The Red Sox’ David Ortiz slides safely into third base after legging out a first-inning triple last night at Tropicana Field.

AP / Mike Carlson

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This shouldn’t have been a white-knuckler, not after the way the Boston Sox bolted out to an early five-run lead.

The last-place Tampa Bay Devil Rays, though, made it a game at Tropicana Field.

But in the end, the Red Sox prevailed, subduing the Rays, 8-6. Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon (30th save) combined to rack up the final seven outs as Boston improved to 2-0 on this season-long 10-game road trip.

The loss was pinned on Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnanstine, who was pitching against Boston for the second time in six days.

Last Wednesday’s game had been over for only a few minutes when the Red Sox’ Julio Lugo was asked for a critique of Sonnanstine, who, despite an earned-run average of 6.35, had blanked Boston for six innings at Fenway Park before being charged with three runs in the seventh of a Devil Rays’ win.

Lugo paused briefly.

“He was okay. He threw strikes,” said Lugo.

Clearly the Red Sox shortstop was not overly impressed with the right-hander.

So last night, Boston once again faced Sonnanstine, the Sox’ second look at the rookie.

And while familiarity may not have bred contempt, it certainly bred a barrage of base hits and runs early and often that eventually forced Sonnanstine to seek the shelter of the showers after only five innings.

Lugo’s contribution was a two-run double to left-center, capping a five-run outburst in the fourth that provided Jon Lester with a seemingly comfortable 7-2 cushion.

Lugo was by no means the Sox’ only masher. David Ortiz (triple) and Manny Ramirez (sacrifice fly) each delivered a run in the first inning. And after Tampa Bay had pulled even on Carlos Pena’s two-run jack in the bottom of the first, Boston assumed a big lead in the fourth, with Jason Varitek (RBI single) and Coco Crisp (two-run double inside the first-base bag) delivering key hits, setting up Lugo for his productive double.

The five-run lead should have been plenty against the lowly Rays, but Lester’s inconsistent command got him in trouble in the fifth. A looping single to center by Jonny Gomes on a 3-and-2 pitch, a walk to number-eight hitter Josh Wilson and a forceout put runners at first and third with two outs.

Lester fell behind Akinori Iwamura, Tampa Bay’s leadoff hitter. The count eventually went full. And then Iwamura stung Lester and the Sox by somehow getting on top of a high fastball that would have been ball four and lofting it to left-center for an opposite-field, three-run homer that sliced the Sox’ advantage to 7-5.

The Red Sox left-hander got out of the inning, but lasted only two more batters in the sixth, leaving with a runner on first (his fourth and final walk). Lester, who gave up only four hits and fanned four in his 5 1/3 innings, was bailed out by Manny Delcarmen, who shattered Brendan Harris’ bat with his first pitch for an inning-ending double play.

Each team gave up an unearned run in the seventh. Tampa Bay shortstop Wilson bobbled a routine inning-ending grounder, permitting a run to score, and Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia had a two-out liner go off his glove, gift-wrapping a run for the Rays, making it an 8-6 game.

Earlier, Ortiz had provided a couple of highlights with his legs.

The Sox’ burly hustled himself his triple in the first, barreling around second and sliding in safely to third ahead of a relay throw. He stayed on the base, hunched over, catching his breath as the Devil Rays had a meeting on the mound.

In the fourth, Ortiz set the five-run rally in motion by busting it down the first-base line on a swinging bunt to the third-base side of the mound, with Tampa Bay third baseman Iwamura playing shortstop in the Rays’ shift.

The chugging Ortiz beat the throw from Sonnanstine.

Clearly the day off Ortiz had here Monday helped his aching legs. Francona had approached Ortiz in Boston over the weekend, the two of them agreeing Monday night was a good night for Ortiz to take a rest.

“When he knows there’s (a scheduled day off) to shoot for, I think that helps him,” said Francona.

skrasner@projo.com