Manny Ramirez, center, and Mike Lowell, right, head back to the dugout after being greeted by J.D. Drew in the second inning after Lowell’s two-run homer.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — The high-flying Tampa Bay Rays, peering down at the rest of the American League East from an unaccustomed perch atop the standings, were handed a dose of reality by the defending World Series-champion Boston Red Sox last night.

The Red Sox absorbed a few body blows from the youthful Rays, but then they knocked out the upstarts, 7-4, courtesy of a four-run, sixth-inning flurry that wiped out a 4-3 Tampa Bay lead.

And Boston did its damage without its vaunted designated hitter, David Ortiz.

Big Papi is on the disabled list and will be out for quite a while because of an injury to his left wrist, but his teammates didn’t buckle under his absence, with the lineup from top to bottom making contributions to last night’s victory, which pulled the Sox to within one-half game of Tampa Bay.

Along the way, the Red Sox sent the upstart Rays a message — don’t give Boston any extra outs or other offensive gifts.

A hit-batsman and an error opened the door for the Red Sox in the decisive sixth, leading to Jason Varitek’s game-tying single up the middle, a tie-breaking two-run double by Coco Crisp and a sacrifice fly by Jacoby Ellsbury.

The rally stretched Boston’s home winning streak to 11 games and made a winner of Justin Masterson, thanks also in part to airtight relief from Craig Hansen and Jonathan Papelbon (17th save).

The rookie right-hander, called up from the minors for the third time for a big-league start, improved his record to 2-0, though he was tagged for a pair of homers and was on the hook for a loss until the Sox’ offense erupted in the sixth, improving their home record this season to an astounding 22-5.

“My performance was OK, but the team’s performance was great. The offense put a bunch of runs on the board,” said Masterson, who surrendered four runs last night after having given up only two earned runs over his first two outings, totaling 12 1/3 innings.

Anyone thinking the Red Sox’ offense would take a dive just because Ortiz is gone is mistaken, said J.D. Drew, who smacked a double and a homer.

“You have guys here who know their roles,” said Drew, who also made a couple of sterling catches in right field.

“You’ve got (Jacoby) Ellsbury and (Dustin) Pedroia in the top two spots, and Youk ( Kevin Youkilis) fits in the No. 3 hole and Manny (Ramirez) can slide into the DH spot. And there’s Mike Lowell, who hit a big two-run homer tonight (in the second). We’ll miss Papi for sure. But we’ve got a lot of guys who know how to hit in those situations,” said Drew.

Catcher Jason Varitek agreed that the rest of the Sox don’t have to try to become David Ortiz in an effort to replace his production.

“I can’t change because he’s out,” said Varitek. “You just have to keep doing what you do best.”

In the meantime, the Red Sox keep bringing up young pitchers from their farm system and they look like they belong, like they have been in the big leagues for years. From Jon Lester to Clay Buchholz to Masterson.

So while the Sox have Buchholz in the minors working on a few things in Pawtucket, Masterson will be around for at least another start or two, it would seem. Masterson did nothing to change the organization’s lofty expectations of him during his performance last night.

Not that it got off to a great start. Akinori Iwamura lofted his third pitch of the night, a changeup, just over the Green Monster in left-center, giving the Rays a quick 1-0 advantage.

Masterson, though, wasn’t fazed.

“You give up a leadoff homer, you can’t cripple up; you have to keep working with it,” said Masterson.

He did just that, rolling with a few ups and downs. Masterson’s slider was better than it had been in his previous two starts for Boston, but his changeup was up at times. Carlos Pena clouted another fat changeup for a two-run homer deep into the Rays’ bullpen that made it 4-3.

Pitching in Boston, in front of a packed house, hasn’t rattled the 23-year-old at all.

“It really is special to walk into this atmosphere three times now and show the same demeanor, the same mound presence each time while still staying within himself,” said pitching coach John Farrell.

“His linescore may not be as good (as his first two starts),” added Varitek, “but he threw the ball well. It was a good step for him.”

skrasner@projo.com