The Tampa Bay Rays knocked around Boston Red Sox starter Martin Perez for six runs in 4.0 innings on Friday night, cruising to a 7-3 win in the opener of a three game series between the top two teams in the American League East at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tampa Bay (62-42) broke out to a 4-0 lead when Yandy Diaz hit a two-run homerun in the first inning, and Wander Franco slammed a two-run double to right center field in the second. Boston got two runs back in the fourth to cut it to 4-2, when Christian Vazquez singled in a run but was thrown out at second base after the throw had come to home plate. Later with two outs, Bobby Dalbec singled in the second run of the inning. Kike Hernandez with the bases loaded though ended the rally by popping out to third base. Mike Zunino and Randy Arozarena both hit solo homers in the bottom half of the fourth, as the Rays cut the Sox lead in the division to just 1/2 game.
Perez (7-7) allowed seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in taking the loss in his 6.0 inning effort. Xander Bogaerts and Vazquez each had two hits as Boston drops to 63-42. Diaz had three hits for Tampa Bay, while Arozarena, Nelson Cruz, and Franco had two a piece. Josh Fleming (8-5) earned the win on the hill allowing three runs on eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Game two Saturday night begins at 6:10, with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-5, 3.49 ERA) hurling for the Sox against LHP Ryan Yarbrough (6-4, 4.38) for the Rays.
