Red Sox Beat Rays 2-1, Stay Tied For 1st
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For the second night in a row, a defensive outfield gem in the eighth inning helped the Boston Red Sox pull out a win, as Mookie Betts' outfield assist took away the tying run on the way to a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
The Rays had a shot at the tying run in the eighth with one out when Kevin Kiermaier ripped a shot down the right field line, and as he tried to turn a double into a triple, Betts threw a strike to third base where Travis Shaw applied the tag on a head-first slide. Instead of the tying run at third base, the Rays had two outs and no rally.
Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 23rd save, getting two strikeouts and a pop out to left field to close out the win.
Boston (71-54) handed Rays starter Chris Archer (7-17) his 10th straight loss against the Red Sox, the longest for any pitcher since 1992 and the longest ever for a Rays pitcher against any opponent. Archer held Boston to two runs and saw the bullpen step up with four scoreless innings, but Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz (5-9) was a little sharper.
The Rays (52-72) have now lost two straight after winning six of seven before the Red Sox came to town. Boston stays in a tie for first place in the American League with Toronto, which beat the Angels on Tuesday.
The night before Betts' throw, Andrew Benintendi went over the short wall in left field to rob Steven Souza of a two-run home run when Boston led 3-0.
Archer went into the game with a personal nine-game losing streak against the Red Sox, the longest ever for a Rays pitcher against any opponent. It was the longest streak against the Red Sox for any pitcher since Mike Moore had a 10-game skid from 1987-92.
Archer didn't pitch badly Tuesday, but he continues to rack up pitches so quickly he can't last deep into games. He left after 109 pitches and five innings, needing a double play to get out of the fifth. Archer gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Boston went ahead in the third inning. Andrew Benintendi hit a leadoff single and scored on a two-out RBI single to right field from David Ortiz. Another run scored when Betts hit a chopper just over the first baseman, and right fielder Steven Souza tried to throw out Ortiz at third, only to see the throw sail into the dugout, allowing Ortiz to score for a 2-0 lead.
The Rays got one run back in the fifth against Buchholz. Corey Dickerson singled, giving him two of the Rays' four hits at that point. He advanced on a passed ball and scored on a two-out double from Kevin Kiermaier to cut the lead to 2-1. Buchholz got Evan Longoria to strike out looking to end the inning with the tying run in scoring position.
NOTES: The Rays gave SS Matt Duffy the day off Tuesday, and they will work to give him regular days off to avoid any problems with an Achilles tendon injury that has sidelined him during this season. Tim Beckham filled in at shortstop, with Brad Miller staying in his new role at first base. ... Rays OF Oswaldo Arcia, who had been designated for assignment, was claimed by the Marlins. ... Boston is in the final stretch of a run of 43 games in 44 days, going 20-15. The Red Sox are also in the midst of a stretch of 23 games in as many days.