ST. PETERSBURG—Solo home runs by Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay in the fifth inning vaulted the Boston Red Sox back into the lead, 6-5, over the Rays tonight in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field.

The first two homers, by Pedroia and Youkilis, chased Rays starter Scott Kazmir. The third, by Bay, came off reliever Grant Balfour and set a new ALCS record for combined home runs in a game (seven).

The way this game has gone so far, that record may not last long. The seven combined homers also tied the all-time postseason record for a game.

Kazmir allowed five runs, all earned, in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 98 pitches while striking out two batters and walking three.

Boston starter Josh Beckett also had surrendered three home runs through four innings, the most he’s ever allowed in a postseason game.

Beckett, still bothered by a strained oblique muscle suffered late in the regular season, allowed nine earned runs in his first nine playoff innings. In his previous eight postseason appearances—seven of them starts—Beckett had given up just seven earned runs in 57 1/3 innings.