Rays defeat Red Sox 8-3 with strong pitching and Siri’s big night
- Shane Baz pitched seven strong innings, allowing only two runs and two hits.
- Jose Siri contributed significantly with a home run and four RBIs during the game.
- The Rays' victory keeps them in the race for the final AL wild card spot.
On Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rays secured an 8-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox, showcasing strong pitching and offensive power. Shane Baz delivered an impressive performance, allowing only two runs and two hits over seven innings, while striking out six batters. This marked his fifth consecutive start of yielding three hits or fewer over five-plus innings, setting a team record. Jose Siri was a standout player, hitting a home run and driving in four runs, contributing significantly to the Rays' scoring. The Rays took control of the game during a four-run fifth inning, with Junior Caminero, Josh Lowe, and Siri all hitting homers. Nick Pivetta, the Red Sox pitcher, struggled, allowing four runs and five hits before being replaced. The Red Sox initially took the lead with Triston Casas and Romy Gonzalez hitting home runs, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Rays' offensive surge. With this win, Tampa Bay remains in contention for the final AL wild card, trailing Minnesota by six games, while Boston is five games back. In the aftermath of the game, the Red Sox face challenges with injuries, including Bryan Mata's hamstring issue, while the Rays look forward to Shane McClanahan's return to throwing. The upcoming matchup features Tanner Houck potentially returning to the mound for Boston against Ryan Pepiot of the Rays, both teams aiming to improve their standings as the season nears its end.