Rafael Devers sets team record by homering in 6th straight game as Red Sox top Rays 5-0

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rafael Devers set a team record by homering in his sixth consecutive game, Tanner Houck allowed two hits over seven innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 on Monday night. 

Devers had shared the Boston mark of a five-game homer streak with six others, including Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx. 

Houck (4-5) allowed a third-inning single to Yandy Díaz and an infield hit to Josh Lowe in the seventh. He struck out five and was charged with one walk - which occurred when Devers was ruled to have violated defensive shift rules for an automatic ball on Jonathan Aranda's groundout in the second on a 3-2 pitch. 

Ceddanne Rafaela also homered for the Red Sox, who returned to .500 at 24-24. 

Justin Slaten completed a three-hitter as Boston improved to 6-22 at Tampa Bay since the start of the 2021 season. 

Rays starter Taj Bradley (1-2) struck out eight of his first nine batters before Jarren Duran opened the fourth with a triple and scored on a double by Wilyer Abreu. Devers put Boston up 3-0 as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his 10th homer, an opposite-field two-run drive to left. 

Rafaela was hitless in 17 at-bats before his fifth-inning two-run drive against Bradley made it 5-0. 

Bradley gave up five runs, six hits and struck out 10 in a career-high seven innings. It was the right-hander's third start this year after he began the season sidelined by a right pectoral strain. 

TRAINER'S ROOM 

Rays: Opening-day starter Zach Eflin went on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation and is expected to miss two to four weeks. ... 2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain) returned after missing 37 games and went 0 for 3. 

UP NEXT 

Boston RHP Cooper Criswell (2-1, 2.76 ERA) and Rays RHP Zack Littell (2-2, 3.44 ERA) are Tuesday night's starters.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.