ST. PETERSBURG — Bobby Valentine said he could sense his guys wanted Thursday night’s game, and the Boston Red Sox played like it. A night after having their five-game winning streak stopped, the Red Sox regained their mid-May momentum, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Thursday. “I just think these guys were ready to get back to the winning ways,” Boston’s manager said. Cody Ross hit his seventh home run and drove in four runs, and Marlon Byrd hit his first home run for Boston, helping the Sox gain a split in the two-game series. “Cody was big tonight,” Valentine said after Ross drew a bases-loaded walk in the first, hit a two-out solo home run in the third and broke the game open with a two-run single in the eighth. “He busted the third changeup he saw over the center field fence, and he busted the (defensive) shift for two RBIs that turned out to be the two we needed. “Cody will give you eveything he has and, it’s enough for me. Good player.” Felix Doubront (4-1) won his third consecutive start after allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Alfredo Aceves picked up his eighth save after getting the final four outs. The Rays lost for the first time in five games and for only the fourth this year at home. They made it interesting in the eighth, though, pulling to 5-3 on B.J. Upton’s RBI single and getting two runners in scoring position before Aceves got Luke Scott to ground out to end the threat. Matt Moore (1-4), the Rays’ touted 22-year-old rookie, struggled in the early innings before settling in. He retired the side in his final three frames before leaving after six innings with his team trailing 3-2. “If you consider how I dug a hole for us early in the game, it was OK,” Moore said. “I feel like some adjustments were made (in which) I just started attacking more, especially (with) two guys we were maybe nibbling at earlier.” Balls-and-strikes calls were an issue for the Red Sox for a second consecutive night. Adrian Gonzalez complained after Boston’s 2-1 loss Wednesday that it was hard to have “a professional at-bat” with the umpiring, and on Thursday, shortstop and leadoff man Mike Aviles received his first career ejection in the seventh inning for arguing a two-out, third-strike call by Dan Bellino. Valentine didn’t back off after the game. “We can’t fight the umpire and the other team, but we’re a highly competitive team, and you like to be given a chance,” he said. “Other guys had complaints tonight, and I was with them.” Righty reliever Burke Badenhop struck out the side in that seventh inning, also getting Byrd and Kelly Shoppach. The Rays scored single runs in the third and fourth against Doubront after Boston took a 3-0 lead and threatened again in the sixth, when Ben Zobrist singled with two out and Upton doubled to put runners at first and third. Lefty Rich Hill came on and got Scott to fly out to left. The Red Sox loaded the bases and scored one run in the first against Moore, who has struggled with his location and high pitch counts. Aviles and David Ortiz singled, and Gonzalez, who had predicted to the Boston media he would hit a home run Thursday night, took a first-pitch fastball to the hip area. Valentine didn’t think the pitch was intentional. “If it was, it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in baseball,” he said. “But it might have been. I doubt it. If it was (that kind of ) stupidity, maybe the game has passed me by.” After Moore struck out Will Middlebrooks for the second out, Ross took a close 2-2 pitch off the outside corner for a ball, fouled off a couple of pitches, and drew an RBI walk. By the time Moore struck out Daniel Nava for the third out, he’d thrown 33 pitches. Byrd led off with a home run in the second, and Ross’ two-out solo home run in the third put Boston ahead 3-0. Byrd, acquired from the Chicago Cubs last month, homered for the first time for his new team. The Rays punched back with one run each in the third and the fourth innings. Jeff Keppinger’s line-drive single to left scored Upton after a two-out rally began with a catcher’s interference call against Shoppach. Then, in the fourth, Rich Thompson’s two-out single up the middle scored Sean Rodriguez to pull the Rays to 3-2. Thompson was making his first major league start, at age 33 and a day after the Rays acquired him from the Phillies. His only previous major league at-bat had come in 2004 for Kansas City, when he hit into a double play against catcher Tim Laker, who was pitching in a mop-up role. Thompson wasn’t done, either. He followed his RBI single by stealing second and third base before the Rays left the bases loaded when Scott hit a hard line drive to first baseman Gonzalez. NOTES: Rays infielder Will Rhymes (bruised right forearm) was not in the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch and passing out at first base Wednesday night, but he said he could take the field as soon as Friday. He said watching a replay of the incident was “kind of tough” and that he hadn’t realized “I was out like that.” … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (lower back strain), who began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, will play his second game Friday (and first in the field). Right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow surgery) made his fifth minor league rehab start for Pawtucket. … The Rays are intrigued by newly acquired Thompson’s 442 minor league stolen bases, including an International League-leading 48 last year. “He’s been able to maintain his speed over time, and that’s a big part of why he’s still attractive,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. … Ortiz will likely play at least one game at first base in the weekend interleague series at Philadelphia, Valentine said. Gonzalez would move to right field. … Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (partial hamstring tear) worked on his hand-eye coordination before the game by taking grounders from his knees. … The Rays still haven’t announced who’ll pitch for injured Jeff Niemann on Saturday against Atlanta, but it will likely be Alex Cobb or Chris Archer from Triple-A Durham.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday night.

”I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. ”The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten 2-1 on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.

Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.

”Cody was big,” Valentine said. ”Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”

Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2-3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.

Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

”I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. ”That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”

Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.

Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.

Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.

Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.

The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

”We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. ”The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”

Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.

”Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. ”We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”

Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.

NOTES: Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cody Ross helped the Boston Red Sox rebound from a frustrating loss.

Ross homered and drove in four runs, Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday night.”I was going after this game tonight,” Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. “The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it. Just frustration (from Wednesday’s loss), and we wanted to get back into the winning ways.”

The Red Sox were beaten 2-1 on Wednesday. The Rays’ go-ahead run scored when Ross, in right field, had problems with the Tropicana Field roof and had to backpedal to catch Luke Scott’s shallow sacrifice fly.Ross extended Boston’s lead to 5-2 Thursday on a two-run single off reliever Wade Davis with two outs in the eighth.”Cody was big,” Valentine said. “Cody will give you everything he has, and it’s enough for me.”Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander was hit on the ear by a ball during batting practice Tuesday and cleared one day later to make his scheduled start.Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for Tampa Bay, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.”I thought he finished really strong,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s definitely a game to build off. He definitely pitched well enough to win. Confidence is a big thing. I know he’s going to sleep better. Despite the loss, he’s going to feel better about himself. That’s just a right step in the right direction.”Moore retired his last 10 batters. He struck out eight and walked one.Alfredo Aceves, the fifth Boston reliever, got four outs for his eighth save. He allowed B.J. Upton’s RBI single with two outs in the eighth.After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ross worked a bases-loaded walk off Moore to put the Red Sox up 1-0 in the first. Moore avoided further damage by striking out Daniel Nava to end the inning.Boston went ahead 2-0 on Marlon Byrd’s second-inning homer. Ross made it 3-0 with his seventh homer, on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the third.

Jeff Keppinger got the Rays within 3-1 on an RBI single in the third. Upton reached base with two outs when Kelly Shoppach was charged with catcher’s interference and went to second when Luke Scott was hit by a pitch.Rich Thompson, who has played in 1,388 minor league games, cut the Tampa Bay deficit to 3-2 with his first big league hit, a run-scoring single in the fourth. Thompson, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, also stole second and third after his hit.The Rays loaded the bases later in the fourth with two outs, but Scott hit a hard liner that was caught by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.”We always have pretty good series against the Rays,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. “The fact they won (Wednesday) in a close game, and another close game today, it’s definitely good to get that win. Bobby did the right thing mixing and matching later in the game.”Aviles was ejected in the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing after striking out. It was his first career ejection.”Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them,” Valentine said. “We’ve got to fight through it, that’s for sure. We’re trying our hardest, and I think they’re trying their hardest, too.”Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes was not in the lineup a night after being hit by a pitch in the right arm, fainting after walking to first base and having to be driven off the field on a cart. Maddon said Rhymes, who is day to day with a bruised right forearm, was feeling better and wanted to take batting practice but the team trainer wouldn’t allow it.Game notes
Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer returned to Tropicana Field for a game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season against the New York Yankees. The 81-year-old ex-Red Sox and Cubs manager has been undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. … Valentine said DH David Ortiz will play first base and Gonzalez will move to right field for at least one game of this weekend’s interleague series at Philadelphia. … Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria (partial tear left hamstring) took grounders and continues taking batting practice.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG — A night after their five-game winning streak was stopped, the Boston Red Sox regained their mid-May momentum, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Tropicana Field on Thursday. Cody Ross had a bases-loaded walk, solo home run and two-run single, and Marlon Byrd hit his first home run for Boston, helping the Red Sox gain a split in the two-game series. Felix Doubront (4-1) won his third consecutive start, allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The Rays lost for the first time in five games and only the fourth this year at home. They made it interesting in the eighth, pulling to 5-3 on B.J. Upton’s RBI single and getting two runners in scoring position before Alfredo Aceves got Luke Scott to ground out to end the threat. Matt Moore (1-4), the Rays‘ touted 22-year-old rookie, struggled in the early innings before settling in. He retired the side in his final three frames before leaving after six innings with his team trailing 3-2. Balls-and-strikes calls were an issue for the Red Sox for a second consecutive night. Adrian Gonzalez complained after Boston’s 2-1 loss Wednesday that it was hard to have “a professional at-bat” with the umpiring, and Thursday, shortstop and leadoff man Mike Aviles received his first career ejection in the seventh inning for arguing a two-out, third strike call by Dan Bellino. Righty reliever Burke Badenhop struck out the side in that frame, also getting Byrd and Kelly Shoppach. The Rays scored single runs in the third and fourth against Doubront after Boston took a 3-0 lead and threatened again in the sixth, when Ben Zobrist singled with two out and Upton doubled to put runners at first and third. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine took the ball from Doubront, and lefty Rich Hill came on and got Scott to fly out to left. Ross’s two-run single off Wade Davis in the eighth broke the game open. The Red Sox loaded the bases and scored one run in the first against Moore, the touted rookie who has struggled with his location and high pitch counts. Aviles and David Ortiz singled, and Gonzalez, who had predicted to the Boston media he would hit a home run Thursday night, took a first-pitch fastball to the hip area. After Moore struck out Will Middlebrooks for the second out, Ross took a close 2-2 pitch off the outside corner for a ball, fouled off a couple of pitches, and drew an RBI walk. By the time Moore struck out Daniel Nave for the third out, he’d thrown 33 pitches. Byrd’s led off with a home run in the second and Ross’ two-out solo home run in the third put Boston ahead 3-0. Byrd, acquired from the Chicago Cubs last month, homered for the first time for his new team. Ross, who had homers in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay in April, hit his seventh of the year. The Rays punched back with one run each in the third and the fourth innings. Jeff Keppinger’s line-drive single to left scored B.J. Upton after a two-out rally began with a catcher’s interference call against Shoppach. Then, in the fourth, Rich Thompson’s two-out single up the middle scored Sean Rodriguez to pull the Rays to 3-2. Thompson was making his first major league start, at age 33 and a day after the Rays acquired him from the Phillies. His only previous major league at-bat had come in 2004 for Kansas City, when he hit into a double play against catcher Tim Laker, who was pitching in a mop-up role. Thompson wasn’t done, either. He followed his RBI single by stealing second and third base before the Rays left the bases loaded when Scott hit a hard line drive to first baseman Gonzalez. NOTES: Rays infielder Will Rhymes (bruised right forearm) was not in the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch and passing out at first base Wednesday night, but he said he could take the field as soon as Friday. He said watching a replay of the incident was “kind of tough” and that he hadn’t realized “I was out like that.” … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis (lower back strain), who began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, will play his second game Friday (and first in the field). Right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (right elbow surgery) made his fifth minor league rehab start for Pawtucket. … The Rays are intrigued by newly acquired Thompson’s 442 minor league stolen bases, including an International League-leading 48 last year. “He’s been able to maintain his speed over time, and that’s a big part of why he’s still attractive,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. … Ortiz will likely play at least one game at first base in the weekend interleague series at Philadelphia, manager Bobby Valentine said. Gonzalez would move to right field. … Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (partial hamstring tear) worked on his hand-eye coordination before the game by taking grounders from his knees. … The Rays still haven’t announced who’ll pitch for injured Jeff Niemann on Saturday against Atlanta, but it will likely be Alex Cobb or Chris Archer from Triple-A Durham.

MINNEAPOLIS — Cody Ross hit two home runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak. Ross, who signed with Boston as a free agent in the offseason, cranked a two-run homer to tie the game 5-5 in the seventh, then added a solo shot in the ninth off Matt Capps (0-1). It was the eighth career multi-homer game for Ross. Daniel Bard (1-2) got the win for Boston, pitching out of a jam in the eighth. Alfredo Aceves pitched the ninth inning for his third save of the year, surrendering only a one-out single to Chris Parmelee. The Twins have lost three in a row. Trailing by two in the seventh, the Red Sox pulled even when Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled, then Ross lifted a long home run into the second deck in left field. Jon Lester started and went seven innings for Boston, but he is still looking for his first win of the season. He gave up five runs on six hits and four walks, striking out four. The Twins looked to be on the brink of taking the lead in the eighth when Jamey Carroll led off with a single into the right field corner. Ryan Sweeney misplayed the ball for a two-base error, and Carroll ended up on third with no outs. But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to bounce out, then gave way to Bard. Josh Willingham lined out, and Bard intentionally walked Justin Morneau before getting Ryan Doumit to pop out to shortstop, ending the threat. Jason Marquis started for Minnesota and gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Red Sox got on the board early, as leadoff hitter Mike Aviles singled, advanced to third on a single by Dustin Pedroia and scored on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez. After David Ortiz singled and Kevin Youkilis reached on a fielder’s choice in the second, Jarrod Saltalamacchia plopped his second homer of the season into the front row of the right field seats, giving Boston a 3-0 lead. Lester cruised through the first three innings, but he hit a snag with one out in the fourth. Mauer’s single was followed by a Willingham walk. After Lester struck out Morneau, Doumit doubled to score Mauer and Willingham. Three pitches later, Danny Valencia blasted his first homer of the season into the Red Sox bullpen in deep left-center field, giving Minnesota a 4-3 lead. An inning later, Carroll bounced into the Twins’ big-league-leading 19th double play of the season, but it brought in a run. Trevor Plouffe scored from third base, putting the Twins up 5-3. NOTES: Center fielder Marlon Byrd made his Red Sox debut after coming to Boston in a trade with the Cubs on Saturday night. … Twins catcher Mauer threw out Pedroia on an attempted steal of second base in the first inning. Previously, runners had been 10-for-10 when attempting to run on Mauer this season. … Red Sox utility infielder Nick Punto made his return to Target Field but did not play. Punto spent seven seasons with the Twins.

The Boston Red Sox are reeling. Two-thirds of the starting outfielders are on the disabled list. The club’s two best starters have each turned in a horrendous game already, barely two times through the rotation. There has already been a confrontation between the new manager and a couple of veteran players.

But the most glaring problem with the Red Sox, just 4-7 and mired in last place in the American League East Division following an 18-3 drubbing by the Texas Rangers on April 17, is their wreck of a bullpen.

The ineptitude of the Boston relief corps is epitomized by Mark Melancon, the right-handed reliever acquired in the offseason as a possible replacement for departing free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon. Melancon was coming off a 20-save season for the Houston Astros and, after the Red Sox traded for Oakland A’s closer Andrew Bailey, was projected to be the eighth-inning set up man.

Melancon took the loss for Boston on Opening Day. Then he blew a save by allowing an 11^th-inning walk off home in the third game of the season. He allowed a home run again in the opener of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Three appearances, three bad outings. But they were just a preview of his historic meltdown against the Rangers.

In the eighth inning, he faced six batters. All of them scored. He allowed three home runs. He recorded no outs. His ERA for the year is fractionally less than 50.00.

After the game, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was open to the possibility that Melancon may have to go to the minors to get straightened out.

“At this time you have to consider everything,” Valentine said. “He’s very concerned. I’m very concerned, obviously. He’s not getting the swings and misses. It seems like he’s searching right now. And so are we. It’s tough when you don’t pitch on a regular basis. He threw a bullpen earlier today with (pitching coach) Bob McClure trying to work something out. I guess it wasn’t the right thing.”

Things are not significantly better in the Red Sox bullpen beyond Melancon. Bailey is likely out until the All Star break. Closer Alfredo Aceves has settled down, but blew his first two save opportunities of the season. Righty Michael Bowden was designated for assignment last week. Lefty Andrew Miller is rehabbing in Florida and pitching very poorly.

The answer to Boston’s bullpen issues may actually be in the rotation. Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard have been as effective as one would expect for fourth and fifth starters. Both have earned the chance to stay where they are. But circumstances may dictate otherwise. With starters Aaron Cook and Daisuke Matsuzaka due back from the injuries over the next month or so, the Red Sox might have no choice but to move both Doubront and Bard back to the bullpen to stabilize the relief corps.

It’s a mess, and it needs to get cleaned up before the Red Sox fall even further behind in the standings. Not that you can get much further behind than last place.

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Rick Blaine, an award-winning broadcaster and columnist, is a lifelong Red Sox fan. Follow him on Twitter @RickBlaineCT.