The Boston Red Sox (7-7) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (7-7) 4-3 on Friday night at Tropicana Field.
After Boston struck with a two-run top of the first inning, Wander Franco hit his first homer of the game in the bottom of the inning to pull within 2-1. The Red Sox added two more in the third, and Wander once again answered with a homer in the fifth to make it 4-2 Boston. Brandon Lowe drove in a run in the seventh to pull within 4-3, but that would be as close as the Rays would get.
In addition to the two home runs, in the top of the sixth inning Wander Franco had the defensive play of the night when he ran 92 feet to the left field foul line to make a spectacular back-handed catch.
Corey Kluber (0-1, 3.68) took the loss for the Rays, allowing four earned runs on eleven hits while striking out three and walking one in five innings. Former Ray Michael Wacha (1-0, 1.88) got his first win of the season for Boston, pitching five innings in which he allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out three and walking two.
Game two between the Rays and Red Sox comes up on Saturday evening at Tropicana Field. J.P. Feyereisen will start for the Rays on what is expected to be a bullpen day, and be opposed by Garrett Whitlock for the Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins the pregame coverage at 5:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES