BOSTON — Jason Bay thought a little funny about taking a curtain call last night.

His homer in the eighth inning off Tampa Bay’s Dan Wheeler gave the Red Sox a 4-3 lead, but Bay had other thoughts.

As the crowd roared, an uncertain Bay deliberated for a minute before stepping out to acknowledge the cheers.

“I’m not a real emotional guy,” said Bay. “But you get caught up in the moment. But I was thinking ‘It’s only the eighth inning — the game’s not over yet.’”

Indeed it wasn’t. Bay’s heroics were wiped out when closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up game-tying homer to Dan Johnson in the ninth and back-to-back doubles then gave the Rays a lead which held up, 5-4.

“It was a little awkward,” said Bay of the curtain call. “I think Mike Lowell was right in the middle of a pitch, so I was thinking, ‘Do I really want to step up here, now?’ ”

Ultimately Bay went to the top step and sheepishly tipped his cap before ducking back into the dugout.

“I’m not accustomed to it,” he said. “I might have had one or two (in Pittsburgh), but not of this magnitude.”

The homer was the third for Bay in as many games and it came off Wheeler, against whom Bay had been 1-for-18 in 20 previous career plate appearances. His one prior hit was also a homer, meaning Bay’s only two hits in 21 plate appearances against Wheeler have been home runs.

“I was well aware of my career numbers against Dan Wheeler,” said Bay. “He’s had my number over the years. I was just looking to put a ball in play and the inning going. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold up.”

Francona prescribes rest for Ellsbury

Red Sox rookie Jacoby Ellsbury also didn’t start last night, leaving Boston’s lineup with only one lefty, Mark Kotsay, who hit seventh. Manager Terry Francona said he debated whether to use Kotsay or Ellsbury in right field. Both have similar numbers, 2-for-7 and 2-for-9, respectively, against Scott Kazmir. Ellsbury has a minor quad problem, so it was decided to give him a rest for the second night in a row. Ellsbury entered the game in the ninth inning, pinch-running for Kotsay.

smcadam@projo.com