for first-place in the American League East division. Longoria became the first Rays player to hit 30 home runs in four seasons.
It’s getaway day in Tampa Bay, so the Red Sox lineup is ugly. The 26-year-old breezed past the Texas Rangers in a win on Saturday, yielding one run and six hits in six innings while striking out four. Ortiz is the oldest player in Major League Baseball history to have a 30 HR season, and eclipsed the 30 HR and 100 RBI mark for the 10th time in his Red Sox career, which is a team record as well.
Porcello threw a career-high 123 pitches but was left with a no-decision. Ortiz plans to retire at the end of the season. – Andrew Benintendi on his knee injury. He was between second and third when a ground ball was hit to Red Sox shortstop Matt Duffy, who turned and tagged Benintendi.
Mookie Betts drove in Boston’s third run with a third-inning single, one of two hits in his 54th multihit game of the season. Pomeranz still has some trouble keeping the ball in the yard and surrendered at least one home run in each of his seven starts with Boston.
Boston manager John Farrell said knuckleballer Steven Wright (strained right shoulder) will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list to start Friday night against Kansas City. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (left hamstring) felt fine after a bullpen session and will start Sunday against Kansas City.
Rays: RHP Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will make his final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Durham and hopes to have his first major league appearance in nearly two years during a series September 2-4 against Toronto.
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The getaway matinee features a matchup between Jake Odorizzi, who has been one of the major league’s top pitchers since the All-Star Break, vs. lefty Drew Pomeranz, who was acquired from San Diego in July to help Boston’s playoff push.
