Chandler Simpson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs off the bench, leading the visiting Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of their four-game series on Thursday night.
Simpson entered the game in the sixth inning and immediately knocked a go-ahead, two-run single. He then provided a key insurance run on an RBI triple in his next at-bat in the eighth.
Tampa Bay pounded out 13 hits and Hunter Bigge (1-0) worked two no-hit innings in relief of fellow right-hander Griffin Jax en route to the Rays’ seventh straight win.
Five Rays finished with multiple knocks, including Yandy Diaz (1,000th career hit) and Junior Caminero (two-run home run), who joined the list in the final inning.
However, the Rays had their streak of allowing three runs or fewer snapped after 13 consecutive games when Jarren Duran doubled and scored on a Wilyer Abreu sacrifice fly in the eighth.
The Rays blitzed Boston left-hander Jake Bennett (1-1) for three second-inning runs, as five straight baserunners reached with one out with Ben Williamson and Cedric Mullins providing RBI singles before Diaz’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0.
The Red Sox responded quickly to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, which began with Trevor Story beating out an infield single. Story then swiped second, and Ceddanne Rafaela stung an RBI single into left two batters later.
A misplay on Connor Wong’s potential double-play ball plated another run, and Caleb Durbin knocked in the tying run on a single to right.
Bennett faced the minimum across the next three innings, but after he exited, Simpson’s two-run single off Greg Weissert put the Rays back ahead.
In the eighth, Williamson’s one-out bunt single set the table for Simpson’s RBI triple into deep right.
Abreu’s sac fly cut the Boston deficit to 6-4, but the inning was limited with Willson Contreras being thrown out attempting to advance on a relay.
After Diaz’s milestone ground-rule double, Caminero crushed his 10th homer into the center-field bleachers to conclude the scoring.
