The Rays roughed up Lester for four runs in the fifth to grab a 5-1 edge. Gabe Kapler started things off with a walk. With Kapler running on a 2-and-2 pitch and shortstop Jed Lowrie covering the bag, Iwamura slashed a perfectly placed single over Lowrie’s abandoned position, putting runners at first and third with nobody out. Bartlett dropped a bunt in front of the plate that Lester hesitated to field, thinking catcher Jason Varitek would come out to get it. But Varitek held the plate, and Bartlett was credited with a bunt single as Kapler scored to put the Rays back on top 2-1.
Crawford followed with a bloop single that Lowrie couldn’t hold onto after a long run, loading the bases, still with nobody out. Longoria grounded into a double play as Iwamura scored, and Carlos Pena blasted a 3-and-1 pitch into the center-field bleachers to a two-run homer to cap the big inning.