Story hits home run and scores winning goal, Red Sox beat Rays 2-1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Story hit a home run in the sixth inning and scored the game-winning run on a single by Jarren Duran in the eighth inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Story opened the eighth inning with a comebacker single against Drew Rasmussen (0-2). After stealing second and third base, he scored when Duran hit his strike past a drawn-in infield to right.

Justin Slaten (6-2) salvaged from a difficult situation in the first and third innings with no outs in the seventh inning to earn the win, and Kenley Jansen, the Red Sox's fifth reliever, singled in the ninth inning for his 27th save in 31 chances.

Jansen was checked out after allowing a walk to Austin Shenton on four throws with two outs, but stayed in the game. He also walked Taylor Walls, but struck out Logan Driscoll with a 3-2 pitch to end the game.

Boston started the season five games behind, Tampa Bay six games behind, Minnesota is looking for the last AL wild card. The Red Sox and Rays both have ten games left and need to overtake Seattle and Detroit.

The Red Sox begin a three-game series against the Twins on Friday night at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox had just one baserunner against Ryan Pepiot before Story hit a leadoff home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1.

Pepiot had a career-high 12 strikeouts in six innings, and struck out the team on nine pitches in the fifth inning, marking the fourth flawless inning in team history and the first since José Alvarado did it against Milwaukee on August 4, 2017.

Pepiot allowed one run and two hits after being taken out of the game as a precaution after two innings of his last start on September 12 because his velocity had decreased.

Rays left fielder Christopher Morel made a diving catch against the wall in the seventh inning, preventing an extra-base hit by Casas with two on and two out.

Walls' RBI single in the second inning against Tanner Houck gave the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Houck allowed one run and four hits and struck out four in four innings in his first start since Sept. 4. The right-hander was on a pitch count due to fatigue in his right shoulder.

Next

Rays RHP Zack Littell (7-9, 3.73 ERA) will pitch in the series finale on Thursday night. The Red Sox have not yet announced their starter.