ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Curt Schilling allowed one run in seven innings, and Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-1 Wednesday night.

Schilling (5-3) gave up five hits, walked one and struck out five. With 2,603 strikeouts, he moved within seven tying Chuck Finley for 19th on the career list.

Johnny Damon also homered for AL East-leading Boston, which has outhomered opponents 50-25 this season.

Keith Foulke got four outs for his eighth save in as many chances. With runners at the corners in the eighth, he relieved Alan Embree, fell behind in the count 3-2, then retired pinch-hitter Jose Cruz Jr. on an inning-ending grounder.

Tino Martinez had an RBI double for the Devil Rays, who have lost five straight and 12 of 13. Tampa Bay, a major league-worst 10-28, is 0-5 against the Red Sox this season, getting outscored 28-7.

Damon hit a solo homer and Ramirez had a two-run shot that made it 4-1 in the third. Ramirez’s drive to center was his 356th career homer, which moved him past Greg Vaughn into 63rd on the career list, two behind Yogi Berra.

Damon was in the lineup one day after being hit in the neck and having his helmet knocked off at second base by shortstop Julio Lugo, who was running after a loose ball.

Schilling retired 10 straight before allowing Toby Hall’s single and Carl Crawford’s double with one out in the fifth. He preserved a 4-1 lead by retiring Rocco Baldelli and Aubrey Huff on grounders.

David Ortiz put the Red Sox up 1-0 with a sacrifice fly in the first. Tampa Bay tied it on Martinez’s double in the bottom half.

Tampa Bay’s Rob Bell (0-1), making his first start this season, gave up four runs and five hits in five innings. He was called up from Triple-A Durham before the game.

Notes: The game was delayed six minutes before the bottom of third so the ground crew – apparently at Schilling’s request – could work on the mound. … Schilling became the 20th pitcher to reach 2,600 strikeouts when he struck out Huff in the third.

. … Ramirez has reached base safely in 17 straight games. He is 8-for-15 with three homers against Bell. … Tampa Bay 2B Geoff Blum stole second base in the second. The Devil Rays have been successful in their last 16 stolen-base attempts.

AP-ES-05-19-04 2206EDT