ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David Ortiz went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs, and Josh Beckett became the majors' first 20-game winner as Boston topped Tampa Bay 8-1 in the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

Beckett (20-6) allowed four hits and a run, striking out eight and walking two over six strong innings. He is the first pitcher in either league to reach the 20-win plateau since the 2005 season, and reached 20 wins for the first time in his career.

"Twenty wins, it means a lot," noted Beckett. "A lot of hard work from different people. They pick me up on days when I am not 100 percent. It takes a lot of people to win that many games."

The hard-throwing right-hander won his fourth consecutive start, and improved to 7-1 in his last nine outings.

"To win 20, he has been on a pretty good roll all year," said Sox manager Terry Francona of Beckett. "He used all his pitches and he didn't stray from his game plan. He only got stronger as the game went on."

Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek each hit solo homers for the Red Sox, who snapped a four-game losing streak and saw their lead in the AL East over the Yankees increase to 2 1/2 games after the Yankees fell to the Blue Jays 5-4 in 14 innings late Friday.

Rays starter Scott Kazmir (13-9), fresh off his AL co-player-of-the-week honor, gave up just four hits and three runs -- two earned -- over five frames with nine strikeouts in the loss. He did walk four and hit two batters.

"He had a good fastball again," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "He gave up three runs -- one of which was a wild pitch, one of which was an error. He gave us a great chance to win and he pitched very well."

Delmon Young drove in the only run of the game for the D-Rays, who have lost four straight.