ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nick Martinez gave up six hits over seven-plus innings, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes hit RBI doubles, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Martinez (6-2) allowed three runs while striking out two. Kevin Kelly recorded three outs in the eighth, and Bryan Baker pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Ryan Vilade had three hits and scored the Rays’ first run in the fourth inning. Williamson and Fortes each had two hits, and Tampa Bay managed 12 overall while going 5 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle (3-3) went six innings, allowing nine hits and four runs while striking out three. His streak of eight consecutive starts with three or fewer runs allowed came to an end.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa was 2 for 3 with two runs, and Marcelo Mayer drove in two runs with an eighth-inning double that pulled Boston within 4-3.

The Red Sox threatened to tie the game in the eighth, but Kelly entered and forced three straight groundouts to escape the inning.

Boston has lost three straight and five of its last seven.

Jarren Duran’s RBI single in the third inning opened the scoring.

The Rays scored three in the fourth inning to take the lead, and added an insurance run in the sixth on a Richie Palacios single.

Up next

Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen (5-2, 3.00 ERA) starts in the series finale. Boston has not named a starter.