The Boston Red Sox (77-59) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (84-50) 4-0 on Thursday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays lead over the Yankees atop the AL East is now 6.5 games, and the Red Sox are eight games behind Tampa Bay in third place in the division race.
The Red Sox got RBIs from Bobby Dalbec in the first and Hunter Renfroe in the second to take an early lead. In the fifth inning they added RBIs from J.D. Martinez and Dalbec again to make it 4-0, which would be the final score. Dalbec finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Rookie Wander Franco walked in the seventh inning to reach base for a historic 33rd consecutive game, but left moments later left due to a headache. Shane McClanahan (9-5, 3.76) pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out eight and walking two.
The Rays now begin a three game series with the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. First pitch Friday 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