[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays only managed 4 hits tonight but made them all count in a 5-2 win over the Red Sox to pull within 1 1/2 games of the division lead. Justin Dunn was actually no-hitting the Rays through 6 1/3 innings with a 1-0 lead until Austin Meadows drilled a HR into the LCF stands (only #2 this season but he's missed some time), and then after Dunn walked Alec Bohm, Spencer Torkelson doubled up the LCF gap to score Bohm to put the Rays in front. Durbin Feltman came in for the Sox and then gave up a 2-run HR to Keston Hiura, also his 2nd, and it was 4-1. The fourth Rays hit came in the 8th when Vidal Brujan tripled and scored on a GIDP. Shane McClanahan got the start and went a strong 6 7 1 1 0 7, and Mitch Keller got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Aaron Ashby took over the Alvarado role and got 2 big whiffs in the 8th but allowed a run when the stayed on in the 9th, and Jasseel De La Cruz had to get the final two outs for save #8.

Game 2: A tough loss for the Rays as the depleted bullpen couldn't hold a 2-1 lead in the 8th as the Red Sox took this one 4-2. Mitchell White, in his home debut, pitched very well allowing only a Yoan Moncada HR through the first 7 innings. With Alvarado on the IL and Aaron Ashby and Jasseel De La Cruz unavailable, White started the 8th and allowed a leadoff single to Niko Goodrum. Mitch Keller came on and got a popup, but Alec Bohm dropped it and after Keller looked like he might get out of it getting Jesse Winker to hit into a double play, Moncada struck again with an RBI single to tie the game, leaving White with a 7 5 2 1 2 4 line. Keller stayed on in the ninth and then gave up a 2-run HR to Pierson Gibis and that was that. The Rays had taken a 2-0 lead in the fifth when Nick Schnell doubled in Keston Hiura and scored on a Wander Franco RBI single, but that was all they could manage. As it always seems when they lose, they had a chance to tie or go ahead in the 9th but with 2 on and 2 out Vidal Brujan looked at a called third strike to end the game.

Game 3: A hard-fought and big win for the Rays today as Tyler Glasnow was great and Wander Franco supplied the big hit of the game as the Rays downed the Red Sox 5-3. Glasnow went 117 pitches in going 8 6 3 3 3 9 with Yasmani Grandal the thorn in his side with a pair of HRs. But Wander Franco's 3-run HR (#8) off Rick Porcello, now in his second tour of duty with Boston, capped a 4-run 5th that propelled the Rays to the win. Brandon Marsh's infield single had scored Keston Hiura with the first run of the inning, and in the 8th Alec Bohm provided a big insurance run as he continues his power surge with HR #12, tops in the majors. Jasseel De La Cruz walked the leadoff man but struck out a pair for save #9 as the Rays got back within 1 1/2 instead of falling behind 3 1/2. It's early and it's a long season but this is a position the team has found itself unaccustomed to since 2021.

Team record: 15-12. Next up: 3 at home vs Minnesota for the first traditional weekend series in 3 weeks.