Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Josh Beckett worked six effective innings, as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-1, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

Beckett (6-4) surrendered just one run, fanning five without issuing a walk to earn the victory, Boston's second straight and fifth in its last six.

J.D. Drew, batting third in place of the injured David Ortiz, was 2-for-3, scoring twice with a run batted in and Kevin Youkilis added two hits, scoring once with an RBI.

Manny Ramirez served as designated hitter in Ortiz's absence and had an RBI single.

The victory helped propel the Red Sox past Tampa into first place by a half- game and was the 12th in a row at Fenway Park, where the Sox haven't lost since May 1.

"He was pretty good," Sox skipper Terry Francona said of Beckett. "Not always as crisp as we've seen but we did see the side of Beckett competing and not giving in. I think he got frustrated a few times not making pitches, or not following it up with another pitch, but he was good enough."

Edwin Jackson (3-5) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while retiring four on strikes in taking the loss for Tampa, which dropped its second straight after a three-game win streak.

Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske had two hits apiece in the loss with Hinske driving in Longoria for Tampa's only run.

"We're playing a very good team," Rays manager Joe Maddon explained. "We have not done well here this year. And we have to do well here to end up in first place. You just can't do it any other way."

Boston got to Jackson for three runs in the third. Coco Crisp led off with a single to right for Boston's first hit of the game and moved to second on a groundout. Jacoby Ellsbury singled back up the middle to plate Crisp, and Drew poked a ground-rule double to right scoring Ellsbury. Ramirez followed with another single back up the middle, giving the Sox a 3-0 lead.

The teams traded runs in the fourth. Longoria ripped a one-out double and scored on a Hinske line-single, and Boston put up a run on a Crisp sacrifice fly.

The Sox added an insurance run in the seventh. Drew singled, stole second and scored on a Youkilis RBI single.