Rays beat Bosox to close in on wild card

BOSTON -- The ball struck David Price in the chest and bounced in the air, a line drive that had a chance to devastate the Tampa Bay Rays' playoff chances.

But Evan Longoria fielded the carom and threw to first for the out, Price stayed in the game and Tampa Bay beat the Red Sox, 8-5, Sunday to take three out of four from Boston and close within two games in the AL wild-card race.

The Red Sox have lost 11 of their last 14 and are now left rooting for the Yankees, who play the Rays seven times in Tampa Bay's last 10 games.

"To be able to do this against this team here, if that can't bolster your confidence, nothing really can," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Now it becomes more viable. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and now it's not attached to an oncoming train."

Tampa Bay already led 3-0 against a wild Tim Wakefield when Mike Aviles hit a hard shot up the middle and off the "Rays" logo below Price's right shoulder. The ball bounced toward third base for a 1-5-3 putout, and trainers went to the mound to look at Price.

After several minutes of examination, Price retired Adrian Gonzalez an inning-ending groundout. Price gave up Darnell McDonald's two-run double in the fourth that made it 4-2. Jake McGee (3-1) relieved and pitched 22/3 innings of relief for the win, and Joel Peralta pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Price went to Massachusetts General Hospital for tests, which were negative, and team spokesman Rick Vaughn said he would join the team at the station for the train ride to New York.

Tampa Bay, which trailed Boston by nine games on Sept. 3, closed within two games of the wild-card lead for the first time since June.