ST. PETERSBURG—Shaken by Boston’s three home run onslaught in the top of the fifth? Hardly.

The Rays stormed back with consecutive RBI hits by Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead, 8-6, tonight in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field.

Pena singled to score B.J. Upton, who walked and stole second base. Pena took second on the throw home to try and catch the fleet Upton, then scored himself on a long double into the left field corner by Longoria. Once again, the throw went to home plate and this time it was Longoria who advanced to third, clapping and pumping his fists in front of the Boston dugout.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona finally pulled starter Josh Beckett from the worst postseason performance of his career (see previous post), but Carl Crawford greeted Red Sox reliever Javier Lopez with a single to right that scored Longoria and made the score 8-6, Rays.

Beckett departed after allowing eight runs, all earned, in 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts, one walk and a postseason-worst three home runs allowed.