The Red Sox took the mound at Tropicana Field on Thursday in hopes of sweeping the Rays and having over a 10 game lead in the AL East. Jake Peavy was on the mound for the Sox vs. Hellickson for the Rays. Peavy got down early, but then the Sox tied the game up in the 6th. Unfortunately, the Rays snuck back ahead in the later innings and the Sox were unable to complete the sweep.
Unlike the two previous games, the Rays got on the scoreboard first and then kept adding on. The Rays scored their first run in the 2nd inning when Wil Myers hit an RBI single to score Longoria. Then the Rays added a second run in the 3rd when Loney hit an RBI double. The Sox were able to cut that lead in half in the 4th when Salty hit a solo HR. Sox 1-2. The Rays got that run right back in the bottom of the inning when Peavy gave up a solo HR to Jennings. Sox 1-3. In the 6th inning David Ortiz hit a leadoff HR to once again have the Sox within a run. Hellickson was done for the night, so the Sox would have a crack at the Rays bullpen. The Sox ended up tying the game in the 6th when Salty stole second and then Stephen Drew hit an RBI double to bring him home. Sox 3-3. Peavy pitched 6 innings and left the mound with a no decision thanks to his teammates tying the game.
Drake Britton came out in the 7th and pitched himself a scoreless inning. Britton took the mound again in the 8th, but after one out he was pulled in favor of Rubby De La Rosa. Unfortunately, De La Rosa wasn't able to keep the Rays off the scoreboard. De La Rosa gave up the go ahead run when Wil Myers hit an RBI double. That would be enough for the Rays since the Sox bats wouldn't be able to scrap together another run. Matt Thornton came out to finish the 8th inning, but the damage had been done. Rodney pitched the 9th for the Rays and while he made it interesting by allowing 2 baserunners, he would end up getting the 3 outs and the save.
Red Sox 3 Rays 4 BOXSCORE
WP: McGee (5-3) LP: De La Rosa (0-1) SV: Rodney (34)
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