ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays saw another starting pitcher fall Tuesday, as right-hander Jake Faria had to leave the game in the third inning with an oblique injury after allowing a three-run homer to Mookie Betts, all the offense the Boston Red Sox would need in a 4-2 decision at Tropicana Field.
Faria's third inning began with a one-out walk to catcher Sandy Leon. Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with an infield single and Betts capitalized on a full-count slider that hung in the zone and the outfielder sent it into the seats in left for his league-leading 16th home run of the season.
Faria (3-3) would follow up by striking out Andrew Benintendi and got ahead of Hanley Ramirez 1-2, but manager Kevin Cash and head trainer Joe Benge would come out to look at Faria, and after he took a warmup pitch, removed the right-hander from the game.
Austin Pruitt would come on in relief of Faria, and ended up pitching 5 1/3 innings of four-hit relief. However, a Pruitt pitch in the dirt later in the inning hit catcher Wilson Ramos on the back of his left hand and he also had to be replaced, as Jesus Sucre took his spot behind the plate.
Tampa Bay did not get on the board until the fourth, when Willy Adames, who struck out against Sale (5-1) in his first big-league at bat to end the first, turned around a Sale offering to lead off the fourth or his first Major League hit.
Tampa Bay added another run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Robertson, but would get no closer, and Boston got the run back in the top of the sixth with a solo homer by Rafael Devers off Pruitt, the only hit the Rays pitcher would allow.
The Rays ended up loading the bases with two out in the ninth off Red Sox reliever Craig Kimbrel, but Mallex Smith grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game and give the Boston closer his 14th save of the year.
WEDNESDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (22-24) vs. Boston Red Sox (33-15), 7:10 p.m. first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.
Rays starter - RHP Chris Archer (3-3, 5.01 ERA)
Red Sox starter - LHP David Price (4-4, 4.38 ERA)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday - Rays vs Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Friday - Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Saturday - Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Sunday - Rays vs, Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 p.m. first pitch