The Tampa Bay Rays (84-48) defeated the Boston Red Sox (75-59) 8-5 on Tuesday night for their ninth straight win. The Rays are now a franchise best thirty-six games over .500 heading into September.
After Xander Bogaerts drove in a run in the first, Randy Arozarena homered to tie the game in the bottom of the second. The Rays then erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third to take command of this game en route to an 8-5 win.
Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 4.50) allowed two earned runs on five hits in six innings of work while striking out three and walking none. After the Red Sox got one in the eighth and two in the ninth to pull within 8-5, Andrew Kittredge came on to get the final two outs of the ballgame for his fifth save of the season.
The Rays will now look to win the four game series when they meet the Red Sox in the third game on Wednesday night. First pitch Wednesday from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher and the Inside PItch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES