Drew Rasmussen strikes out 13 over seven innings, and Tampa Bay counters a late comeback to complete its first sweep of Boston in three years.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Drew Rasmussen struck out a career-high 13 and two-hit the Boston Red Sox over seven scoreless innings Wednesday, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-5 victory.
Nick Fortes, Yandy Díaz and Taylor Walls had multiple hits for the Rays, who swept the Red Sox for the first time since 2023.
Rasmussen (6-2) fanned his first four hitters, faced the minimum through four innings and didn’t allow a runner to reach third base. Boston’s 1 through 4 batters were a combined 0 for 11 with 11 strikeouts against Rasmussen, who left with a 5-0 lead.
Boston then jumped on the Rays’ bullpen with a four-run eighth, including Ceddanne Rafaela’s three-run homer. Caleb Durbin also homered in the inning.
But Fortes answered with his fourth hit, matching a career high, and Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer off Boston reliever Justin Slaten. Garrett Cleavinger pitched the ninth for his second save despite surrendering another homer to Durbin.
The small-ball Rays scored in the third when Fortes doubled off the wall, Mullins’ sacrifice moved Fortes to third, and Taylor Walls brought him in with a sacrifice fly.
Tampa Bay used three infield hits — including an Austin Slater RBI double off the leg of Boston starter Jake Bennett (1-2) — to score three runs in the fifth.
Díaz, who had three hits and two RBI, extended the longest on-base streak in the majors to 24 games.
The Rays are 12-0 against the AL East at Tropicana Field, the majors’ longest season-opening home streak against division opponents since 2009.
Up nextBoston returns home to face Texas on Friday with right-hander Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.20 ERA) on the mound.
Tampa Bay begins a trip against the Angels on Friday with left-hander Shane McLanahan (6-3, 2.85) scheduled to start. Neither Texas nor Los Angeles has announced a starter.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Sox can’t finish comeback in loss to Rays | 0 | 36.53 | 10-06-2026 |
| 2 | Red Sox bats stay quiet in loss to Rays | 0 | 37.48 | 09-06-2026 |
| 3 | Red Sox sweep doubleheader, extend streak to 11 | 0 | 34.49 | 17-07-2026 |
| 4 | Red Sox rally from 3 down to win 12th in a row | 0 | 37.48 | 19-07-2026 |
| 5 | Red Sox clinch rare series win at home | 0 | 41.99 | 13-06-2026 |
| 6 | Rangers top Red Sox in series finale to avoid a sweep | 0 | 36.82 | 15-06-2026 |
| 7 | Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray lift Red Sox to 13th straight win | 0 | 38.96 | 19-07-2026 |
| 8 | Red Sox complete another sweep | 0 | 38.82 | 09-07-2026 |
| 9 | Red Sox recover to sweep Yankees | 0 | 39.75 | 29-06-2026 |
| 10 | Red Sox halt four-game losing streak | 0 | 40.87 | 13-06-2026 |