Josh Reddick drew a walk off Adam Russell (1-2) to start the 16th inning. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jason Varitek and an infield single by Marco Scutaro.
Pedroia, who was 3 for 7, then delivered a line drive to right.
“I just wanted to go home,” Pedroia said. “I was beat up, I’m sure everyone else was, too. It’s a great win for us.”
Alfredo Aceves (5-1) threw three no-hit innings for the win. Jonathan Papelbon finished off the Rays for his 21st save.
“I was actually starving,” said Aceves, who went straight from the field to the clubhouse kitchen for some chicken and shrimp. “I was dying of hunger.”
Josh Beckett was nearly perfect for eight innings, allowing only an infield single. Five relievers followed and were nearly as good as the Sox allowed only three hits and struck out 13 with one walk.
“I actually looked over at [Jon] Lester when I came out and I was like, ‘Man, this is a fun game.’ I didn’t realize then it was going to go that long,” Beckett said. “It was fun to be in a game like that.”
The Red Sox were held to five hits, but drew 12 walks. They left 17 runners on base.
It was the longest game in Rays history.
According to Beckett, Pedroia now has a new nickname.
“We don’t even know his name any more. He’s now the Muddy Chicken,” the righthander said. “The Muddy Chicken was definitely the player of the game. He got it done when we absolutely needed it.”
Said Pedroia: “That sounds awesome, doesn’t it? … But I don’t make up my own nicknames.”
Pedroia extended his hit streak to 15 games, two shy of his career high. He has reached base safely in 27 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.
The Sox missed numerous chances to score earlier in the game.
They left two runners on in the 15th inning, the bases loaded in the 11th and two on in the 10th. They also left the bases loaded in the ninth.
“Fortunately it didn’t cost us the game,” Francona said.
