Tampa Bay 6, Boston 5

The footsteps are getting louder and more ominous for the Boston Red Sox.

Desmond Jennings led of the 11th inning with a triple that landed between outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Darnell McDonald and scored on a walk-off single by Evan Longoria as host Tampa Bay edged Boston 6-5 to cut their wild-card lead down to 4½ games Saturday night.

The Red Sox have lost eight of their last 10 games and watched the Rays edge closer to a playoff berth. Boston remained 2 1/2 games behind first-place New York in the AL East.

Boston tied the game in the ninth inning in dramatic fashion as Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury belted back-to-back homers off Tampa Bay closer Kyle Farnsworth. But Longoria won it with a solid single to center field off loser Daniel Bard (2-7).

Brandon Gomes (2-1) picked up the win in relief for the Rays, who have won the first two games of a three-game set. Tampa Bay also plays Boston four times next week.

Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez belted a two-run homer, his 25th, to tie the game at 3-3. Casey Kotchman gave the Rays a quick response with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

Boston played without Kevin Youkilis for the second straight night. Despite reports that Youkilis might have a sports hernia, Boston said he has bursitis and may return for Sunday’s game.

• Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against Boston. The Rays have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .578 after a loss.
• Boston will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Red Sox have a W/L % of .628 after a win and .525 after a loss.