Game 1: Brendan McKay did this:
A dominant performance from the young lefty who's justified his rotation spot in the 6-0 win. A 3-run 1st inning helped him out thanks to the first Rays HR from Christian Vazquez, a 2-run shot against his old team. Our other catcher also homered as Francisco Mejia was the DH thanks to some players needing rests and he launched a 2-run shot with Ji-Man Choi driving in the other 2.
Game 2: A great pitchers' duel between a couple of wily vets, Chris Sale and Yonny Chirinos, went the Rays' way as they prevailed 3-1. Chirinos was excellent going 7 5 1 1 0 3 and had his sinker working to perfection, getting 3 double plays. Mike Brosseau supplied the offense, hitting a 2-run HR in the 5th (#1) to break a scoreless tie, and later doubling and scoring on Manuel Margot's sac fly. Nick Anderson and Ken Giles (with save #2) each had a scoreless inning in relief.
Game 3: Rafael Devers' 2-run homer off Matt Peacock in the 1st inning was more runs than Boston had scored in the first two games of the series combined but it wasn't enough as the Rays took an 8-3 win to sweep. Peacock also gave up a homer to old friend Mike Zunino but not much else as he went 6 3 3 3 3 4 to improve to 2-0. Randy Arozarena swung the big bat, going 3-3 with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 1st (#1) to answer the one from Devers, and Austin Meadows had a 2-run shot (#2) with Ji-Man knocking in two more. Diego Castillo struck out 5 Red Sox over the final 1 2/3 to secure the win.
Team record: 8-4. Next up: An off-day then we visit the expansion San Antonio Alamos for 3 where we reunite with Kevin Kiermaier.
Around MLB: The Yankees lead the AL East at 9-3, 1 up on the Rays after they swept the Alamos. Matt Olson and Giancarlo Stanton lead MLB with 8 homers through the season's first 12 games and the Tigers are MLB's surprise team, leading the AL Central by 2 games at 9-3. Also Vidal Brujan is tied with Baltimore's Ryan McKenna for MLB stolen base lead with 7.