The Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in 11 innings on Sunday afternoon to complete a three game sweep over a Rays team that came into the series with the best record in baseball.
Sox with a 3 Game sweep. Big big time series win for the good guys! #RedSox
— Mayor Of Gods Country! Carencro,LA (@TraeMoo_66) April 22, 2019
David Price turned in a strong effort. Price allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 10 in five innings. Price had a chance to pick up the victory until Matt Barnes gave up a solo homer to Tommy Pham in the eighth inning.
10 strike out game for David Price pic.twitter.com/KP2FXiLefV
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) April 21, 2019
Mitch Moreland hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to get the Red Sox within 2-1. The Red Sox took advantage of a Rays pitching change in the sixth inning. Xander Bogaerts hit a single that scored two runs and give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead.
And there it is. Sox take the lead. I believe in analytics. I do. But not when they lead to Chaz Roe facing JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts while Tyler Glasnow sits in the dugout after throwing just 76 pitches. Ludicrous.
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) April 21, 2019
The Red Sox held that lead until the Pham homer off Barnes. The game went into extra innings thanks to solid bullpen work from both teams. Brandon Workman and Colten Brewer each pitched a scoreless inning while Marcus Walden improved to 3-0 by pitching two scoreless innings. Ryan Brasier earned his sixth save with a perfect 11th inning. Brasier was able to get that save thanks to a top half of the inning where the Red Sox played small ball to produce a run. Rafael Devers started things with a single, rookie Michael Chavis worked a walk. Jackie Bradley JR bunted the runners over. Christian Vazquez followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Bradley.
Sac fly for Christian Vazquez, Red Sox take a 4-3 lead in the 11th!! ⚾️🙌🏼💪🏼🔥
— James Higgins (@15Higgins) April 21, 2019
The Red Sox open up a 10 game homestand and a four game series with the Tigers on Monday night with a pitching matchup of lefties as Chris Sale is scheduled to face Matthew Boyd.
Xander Bogaerts (shown here earlier this season) had a big hit in a 4-3 Red Sox win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner