ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Tim Wakefield continued his dominance over Tampa Bay, allowing four hits over seven innings as the Boston Red Sox blanked the Devil Rays 6-0 on Monday night.

Wakefield improved to 19-2 – including a 9-0 mark at Tropicana Field – all-time against the Devil Rays. It’s the most wins by any Tampa Bay opponent. Wakefield (15-10) struck out five and walked one, and moved into a tie for the major league lead in wins this season.

The knuckleballer has a decision in all of his 25 starts, the first to reach that number since Jack McDowell posted decisions in his first 27 starts with the Chicago White Sox in 1993.

The Devil Rays lost for the sixth time in eight games and fell to 47-77, two games worse than they were at this time last year.

Mike Lowell had a homer and drove in three runs, and Manny Ramirez had two RBIs for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who are 11-8 in August. Ramirez has 39 RBIs in 38 games since the All-Star break.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz sat out. Red Sox manager Terry Francona is looking to give his regulars a day off, and the fact Ortiz is hitting .147 (5-for-34, one homer) against Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir was one factor in the decision.

“With David, it made more sense today,” Francona said. “We’re trying to piece it together where you don’t go too far with a player and get him a day off.”

Ramirez replaced Ortiz as the DH. Francona said Ramirez, the regular left fielder, might get Wednesday’s game off.

Lowell put the Red Sox up 2-0 on a two-run double in the first. His solo homer off Kazmir (9-8) extended the Boston lead to 6-0 in the fifth.

The blast ended Kazmir’s stretch of not allowing a homer in nine straight starts.

Dustin Pedroia drove in a run with a single and Ramirez hit a two-run single to make it 5-0 in the second. Ramirez had just five hits in 37 at-bats against Kazmir before his hit during the second.

Notes: Wakefield has won all four of his starts this season against Tampa Bay. … Ramirez, with 1,600 RBIs, moved past Nap Lajoie into 28th place all-time. … Kazmir struck out eight and walked four during his 108-pitch outing. He has 176 strikeouts this season, which broke the team record of 174 he set in 2005. … Red Sox RHP Matt Clement (right shoulder surgery) threw 50 pitches off a bullpen mound and could pitch in instructional league games next month.