The Tampa Bay Rays (77-58) defeated the Boston Red Sox (67-71) 1-0 on Wednesday evening at Tropicana Field. The win gives the Rays a sweep over their AL East rival, and have now set a new high watermark of nineteen games above .500.
The Rays got their lone run in the fifth inning, when Taylor Walls hit a ground ball single that Francisco Mejia scored on to make it 1-0. That would be all the offense the Rays would need thanks to a brilliant night from the Rays pitching staff.
Jeffrey Springs got the start, and pitched three shutout innings in which he allowed just one hit while striking out two and walking one. He gave way to Yonny Chirinos (1-0, 0.00), who took the big league mound for the first time since August 26, 2020. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, and enduring several setbacks, he pitched three shutout innings in which he allowed four hits while striking out four.
Pete Fairbanks did not allow a hit in the ninth inning, securing the win with his sixth save of the season.
The Rays are now off on Thursday before beginning a huge three game series against the Yankees this weekend. The first game from the Bronx is scheduled for 7:10 PM Friday night - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher hosting the Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES