"Sean Rodriguez's eighth-inning foul popup that broke a stadium light and sent glass cascading onto the field was a sign it was going to be an unusual game Sunday that featured all zeroes until after 1:30 a.m.

So too was a wild 11th inning featuring three ejections that left the Rays operating, manager Joe Maddon said later, by "Politburo." Maddon was tossed during a pitching change as he continued to complain about a call, a red-clad fan for running onto the field, and Rays bench coach Dave Martinez for objecting to Marco Scutaro's dangerous bat fling after making the third out after the Sox loaded the bases on walks.

But that was all just the preamble for what was left of the Tropicana Field crowd of 21,504 and ESPN's national TV audience, as the Sox finally scored in the 16th inning to deal the Rays a cruel and frustrating 1-0 defeat.

"Probably the toughest loss of the year,'' Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton said.

"This one hurts,'' added DH Johnny Damon. "We definitely thought we were going to win this game.''

Dustin Pedroia's two-out single brought in Josh Reddick with the game's only run, after the Sox stranded 17. "Nobody holds us down for 16 innings,'' Sox manager Terry Francona cracked.

The rally, as it were, started when Adam Russell, the ninth Rays pitcher, walked Reddick to open the inning. Reddick went to second on a bunt, and third on an infield bouncer that got by shortstop Reid Brignac. After a fly out, Pedroia took an outside fastball to rightfield.

"Anytime you have a leadoff walk it's a recipe for disaster,'' Russell said. "It just can't happen. That late in the game, no.''

The Rays went quietly in the 16th against Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, Rodriguez striking out, Kelly Shoppach grounding out and Brignac grounding out to end it at 1:54 a.m.

At 5 hours, 44 minutes, it was the longest game in Rays history timewise, and matched the longest by innings. It also was the latest they ever played, surpassing Game 2 of 2008 ALCS, which ended at 1:35 a.m. "