Red Sox Lose Series Opener to Rays

Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images

May 7, 2026

The Boston Red Sox lose 8-4 in the series opener to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. Hunter Bigge got the win, pitching two shutout innings in relief. Jake Bennett receives the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. Chandler Simpson, who came in as a pinch-hitter, wound up with three RBI in the game.

Red Sox-Rays Game Summary

Second Inning Chaos

The Rays got the run scoring started in the second inning. After Jonny DeLuca singled and stole second base, Ben Williamson knocked an RBI single to take the lead. Two batters later, Cedric Mullins dropped a bunt to score Williamson. Two batters after that, Yandy Diaz hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to score a third run in the inning.

Not to be deterred, the Red Sox had an equal and opposite reaction in the bottom half. Ceddanne Rafaela reached base on an infield single to score the first run. Two batters later, Connor Wong grounded into a fielder’s choice. However, Taylor Walls struggled to field it and glove-flipped the ball five feet over the head of Williamson to allow a second run. Finally, Caleb Durbin slapped an RBI single to right field to tie the game at three.

Bennett got replaced by Greg Weissert after getting the first out of the sixth inning. Inheriting a runner on first, he allowed a single and a walk to load the bases for Simpson. Simpson slapped a two-run single back up the middle to take the lead. Tyler Samaniego came in and immediately mitigated the damage.

Simpson didn’t think enough was enough, however. He drove an RBI triple down the right field line to extend the lead to 6-3 in the eighth.

Junior Caminero put the nail in the coffin in the top of the ninth, hitting a two-run bomb to center field. His 10th home run of the season travelled 449 feet at 114 miles per hour.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Limiting Strikeouts

The Red Sox are at their best when they can keep the punchouts to a minimum. They were able to accomplish that, only striking out six times over the course of the game.

What Went Wrong for the Red Sox

Contreras’ Baserunning Error

After Jarren Duran hit a double in the eighth inning, Contreras followed up with a single. However, he got thrown out trying to take an extra base, taking the air out of the Red Sox’s sails in the process. It’s the type of error that cannot, and should not happen. Especially when Wilyer Abreu, the team’s most consistent hitter, is on deck.

Bullpen’s Too Thin

For how much the Red Sox have needed to rely on their bullpen, it feels like they’re being stretched too thin. Guys like Weissert and Ryan Watson shouldn’t be pitching this many innings for the team.