Tampa Bay Rays defeat Boston Red Sox 9-2 to move closer to postseason – MLB Update
The Tampa Bay Rays have made their way back into the wild-card race crushing the Boston Red Sox 9-2 in the first outing of the important four-game series at Fenway Park in Boston on Thursday, September 15.
Rays’ batting line-up took their club into an outstanding win against the Red Sox strong pitching depth. Granular hitters did not spare the Red Sox starter and two of the relief pitchers.
Rays started their hitting stint in the top of the third inning, touching a line drive single off the Red Sox starter Kyle Weiland. With this run, Desmond Jennings moved to third and B.J. Upton matched the barrel of his bat with the ball and Red Sox Marco
Scutaro let the ball go through his legs.
"Believe me, when I saw that I thought, 'Hey, let's see what's going to happen for the rest of the game,'" Maddon said. "And then the home run followed it right up."
Evan Longoria launched a devastating hit to the right-field taking the lead to 4-0 in the top of the inning.
"I think enough things haven't gone our way, so I'll take it," Upton said. "We got one, and then Longo came behind me and we got a couple more."
Three innings later, Casey Kotchman made an impression with the bat sending the ball out of the park and earned his tenth home-run of the season. Upton removed criticism from his club and made an overwhelming hit to left-field for a two run-homer.
Just after this, Casey Kotchman made another contribution and singled to centre-field, scoring Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon.
As the Rays’ bating was at their best, starter Jeremy Hellickson held the Red Sox to a single in just over five innings. His allowed four walks might have sent the Rays into trouble but he managed to rebound every time he made wobbly pitches. He won his
13th win of the season with a 2.91 ERA.
Jake McGee, Juan Cruz and Cesar Ramos did not give room to the opposition’s batters. Alex Torres allowed the Red Sox their second run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
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