BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tampa’s Yandy Diaz’s two-run single in the sixth inning was the difference as the Rays edged past the host Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Wednesday. The Diaz hit highlighted a three-run frame, and the relief trio of Shawn Armstrong, Pete Fairbanks and Kevin Kelly combined to throw three scoreless innings to finish the game.
Kelly recorded his first save of the season for Taj Bradley (1-1), who struck out six while allowing just two runs on four hits over the first five innings.
Jose Siri went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Tampa Bay, which has won two of the first three games in the four-game series.
Jarren Duran went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored while Wilyer Abreu and Rafael Devers homered for the Red Sox.
Boston manufactured a go-ahead run right out of the gates in the first inning, as Duran lined a leadoff double off the Green Monster in center and scored on Connor Wong’s sacrifice fly two batters later.
Boston starter Tanner Houck (3-5) pitched a 1-2-3 first inning before working around baserunners in each of the next two frames, but the visitors knotted the score at 1-1 in the fourth.
After Jonathan Aranda walked and Isaac Paredes chopped a single down the third-base line with one out, Richie Palacios reached on Boston first baseman Garrett Cooper’s fielding error to get Tampa Bay on the scoreboard.
Abreu wasted no time giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead back in their half of the fourth, launching a towering solo home run out to right.
The Rays didn’t take the lead back until Houck departed after allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
After Palacios and Jose Caballero hit consecutive singles and a strikeout of Ben Rortvedt ended Houck’s day in the sixth, Siri knocked a game-tying base hit through the left side. Palacios scored just ahead of catcher Wong’s tag.
Caballero swiped third before scoring ahead of Siri on Diaz’s single past diving shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela and into left.
The Red Sox got a run back in the last of the sixth when Devers lined a solo shot to straightaway center, but got no further as the final three Tampa Bay relievers recorded scoreless frames.
Despite the loss, Boston’s bullpen was also strong as Cam Booser and Chase Anderson combined to throw three scoreless and hitless innings after Weissert exited. Booser struck out four over two frames.
–Field Level Media