The Tampa Bay Rays (94-60) defeated the Boston Red Sox (84-71) 2-1 on Saturday evening at Tropicana Field. With the win, the Rays have evened the three-game series as they continue a push to try to win the American League East crown.
The Red Sox got on the board in the third inning thanks to a RBI double from Roman Anthony. In the bottom of the fourth, Jonathan Aranda hit a solo homer to tie the game 1-1. That would remain the score until the bottom of the ninth inning.
Junior Caminero led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left, before Jonny DeLuca popped out. Chandler Simpson then hit a single to put runners on first and second, before those runners both advanced thanks to a passed ball from Red Sox catcher Connor Wong. Victor Mesa Jr then struck out before Richie Palacios came to the plate. With runners on second and third and two outs, Palacios singled on a shallow fly ball to right field that fell in and allowed the Rays to leave Tropicana Field as walk-off winners.
Freddy Peralta got the start and allowed just one earned run on four hits in five and two-third innings of work in which he struck out six and walked two. Bryan Baker (4-2, 1.49) picked up the win out of the bullpen after working a scoreless top of the ninth inning.
The Rays will now try to win the series against the Red Sox when they meet in the finale on Sunday afternoon. Griffin Jax (7-10, 3.80) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Patrick Sandoval (1-6, 4.99) for the Red Sox. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 1:40 PM - pregame coverage begins at 1:00 PM on 95.7 WDAE.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES