BOSTON (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays blasted Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka from the game after just two innings on the way to routing the Red Sox 16-5 on Monday.
Both American League East teams have struggled to get going in the new season, but Tampa Bay's offense came alive against Boston, exploding to a 7-0 lead in the second inning and chasing Matsuzaka from the game.
Having starting the season 0-6, as the Red Sox did, Tampa Bay nearly equaled their total runs scored on the season in one night.
Johnny Damon and Sam Fuld hit early home runs for the Rays (2-8), who continued their assault with three runs in the sixth and four more in the ninth.
Fuld, who was born in New Hampshire, finished with four hits and three RBIs at the ballpark where he grew up watching Boston play.
"I think I had a little more adrenaline tonight, just playing in this park that I grew up going to," Fuld told reporters. "I was able to channel that in a positive way."
Damon, John Jaso and Reid Brignac all drove in three runs apiece to help lead the Tampa Bay charge.
Boston got on the board in the third where Adrian Gonzalez hit an RBI triple. David Ortiz had two RBIs and Jacoby Ellsbury smacked a home run in the eighth for the Red Sox.
Boston outfielder Carl Crawford, who spent the first nine years of his career with Tampa Bay before signing with the Red Sox (2-8) in the off-season, went 2-for-5 in his first game against his former team.
Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson picked up the win after allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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