Jarren Duran hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning Wednesday night, as the Boston Red Sox broke a three game losing skid with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Christian Vazquez gave Boston an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the second inning. The only mistake that starting pitcher Chris Sale made was in the third when Wander Franco snuck one just over the fence in right field for a two-run homerun and a 2-1 Tampa Bay lead. Vazquez tied the game with a one out solo homer in the seventh. The Rays had some great chances to break the tie, but had a runner thrown out at the plate with one out in both the seventh and eighth inning. Rafael Devers led off the ninth against Pete Fairbanks with a single, and then with one out Alex Verdugo had an infield hit. After Vazquez struck out, Duran took a 2-1 pitch and slapped the game winning single to right scoring Devers. Boston (76-59), who is without Kike Hernandez, Christian Arroyo, Matt Barnes, Josh Taylor, Xander Bogaerts, Martin Perez, Hirokazu Sawumara, and Yairo Munoz all due to COVID-19 had to call up right handed pitcher John Schreiber and second baseman Jack Lopez before the game. Lopez made his MLB debut and started at second base going 0-4 on the night.
Sale in the no-decision went 6.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Garrett Whitlock (7-2) got the win in relief, and Adam Ottavino pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save. Vazquez had three hits, while Devers and Verdugo had two each as the Sox increase their lead for the second American League wildcard back to two games over the Oakland Athletics. Franco, Nelson Cruz, and Manuel Margo had two hits a piece for Tampa Bay (84-49), as they have their nine game win streak snapped. Drew Rasmussen started and allowed just one run on three hits in 4.0 innings, while Fairbanks (3-5) was tagged with the loss. Boston will go for a four game split on Thursday night, sending Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7, 5.12 ERA) to the mound. Tampa counters with Shane McClanahan (9-4, 3.59).
