ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Kevin Millar 's solo homer in the top of the 16th inning lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 9-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays .

There was one out when Millar slugged a 1-2 pitch from Jorge Sosa (0-1) over the left field wall for his first homer of the season.

"I was just looking for something out over the plate that I could get a hold of," Millar said. "It seemed like he was throwing BBs. I got a slider and got my hands out and got a hold of it."

The Devil Rays had plenty of opportunities to secure the victory, getting the potential winning run in scoring position six different times after the eighth inning.

Tampa Bay's best chance came with two outs in the 12th, when Travis Lee was tagged out at the plate in a violent collision with Red Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli , who left the game with a sprained right ankle.

"We played hard and battled," Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said. "We just didn't get a hit when we needed it. ... I had a feeling this game was going to be won by a home run. When you play that long, it usually is."

Boston failed to score the go-ahead run in the 15th, when Trot Nixon was tagged out at the plate following a strong throw by rookie Rocco Baldelli .

"It's always the toughest," Red Sox manager Grady Little said of their first victory of the season. "I don't think it gets any tougher than this. ... When you play that long, you get a lot of action. Luckily, we came out on top."

Boston reliever Brandon Lyon (1-0) gave up just two hits in three scoreless innings to record the win.

The Devil Rays were trailing by three when shortstop Rey Ordonez - a career .257 hitter - doubled home a run in the sixth and then connected on a two-run homer down the left field line off Bob Howry in the eighth to tie the game, 8-8.

Ordonez matched his career high with four RBI.

Howry was replaced by Ramiro Mendoza , who combined with Alan Embree , Steve Woodard and Lyon to allow eight hits in 8 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

"They were outstanding in the extra-inning work," Little said. "This is a new process. It's a learning process where everyone gets an opportunity. After everyone gets the first games under their belts, you'll see new guys out there."

Tampa Bay's bullpen also had a strong showing. Travis Harper , Lance Carter and Mike Venafro yielded just a hit in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

"It was a long ballgame," Piniella said. "Both teams used just about every available pitcher they had. ... We need some innings (on Wednesday). I think they do, too."

Sosa also tossed a pair of scoreless frames before giving up the homer in the 16th.

The game marked the longest in terms of innings played in Devil Rays ' history and was just one minute shy of Tampa Bay's five-hour, 16-minute marathon against Baltimore on August 4, 2000.

Aubrey Huff doubled to lead off the bottom of the 10th, but he was tagged out trying for third on Travis Lee 's grounder back to the mound.

Manny Ramirez singled to lead off the 12th for the Red Sox . He was replaced by pinch runner Damian Jackson , who stole second and advanced to third when David Ortiz flied out to left-center field. Shea Hillenbrand grounded out to first with the infield in and, after Jeremy Giambi was hit by a pitch, Nixon flied out to deep center field.

Baldelli's infield single with two outs in the 13th loaded the bases, but Huff flied out to left.

Millar reached third with two outs in the 14th, but Giambi fouled out to the catcher.