The Tampa Bay Rays (22-22) beat the Boston Red Sox (22-21) 4-3 on Wednesday night in Boston. The Rays are back to .500 with the victory in the third game of a four-game series.
The Red Sox took a lead in the first inning when Connor Wong hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jarren Duran. The teams then traded runs in the fourth inning - after the Rays scored on an error in the top of the frame, Wilyer Abreu homered in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead right back.
The Rays broke through in the sixth inning thanks to a RBI single from Jose Siri and a two-run single from Yandy Diaz that gave the Rays a 4-2 lead. Rafael Devers homered in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-3, which would prove to be the final score.
Taj Bradley (1-1, 2.45) got the start and allowed two earned runs on four hits in five innings while striking out six and walking one. Phil Maton allowed a run in the sixth, and after that the Rays bullpen was lights out. Shawn Armstrong, Pete Fairbanks and Kevin Kelly combined to pitch the final three innings scoreless. Fairbanks was brilliant, needing just seven pitches to get three outs, while Kelly earned his first save of the season and second in the big leagues.
The Rays now look to win the series in the series finale on Thursday night. Zack Littell (2-2, 3.02) is scheduled for the Rays, opposed by Cooper Criswell (2-1, 2.10) for Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES