ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The night wasn't a total disaster for the Boston Red Sox despite the 8-5 setback they suffered to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last night at Tropicana Field.

There were some positives to take out of the loss.

David Wells gave up five runs, only one of which was earned, in six innings, showing better command of his pitches than he had in his first start off the disabled list, an eight-run pounding he absorbed last Monday night. Maybe, just maybe, he can make a significant contribution to the injury-wracked rotation down the stretch.

There were the nightly offensive rockets sizzled by the team's dynamic duo of David Ortiz (108th RBI) and Manny Ramirez (31st homer, 2 RBI), not to mention a deftly placed bunt single by Ortiz that beat Tampa manager Joe Maddon's unconventional and possibly mistimed shift.

Ortiz and Ramirez each went 2-for-2 over the final two innings as the Sox tried frantically to claw back from 5-2 and 8-4 deficits.

Center fielder Coco Crisp contributed a dazzling running catch in deep center as well as a pair of doubles and an RBI.

And Mark Loretta went 3-for-5, his last hit, a double in the ninth, igniting a rally that fizzled when new catcher Javy Lopez bounced into a game-ending bases-loaded double play on the first pitch of the at-bat from shaky closer Brian Meadows.

It's hard to feel positive, though, when the final result not only is a loss, but a failed chance to pull into a virtual tie for first place in the American League East with the New York Yankees, who also were beaten yesterday.

Boston fell to 3-6 on the road against the last-place Devil Rays this season because of several negative moments. Ortiz, playing first base with Ramirez getting a rest from the turf and serving as the designated hitter, bobbled a ball in the fourth inning, opening the door to a four-run flurry by Tampa Bay.

Wells wasn't able to stop the bleeding in the inning, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk after getting two outs with the game tied at 1-1.

After the Sox had pulled to within a run, at 5-4, in the eighth on Ramirez's 31st homer, which stretched his hitting streak to a career-high 21 games, Craig Hansen was lit up for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Josh Paul had the big hit, a double over the head of right fielder Gabe Kapler, with Paul scoring on a sacrifice fly.

Consecutive hits by Loretta, Ortiz and Ramirez and a walk to Kevin Youkilis put the Sox in position for yet another stirring comeback. But Boston, which had won three of its previous seven games in its final at-bat, was put away on Lopez's double-play grounder.

"That one inning [the fourth] was a crucial inning," said manager Terry Francona. "We gave them an extra out and that comes back to haunt you. Then we couldn't close it out in the eighth. We came back, but they spread it out too much."

Paul's liner off Hansen, which followed a single by Greg Norton (3-for-4, including a solo homer), a stolen base and a walk, ultimately proved pivotal. Kapler may have taken a half-step in on the ball, but he could never have caught up to it anyway because of his positioning.

"It was a conscious decision to be playing him shallow, the reason being we were down a run and there was a runner at second base. I wanted to be able to make sure nothing fell in front of me and to give myself a chance to charge a ball and throw [the runner] out at the plate. I wanted to make him beat me with a ball over my head," said Kapler.

"He beat me over my head. He hit it well," said Kapler.

"He left that pitch out over the plate," said Francona of Hansen, the rookie right-hander who has been struggling lately. "But we can't forget he's just a kid and there's been a lot more good [from Hansen than bad]."

The Sox' offense tried to overcome Hansen's rocky inning. It was all set up for Lopez, acquired only the day before from Baltimore, to be a hero.

But instead, it was one pitch, one swing, a double play and good night for the Red Sox.

"They were working the same pattern with me, the first pitch was a strike and I was taking it," said Lopez, who went 0-for-5, including three grounders to short, and is 0-for-9 with two double plays in his two games for Boston.

"They were throwing every pitch down the middle. This one came down the middle. It was a good pitch to hit, a pitch I wanted to hit. I hit it well but it went to shortstop again. I'm like, 'Oh, no that can't happen again.' " said Lopez.

He sighed.

"Tomorrow's another day," said Lopez.

The Sox, meanwhile, will be happy to take more outings like last night's from Wells. Boomer sailed through the first three innings, retiring the first nine batters on only 33 pitches, racking up three strikeouts. He was nicked for the four runs on five singles, three of which were banged up the middle, in the fourth and Norton's homer.

Still, not feeling well because of sinus issues, Francona tried his best to take something positive out of the night.

"His pitch count got up high, but the first three innings, he threw well. He was throwing his fastball by people. We gave them that free out in the fourth and they got some hits, but I was very encouraged," said Francona.

"We need him to [pitch like that]. As long as his knee's fine, he'll do fine," said Francona.

Last night, that was about the best news that could be found.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340