Rays 8-3 Red Sox (September 17, 2024) Match Report

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Shane Baz allowed two runs and two hits in seven innings, Jose Siri hit a home run and scored four runs, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Tuesday night.

Baz (3-3) had six strikeouts and one walk and set a team record with his fifth consecutive start in which he allowed three or fewer hits in five innings.

Siri hit one of Tampa Bay's three home runs during a four-run fifth inning and extended the Rays' lead to 8-3 with his three-run bloop double to left in the eighth inning.

Junior Caminero, Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe also hit home runs for the Rays. Tampa Bay is six games behind Minnesota for the last AL wild card and would have overtaken Boston, Seattle and Detroit.

“We're not dead,” Baz said. “I don't think anyone in this locker room acts like that. We still play hard and we're going to continue to play hard.”

Triston Casas and Romy Gonzalez hit home runs for Boston, which is five home runs behind the Twins with 11 games remaining.

“It's not a lack of effort,” said Boston coach Alex Cora. ​​”It's not working for us right now.”

After Caminero hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, Josh Lowe and Siri hit home runs against Nick Pivetta (5-11) in the fifth inning to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.

Caminero said he told Siri – who raised his batting average from .189 to .192 after hitting 2-for-4 – before the game that he would hit a home run.

“I like the mood today,” Caminero said through an interpreter. “A lot of good energy among us.”

Pivetta developed neck-shoulder cramps after striking out Logan Driscoll. Pivetta stayed in the game after being checked out, allowing Siri's 330-foot home run down the left field line and Yandy Díaz's double that ended his night.

Cora expects Pivetta to have his next scheduled start.

Bailey Horn replaced Pivetta and allowed Brandon Lowe's two-run home run to make it 5-2.

Pivetta allowed four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Casas had seven hits in his previous 49 at-bats before giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead with his home run in the second inning. Gonzalez hit a pinch-hit home run against Garrett Cleavinger in the top of the eighth inning.

Kevin Kelly extended his hitless streak to 20 1/3 innings in the ninth inning and completed a three-hitter.

TRAINING ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Bryan Mata (right thigh) will most likely not make the major leagues this season.

Rays: Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery) will throw to the batters on Sept. 26. … Caminero had a sting in his hand during an at-bat in the seventh inning and remained in the game.

Next

Cora said RHP Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.24 ERA) will make his first start since Sept. 4 against Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.76 ERA) on Wednesday night. Houck has been slowed by fatigue in his right shoulder. Pepiot was removed from the game after two innings on Sept. 12 because his velocity had dropped.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB