ST. PETERSBURG – tore into the third pitch of Friday night’s game at Tropicana Field, perhaps making a Statcast-projected 438-foot statement into a short porch in right-center field that his slump is over.

For good measure, the 22-year-old stepped up an inning later and came up with his first career hit in 11 plate appearances with the bases loaded, bashing a two-run single to right.

It was Anthony leading the offense as the Sox (84-70) pushed closer to punching their ticket to the postseason with a 4-2 victory over the Rays, who have an American League-best 93-60 record and came into this one with a six-game winning streak.

While Anthony swung a hot bat in his first four games back from the injured list, his next 12 games entering Friday went like this: a slash line of .137/.214/.296 with one extra-base hit in 56 plate appearances.

From the mound, Ranger Suarez (8-4, 3.27 ERA) turned in his third consecutive solid start, despite issuing a career-high five walks. The lefty worked around the trouble he created, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out five over 5 2/3 innings and 98 pitches (56 strikes).

Wyatt Olds, who has gone from an unheralded callup to a key bullpen piece of late, walked the first two batters he faced when he came on for Suarez, but he escaped by striking out pinch-hitter Jake Fraley.

Greg Weissert came through with two big innings, working around one hit.