BOSTON — B.J. Upton and the Tampa Bay Rays played the bumbling Boston Red Sox at the perfect time.

Upton capped a five-run third inning with a three-run homer and Tampa Bay completed a four-game sweep of the Red Sox with an 8-2 victory yesterday in the annual Patriots Day game.

The Rays won their seventh in a row, all on the road, and matched the team record for the longest winning streak away from Tropicana Field in one season. Tampa Bay (10-3) completed its first sweep at Fenway Park in a series of three or more games.

"We've got 5 1/2 more months of baseball to play, so a lot can happen in between that time. We just got to keep doing the things we're doing, keep our head straight, do a lot of little things right and I think the rest will take care of itself," Upton said.

Playing on the morning of the Boston Marathon, the Red Sox lost their sixth straight at home, their longest losing streak at Fenway since a 12-game skid in 1994. Boston (4-9) finished 0 for 30 with runners in scoring position during the series, with Jeremy Hermida's two-run homer the only runs in the finale.

"It's kind of weird," Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez said. "Nothing is going our way. Every team we play, it keeps falling their way."

Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann (1-0) pitched seven sharp innings, giving up two runs and five hits.

Boston's John Lackey (1-1) allowed eight runs and nine hits in only 3 1/3 innings.

Mariners 8, Orioles 2: Doug Fister took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Ken Griffey Jr. and Casey Kotchman combined to drive in five runs and host Seattle beat Baltimore. Fister (2-1) retired 16 batters in a row at one point before Nick Markakis opened the seventh with a single to center.

Angels 2, Tigers 0: Joel Pineiro pitched into the eighth inning for host Los Angeles and Fernando Rodney got the save against his former team. Pineiro (2-1) allowed nine hits in 7 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked none.

Blue Jays 8, Royals 1: Jose Bautista hit two home runs and Brandon Morrow pitched seven innings for host Toronto. Morrow (1-1) allowed one run and three hits. He walked two and struck out eight.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2: Matt Holliday went 3 for 5 with his fourth home run of the season, and Brad Penny had his third strong outing for visiting St. Louis. Penny (2-0) threw six scoreless innings after Arizona scored twice in the first.

Nationals 5, Rockies 2: Willie Harris hit a homer and drove in four runs and Craig Stammen pitched eight strong innings for host Washington. Stammen (1-0) allowed two runs and five hits.

PADRES 3, GIANTS 2: David Eckstein homered in the bottom of the 10th inning to give host San Diego its fifth straight win. Eckstein's leadoff shot against Jeremy Affeldt (2-2) just made it inside the left-field foul pole.

Mets 6, Cubs 1: Angel Pagan hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning for host New York. Mets top prospect Ike Davis, a first baseman, had an RBI single in his debut.

NOTES

Rays: Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon has been told he can't wear his hoodie. Maddon likes to put on his favorite pullover during cold days at the ballpark. But MLB says the hoodie is not approved for use during games.

Indians: Cleveland has optioned outfielder Michael Brantley to Triple-A Columbus so it can activate first baseman Russell Branyan.

Phillies: Philadelphia pitcher J.A. Happ will miss his next start because of a sore left elbow. He was scheduled to pitch tomorrow against Atlanta.