BOSTON – Cutter Crawford allowed his major league-best 34th home run – a go-ahead run off Junior Caminero – and suffered his worst 16th major league loss as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Saturday defeated.

“The command was off today. He had no feel for the four-seater,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “So a lot of tailors. He is very efficient when attacking the zone. Today he was unpredictable.”

Caminero had three RBI for the Rays (80-81), who would avoid their first losing season since 2017 with a series win. Caminero and Brandon Lowe each had three hits.

“I felt good,” Caminero said through a translator. “Go out there and play my game that I know how to get paid. At the moment it works for me. And just being consistent is the key for me.

Shane Baz (4-3) won his third straight start, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings with seven strikeouts, a walk, two hit batters and a run-scoring wild pitch.

“Very encouraged by the way he finished it,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He looked good today. Limited damage. Did a good job and was super efficient, even hitting the home run in the first inning. The swings and misses they made, the efficiency. I think you respect the fact that he has bad stuff. Guys don’t want to get into a punching match with him, and that benefits him when he throws punches like he did.”

Crawford (9-16) gave up six runs, five hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings, with six strikeouts and finished with a 4.36 ERA. His 33 starts tied him for the major league lead.

“Not very good,” Crawford said. “I didn’t have much feel for the fastball, so I had to use the cutter a lot, but overall it just wasn’t a very good outing.”

Tristan Casas’ 13th home run gave Boston (80-81) the lead in the first inning.

Caminero gave the Rays a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the third after Yandy Díaz walked.

Tampa Bay took a 4-1 lead in the fifth after Díaz, Brandon Lowe, Caminero and Jonathan Aranda hit consecutive singles, the last two driving in runs. Josh Lowe hit a two-run single off Greg Weissert.

Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran doubled Josh Lowe at first base in the fourth on Jose Siri’s flyout. Duran began the day with 12 assists, tied for the major league lead among outfielders.

Boston finished 8-7 this year in its yellow City Connect jerseys, a nod to Patriots Day weekend and the Boston Marathon. The Red Sox are 20-10 in the yellow jerseys since the start of 2023.

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