BOSTON — The Tampa Bay Rays used three home runs to overpower Boston left-hander Jon Lester, knocking him from the game after four innings on their way to a 7-4 win over the Red Sox.

Matt Joyce had the big blow for Tampa Bay, a grand slam into the Red Sox bullpen with two outs in the third inning. Joyce's blast scored Carlos Pena, who walked, B.J. Upton, who singled, and Ben Zobrist who also walked.

The Rays came back the following inning with a two-run shot by Elliot Johnson, scoring Chris Gimenez. Carlos Pena, the next batter, hit a solo home run into the right field seats.

The Red Sox got on the board early, when Kevin Youkilis' first-inning single scored Mike Aviles, who reached on an error by third baseman Drew Sutton and stole second.

The Sox added another run in the fifth when Scott Podsednik singled, stole second and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's double off the wall in left field, cutting the Rays' lead to 7-2.

Despite a 1-2-3 first inning and an early one-run lead, Lester was shaky from there. He gave up seven runs on six hits, walking three and striking out four. In nine previous starts this season, spanning 57 innings, he had given up just four home runs. In his previous three outings, spanning 20 innings, he had given up just two walks.

Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, making his 11th major league start, held the Sox to two runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings.

Boston got two more runs in the sixth when Tampa Bay sent three relievers to the mound. Left-hander J.P Howell walked Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Daniel Nava, the only two batters he faced, to open the inning. Saltalamacchia scored on Marlon Byrd's single to center off Burke Badenhop, and Nava scored on Mike Aviles' sacrifice fly. Badenhop was done after he hit Dustin Pedroia with a pitch. Left-hander Jake McGee ended the threat by retiring David Ortiz on a flyout to right.

The benches emptied when Red Sox left-hander Franklin Morales hit Luke Scott with a pitch with two outs and none on in the ninth. Morales also hit Will Rhymes with a pitch last week in Tampa Bay.

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Notes: Rays outfielder Brandon Guyer, who has been on the disabled list retroactive to May 13 with a left shoulder strain, needs surgery and will be out for the season, manager Joe Maddon said. Guyer has a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder and is expected to have surgery next week. ... Tampa Bay outfielder Desmond Jennings, on the DL retroactive to May 12 with a left knee sprain, could go on a rehab assignment by the middle of next week. . ... Maddon said outfielder Hideki Matsui, who signed a minor league contract April 30, “is not quite ready” to join the major league team. Matsui is batting .189 (7-for-37) in 10 games for Class AAA Durham after going 3-for-4 Thursday. ...Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald, on the DL retroactive to May 12 with a right oblique strain, began a rehab assignment Friday with Class AAA Pawtucket. He went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI. ... Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to begin his second rehab assignment Saturday with Pawtucket as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery performed last June. He had already been on a rehab assignment but was called back from it when his right trapezius muscle bothered him.