The Tampa Bay Rays (84-49) fell to the Boston Red Sox (76-59) 3-2 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. The loss snaps the Rays winning streak at nine games, but the Rays maintain a seven game lead over the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East. The Red Sox are in third place in the division, two games behind the Yankees and nine games behind Tampa Bay.
After the Red Sox got a run in the second, the Rays answered with a two run home run from rookie Wander Franco in the third inning to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. The 20-year-old Franco has now reached base in 32 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the majors right now.
The Red Sox tied the game in the seventh when Christian Vazquez hit a solo shot home run, then Jarren Duran gave the Red Sox the 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth with an RBI single. Drew Rasmussen allowed only one earned run on three hits in four innings in which he struck out five and walked none. Pete Fairbanks (3-5, 3.55) took the loss after allowing the one earned run in the ninth inning.
The Rays now look to bounce back and earn a series win over the Red Sox on Thursday night. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM on Thursday - pregame coverage begins with Neil Solondz at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
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