The Tampa Bay Rays were victorious on Labor Day with a close victory over the Boston Red Sox, 4-3. This was coming off winning back-to-back home series’ against the Yankees and Marlins. The team now sits five games behind New York in the race for the AL East.
Luis Patiño Makes his Return and Relievers Come Up Big
Patiño made his first start since July and hasn’t consistently started since April 11th when he suffered a left oblique injury. Although he had some sparks of getting his deadly fastball back, he did often struggle. In five innings pitched, he finished with four strikeouts but did give up five hits and three earned runs.
Patiño needs to step up for the Rays to cover some of the pitching injuries. The team recently lost ace Shane McClanahan to a left shoulder impingement. He was placed on the 15-day IL.
Calvin Faucher was credited with the win. He pitched one inning and recorded two strikeouts. Jalen Beeks and Colin Poche both pitched one inning, recording two and three strikeouts, respectively. Earning the save was the 6-foot-6-inch reliever Pete Fairbanks. It was his fifth save of the year and like Faucher, he pitched one inning and had two strikeouts.
Former Tampa Bay pitcher Michael Wacha recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in a Boston uniform. It was a phenomenal feat during his start as he went on to record seven strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Batters Come Back to Win the Game
Following a home run from Alex Verdugo in the top of the first, Rays first baseman Harold Ramírez knocked a base hit to right center field, scoring Manuel Margot to tie the game.
The Red Sox had a productive third inning as Rafael Devers launched a flare to center field that took an awkward bounce off of Jose Siri. This allowed Tommy Pham to score from second. Trevor Story was next to bat and he would hit a double into the left field corner. This scored Verdugo. By the end of the inning, it was 3-1 Boston.
The Rays lineup began to chop into the lead. In the fifth inning, Randy Arozarena smashed a double off the left field wall. The speedy center fielder Siri would score and it turned into a one run game.
Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero suffered an ankle sprain on this play and was helped off by the Boston training staff.
In the seventh, Margot would get the scoring going again. He hit a double into the right field gap allowing Vidal Bruján to score.
Later in the inning, David Peralta worked a ground ball just fair down the first base line allowing Margot to score and Tampa Bay would gain the lead 4-3 and hold onto it for the victory.
Up Next
The team plays Boston again Tuesday in Tropicana field at 6:40 p.m. ET.