The Tampa Bay Rays weren't expect Saturday to be a bullpen day, but it became just that.
Jake Odorizzi had to leave in the second inning due to injury, and while the bullpen kept the game close, it was Sandy Leon's RBI groundout off Xavier Cedeno broke a 1-1 tie, giving the Boston Red Sox a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Odorizzi allowed a leadoff single to Dustin Pedroia in the first inning, but retired the next three hitters in order. He threw the first pitch of the second inning to Mitch Moreland before calling for the trainer and leaving with left hamstring tightness.
After the game, the Rays placed Odorizzi on the 10-day disabled list, recalling pitcher Chase Whitley from Triple-A Durham.
Tampa Bay brought in Erasmo Ramirez to replace Odorizzi, and Mitch Moreland jumped on the first pitch he threw for his first home run of the year.
After the home run, Ramirez allowed just one other hit in four innings of work.
The Rays made sure Chris Sale would not get a shutdown inning in the third, as kevin Kiermaier drew a leadoff walk, moving to second on Steven Souza Jr.'s one-out single and scoring on a two-out single by Evan Longoria.
The game remained 1-1 until the seventh, when Tommy Hunter (0-1) allowed back-to-back leadoff singles from Moreland and Xavier Bogaerts. Pablo Sandoval grounded into a fielder's choice, erasing Bogaerts, but Hunter walked Chris Young to load the bases, and force Kevin Cash to bring in Cedeno. The left-hander broke Leon's bat, but the ensuing ground ball was hit too softly to second baseman Daniel Robertson and he was forced to get just the out at first. Moreland scored the go-ahead run on the play.
Tampa Bay had a potential rally in the eighth off Matt Barnes, as he issued one-out walks to Souza and pinch-hitter Corey Dickerson to bring up Longoria, who was 3 for 5 with two homers off the reliever. However, the Rays third baseman grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Tampa Bay will look to turn things around again Sunday afternoon, as Alex Cobb (1-1, 3.46 ERA) takes on Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 1.50 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:35, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 11:30 with The Inside Pitch, presented by Sykes Lakeland.