Red Sox 6, Rays 3
The Boston Red Sox secure a huge win against the Tampa Bay Rays with the help of a three-run ninth inning to take the series.
Red Sox – Rays Game Summary
Despite having bases loaded with no outs in the second inning, the Red Sox failed to plate any runners.
After a Ceddanne Rafaela strikeout, Jarren Duran hit a single. Duran stole second and later took third after a wild pitch from Rays starter Adrian Houser. On a 3-2 count, Trevor Story forced a walk, as Houser spiked his changeup in the dirt, allowing Duran to scamper home to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
The Rays returned the favor in the bottom of the fourth, as Jake Mangum hit a double down the left field line to score Brandon Lowe and tie the game.
The Red Sox responded immediately in the top of the fifth. A two-out RBI single from Alex Bregman reclaimed the lead for the Red Sox, 2-1.
After Romy Gonzalez got hit by a pitch in the sixth, he stole second to get into scoring position. A Nate Eaton sacrifice bunt to move Gonzalez over, and a Nathaniel Lowe sacrifice fly scored Gonzalez to add insurance.
The Rays got their pound of flesh back, as Justin Wilson entered the game for the Red Sox. An RBI double from Nick Fortes and an RBI single to Yandy Diaz tied the game at three. An eighth-inning rally was all for naught for the Red Sox, who left two runners on.
Red Sox Ninth Inning
To start the top of the ninth inning, Rafaela hit a groundball to third base. Junior Caminero had a routine groundball go straight through his legs, which allowed Rafaela to advance to second. This would bite them on the behind two batters later. After a Duran strikeout, Story took an outside fastball and drove it to right field, taking a 4-3 lead for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox got some insurance two batters later in the form of a Masataka Yoshida RBI single. Eaton followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Bregman to make it 6-3.
The bottom of the ninth inning was about as elementary as it gets for the Red Sox, as long as Aroldis Chapman is in the game. Despite a couple of tough at-bats from Carson Williams, who walked, and Chandler Simpson, who ultimately struck out, Chapman got the job done.
What Went Right for the Red Sox
Ran Hog Wild
The Red Sox constantly put themselves in positions to score, tallying three stolen bases against the Rays’ battery of Houser and catcher Nick Fortes, and four overall. When the lineup can’t muster hits, small ball sometimes needs to be utilized. The Red Sox did that well this game. Three of their runs were either directly or indirectly thanks to some gutsy base running.
Red Sox Clutch Ninth Inning
The Red Sox came through when it mattered the most. Three of their 10 hits came in the ninth, giving Chapman some cushion.
Good Harrison Performance
Kyle Harrison performed really solidly against the Rays. His final line: six innings, four hits, one walk, one earned run while striking out five Rays batters.
What Went Wrong for the Red Sox
Bullpen Questions
This game further cemented what some Red Sox fans know well. The Red Sox bullpen is a skeleton crew trying to make it to the eighth, where Garrett Whitlock and Chapman can take over and secure the win.
Looking Ahead
The Red Sox will look for a specific piece of janitor equipment on Sunday in the final game of the series. First pitch is at 7:35 Eastern. After that, they will head north of the border to take on the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game series, starting Tuesday.
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