Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton receives congratulations at home plate after his three-run homer drives in Akinori Iwamura, left, and Jason Bartlett in the fourth inning of Game Three yesterday.

The Providence Journal / MARY MURPHY

BOSTON — Move aside, Big Papi. Make way for Evan and B.J.

While the Red Sox’ David Ortiz continues to search for his first hit in the American League’s Championship Series, the Tampa Bay Ray’s young sluggers are stealing the show.

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton both hit homers for the second straight game to help the Rays to a convincing 9-1 win in Game Three at Fenway Park. Cumberland’s Rocco Baldelli and Carlos Pena also homered as the Rays battered Sox pitchers Jon Lester and Paul Byrd and grabbed a 2-1 series lead.

“We knew we needed to get at least one here in Boston and now we have a chance to get a couple more. We’re looking forward to it,” said Upton, who is hitting .308 with two home runs and five RBI in the three games.

While the Red Sox appear creaky and tired, the Rays are playing with a youthful skill and aplomb that belies their age. These critical differences are best illustrated by the play of both team’s stars. Ortiz, the lone thumper in the middle of the Sox’ lineup, is 0-for-10 in the series but he’s not alone in the struggling department. Leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury can’t get out of his own way, forget about on base. He’s 0-for-14. Captain Jason Varitek is 0-for-10.

Contrast those struggles with Tampa’s two premier young stars. Upton, 24, delivered the most dynamic swing of the series last night when he crushed a third inning, three-run home run well over the Monster Seats in left-center. Two batters later, Longoria, 22, took Lester deep to center for another homer and a 5-0 lead.

“B.J.’s homer was huge. That one swing really changed the momentum of the game,” said the Rays’ Carl Crawford. “Everyone was lit up in the dugout.”

That feeling was mutual in the bullpen in right as well.

“A lot of stress leaves you when that happens,” said reliever J.P. Howell. “You’re thinking you’ll have to come into a one-run game or a tie. To have a four or five-run lead is just huge.”

The 5-0 lead proved to be more than enough for hard-throwing starter Matt Garza. The righty owns a fastball that routinely tips 95 mph and his game plan was quite simple and direct. “Stay hard and make them hit my fastball. Make them beat my best pitch,” he said.

It never happened. The Red Sox moved only four runners into scoring position all night. Garza struck out only five Red Sox but kept them off-balance with an over-powering fastball throughout his 116-pitch, six-inning outing.

“He didn’t try to do too much. He’s going to challenge hitters and he did that all game,” said catcher Dioner Navarro.

Longoria and Upton have combined to hit 9 homers this postseason, the most ever by a pair of teammates under the age of 25. The previous was six set by Darryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra in 1986.

Upton said he did not see where his homer flew over the wall but was thrilled to hear from his teammates that it settled somewhere beyond Landsdowne Street.

Upton says that two September wins over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, both of which came in the late innings, have helped the team’s psyche in this series. The wins were the first for several Rays’ players in Boston.

“It did everything for our confidence. I think this was the only place that we hadn’t won,” said Upton. “Joe [Maddon] told us that in order to be where we want to be we’re going to have to learn how to win in Fenway. We took those two late in September and there wasn’t any doubt this time.”

While the Rays have a firm grasp on the series, they spoke of only being halfway to where they need to be. Grabbing two more wins will be difficult, especially if players such as Ortiz and Ellsbury wake up.

“It’s just a couple games,” said Maddon. “This guy [David] Ortiz, I have so much respect for him. Over the last 20, 30 years, he’s done as much as a clutch hitter as anyone I’ve seen. You can’t ever, ever take him for granted and we are not.”

kmcnamar@projo.com