Rays-Red Sox Game Suspended With Score Tied 1-1

Then the rain turned into a downpour and they had to wait one more day to find out whose team would win.

Friday night's game between the Red Sox and Rays was suspended after 81/2 innings with the score tied 1-1. It was set to resume before the scheduled game Saturday night, when more rain was expected.

"It's kind of a unique feeling," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I could give you all the quotes for (Saturday) because we're going to feel one way or the other. We just don't know what it is yet."

The Rays scored in the third on Ben Zobrist's RBI single and the Red Sox tied it in the fifth on Jason Varitek's third homer - and third hit - of the season.

With heavy rain falling and two outs in the top of the ninth, Carlos Pena walked against Jonathan Papelbon and stole second. But B.J. Upton struck out swinging. Then the grounds crew rolled the tarp onto the already soaked field. The suspension was announced an hour later.

"I was fine with the call," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It was getting bad."

Both starters were outstanding despite a game-time temperature of 41 degrees. Beckett allowed an unearned run with four hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.

"I actually enjoy the cooler weather," he said. "Obviously, the rain's not ideal for the people playing behind me."

Davis gave up one run on two hits with four strikeouts and four walks in five innings.

"He gave us a great shot to win the game, but the other guy was pitching a gem," Pena said. "It's not the kind of weather you envision when you're playing baseball."

The Rays, off to the best start in club history at 6-3, went ahead with the help of two misplays. Beckett retired the first two batters in the third before Carl Crawford reached on an error by shortstop Marco Scutaro, who let a hard grounder get by him. Crawford then stole second, his 28th straight successful attempt against the Red Sox.

Zobrist followed with a blooper in front of third baseman Adrian Beltre, who lost the ball in the lights. Zobrist was credited with a single and Crawford scored.

"You could see him fighting it the whole way," Francona said.

Boston tied it when Varitek, playing only his second game while starting catcher Victor Martinez rested, hit an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall.

Grant Balfour replaced Davis to start the sixth and immediately ran into trouble. Kevin Youkilis walked before David Ortiz doubled down the right field line. Youkilis was waved home by third-base coach Tim Bogar and thrown out on a relay to catcher Dioner Navarro.

"In a game where you're not scoring, you want to get the run. We knew the rain's coming," Francona said. "The conditions, the ball's wet, there's a lot of reasons to go ahead and send him."

Ortiz did reach third on a groundout by Beltre but was stranded when Jeremy Hermida struck out. Ortiz entered the game at 4 for 26 with 13 strikeouts and fanned in his first two at-bats before his double.

The Rays wasted an opportunity in the top of the fifth. Reid Brignac doubled and Navarro struck out. Jason Bartlett then lined out to Scutaro, who threw to second baseman Dustin Pedroia to double Brignac off second.