ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was only a week into spring training when new Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers watched Xander Bogaerts taking batting practice and knew something had changed.

Bogaerts was driving the ball into the gaps with seemingly every other swing. There was a purpose to what he was doing.

“Xander had the right goals,’’ Hyers said. “I had talked to him a couple of times before spring training and the things he wanted to do and the adjustments he wanted to make, I couldn’t have said it better.’’

Bogaerts asked for guidance in how to accomplish that, but the framework was there. Working with the coaches, he modified his stance to feel stronger in his lower half so he could generate more power through the hips.

That allowed him to more easily get the ball in the air, something Hyers helped emphasize by showing Bogaerts video of the aggressive swing he had as a hot-shot Double A prospect in 2012 and ’13.

That Bogaerts could grip the bat how he wanted helped, too. He played the second half of last season with a badly bruised right hand after he was hit by a pitch on July 6. He hit .232 after the injury with scant power.

Bogaerts too often took pitches down the middle and when he did make contact, the ball usually stayed on the ground.

“We don’t ever know how that affects a player,’’ Hyers said. “I was injured a couple of times as a player and you do some things not to feel the pain when you swing.’’

Once the season started, the line drives Hyers watched in batting practice have been showing up in games. Bogaerts had three more hits on Saturday night as the Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2.

Bogaerts homered in the second inning and had an RBI double in the sixth. He is 8 of 12 with five doubles, a home run, and four runs scored in the first three games.

“It’s just working. . . . I just try to come in and do the same thing every day and be consistent,’’ Bogaerts said. “Be consistent, that’s what I’m trying to do this season a little bit better.’’

According to Elias Sports, Bogaerts is the second player since at least 1908 to record multiple extra-base hits in the first three games of a season. Adrian Gonzalez did it in 2015 with the Dodgers.

“It’s pretty fun to watch right now,’’ said Rick Porcello, who allowed one run over 5⅓ innings for the win. “I don’t want to jinx him. Just keep doing you’re doing. He’s himself right now.’’

For all his offense, Bogaerts saved the game with his glove.

With speedy Mallex Smith at first base and no outs in the bottom of the ninth, C.J. Cron hit a low line drive his way. Bogaerts briefly considered dropping the ball on purpose to start a double play.

But he talked himself out of that.

“As the ball was coming in [I thought], ‘Bogey, you’re not that good so just catch the ball,’ ’’ Bogaerts said.

Bogaerts fired to first and Mitch Moreland caught the ball standing on one leg to hold the bag as Smith slid back. Smith was out and then Craig Kimbrel retired Denard Span on a popup to end the game.

Bogaerts felt that play was bigger than anything he did at the plate.

“The guy could have stolen [second] right there. Anything could have happened,’’ he said.

It was the kind of night the Sox need from Bogaerts to get beyond the first round of the playoffs. At 25, he already has a World Series ring and has played in an All-Star Game. But manager Alex Cora wants Bogaerts to aspire for more

“Two of my favorite players from back home [in Puerto Rico], they play shortstop and they’re elite,’’ Cora said, referring to Houston’s Carlos Correa and Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor.

“Xander was in that conversation the last few years. All of a sudden last year, he wasn’t in that conversation. I told him, ‘I know you can be like those guys. You can be elite. It’s just a matter of keep working, keep listening, and you’ll be fine.’ ’’

That Cora was a shortstop and played in Boston made him easily relatable.

Bogaerts has listened.

“He’s probably one of the smartest guys in baseball,’’ Bogaerts said. “We’re thankful to have him on our team.’’

Beyond Bogaerts, it was a frustrating night at the plate for the Sox, who were 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.

Cora changed the lineup, inserting Mitch Moreland, Brock Holt, and Sandy Leon. They were 0 for 9, including 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

With a 3-0 lead, Porcello allowed a run in the sixth inning.

Carlos Gomez led off with a double. Porcello struck out Brad Miller but Matt Duffy grounded a single into left past third baseman Eduardo Nunez, who should have made the play.

With Gomez at third and Porcello at 89 pitches, Heath Hembree came out of the bullpen. Joey Wendle’s sacrifice fly scored Gomez.

Hembree got the first two outs of the seventh inning before Span drew a walk. Lefthander Bobby Poyner retired Kevin Kiermaier on a popup in his major league debut.

Gomez homered off Poyner in the eighth inning. Carson Smith was able to get the lead to Kimbrel, leaving a runner stranded. Kimbrel has thrown 11 no-hit innings in 11 games against the Rays since the start of last season.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.