Rays Strike Early But Get Swept By Red Sox, 8-5

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This was game three and the Tampa Bay Rays were looking to avoid a sweep. This was the first time since July of 2019 that the Red Sox won a series at Tropicana Field. The Rays will welcome back Ryan Pepiot after he was on the injured reserve after taking a 107 mph per baseball off his lower leg. The way that Boston won last night’s game was that they set a season-high in steals with four. The biggest one came from Jarren Duran stealing home for the first time in his career. Before the two wins the last two days, the Red Sox were 2-15 at Tropicana Field. The Rays were trying to avoid their second sweep of the season with the first coming against the horrible Chicago White Sox. A Boston win would make it the first time since October 2022 that they swept Tampa.

The one aspect that has hurt the Tampa Bay Rays through the first 50 games is pitching. Mostly in the home run department as they have given up 66 home runs which is the worst in all of MLB. One of the best parts of last night for the Rays was they ended Rafael Devers’s home run game streak that ended at six. Devers set the Boston Red Sox franchise record. The Rays took light batting practice before the game and the Red Sox took none. Tampa Bay had their power bats back in Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena in the lineup. The Rays have only scored four total runs in the last three games. The Red Sox starting pitcher was Brayan Bello both starting pitchers had ERA’s near four. Tampa Bay has a -37 run differential it is the worst since 2007 when it was -76.

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The Tampa Bay Rays were in baby blue tops, white bottoms, and navy blue caps. Once again for the third game in a row, the Red Sox were all grey with navy blue caps. UCF head coach Guz Malzhan threw a bullet for a strike as the ceremonial first pitch. The Red Sox got two runners one via a hit and the other via a walk but did not score. The Rays scored three runs in the bottom of the second. That was all started with Jonathan Aranda’s double that rocketed off the left field wall. Center fielder Josh Lowe left the game with right-side tightness and was replaced by Jonny DeLuca. Ceddanne Rafaela strikes again with a wall ball single that scored the Red Sox’s first run. That would be all for Ryan Pepiot.

The Red Sox got a series of hits and tied the game at three. Boston would add another one to take their first lead all coming with two outs. It seems that what has happened to the Rays in the past has come back to bite them in the butt. Going through the order a second or third time at the end of four and a half innings Boston lead 5-3. Wilyer Abreu hit a three-run home run to give the Red Sox a five-run lead 8-3. The Rays get some hits and leave runners on but get one run and pull within four 8-4. Once again Randy Arozarena struggled in a key moment and struck out. The game headed into the ninth with Boston holding strong four-run lead. The Rays got on the board with a solo homer from Yandy Diaz.

The final score was 8-5 the Rays once again had a good inning in the second but had trouble scoring runs after that. The Red Sox once again got timely hits as Wilyer Abreu went 2 for 4 with two RBI both coming on his homer. On the flip side, one of the big bats in the lineup for the Rays Randy Arozarena went 1-4 with two strikeouts. This was the second time the Tampa Bay Rays got swept this season it must just be when they play a team that ends in Sox’s. Tampa Bay has the day off tomorrow and will have to regroup as the red-hot Kansas City Royals invade the Trop starting Friday.

What are your thoughts on the Red Sox sweeping the Rays? Leave a comment below.

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