Deep down, the Red Sox knew they weren't going to sweep the Rays at Tropicana Field. And even though they tied last night's game at 5 in the eighth, it's hard to make the case that they blew it.

The resilient Rays rallied with three in the bottom of the eighth against relievers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen. Tampa Bay wins these kinds of games all the time.

Shrug.

``It's not as frustrating as leading the whole game and having it grabbed away,'' said left fielder Jason Bay. ``We hit the ball fairly well off a good pitcher. It's one of those where they just played a little better. It wasn't a giveaway or anything. It's just a loss.''

It doesn't change where the Red Sox are in the standings, or how firmly they've taken control of the wild card race over the last 10 days. After losing to the Yankees on Aug. 23, the Red Sox only led the Texas Rangers by a game.

But in winning seven out of nine since, they've opened a 2 1/2-game lead on Texas and a five-game bulge on the Rays. With the easiest portion of their schedule beckoning, they're in good shape and they know it.

So they're not going to get too broken up about losing a game they didn't necessarily deserve to win after Josh Beckett submitted another middling start, clutch hits were in short supply and the bullpen imploded.

``They play us tough and I think, selfishly, we knew that (Tuesday) night's win was kind of a safety net,'' Bay said. ``We knew the worst we could do is leave here giving up one game in the standings. Everyone can say what they want, but that's a good team and they always play us tough. This is a little reminder that it ain't over yet, but we still like the spot we're in.''

Beckett didn't have his best stuff over the first three innings, allowing five runs and a pair of homers. But he retired 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced while gutting through six innings that kept the Sox from using Saturday's starter, Junichi Tazawa, in long relief.

``To his credit, we were looking at a long night,'' said Sox manager Terry Francona. ``He reeled it back in and pitched.''

The Red Sox trailed 5-1 before rallying with two in the fourth and one in the seventh on Victor Martinez' two-out RBI single. The Rays then walked the bases full in the eighth before closer J.P. Howell wild-pitched in the tying run.

But Howell bore down to strike out Alex Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury, and then the Rays rallied.

Quickly.

Carlos Pena greeted Ramirez with a double to right. Pat Burrell laced the go-ahead single to right. In came Delcarmen and out went Evan Longoria's 26th homer, a titanic, 423-foot shot to left. ``You battle back to get that run and tie it up, and in a matter of two minutes and two swings, they're on top,'' Bay said. ``Another swing two minutes later and it was a three-run lead. It all happened fairly quick. There wasn't even a lot of time to lament it.''

The Red Sox had a chance to knock the Rays into 2010, but Tampa lives to fight another day. These things happen.

``It was a good game,'' said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. ``We go out and win tomorrow and (we're) right back where we were. We're all right.''

- jtomase@bostonherald.com