Pomeranz pitches Red Sox past Rays
The Sports Xchange
Jul 7, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox bounced back behind starter Drew Pomeranz in an 8-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Pomeranz (9-4) gave up two runs in six innings, and Boston (50-37), which lost to Tampa Bay on Thursday, tagged Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (5-4) for a season-high seven runs before he left in the fifth inning. The Rays (45-43) couldn't build on an impressive 4-1 win in the series opener on Thursday, leaving 10 runners on base.
Boston's Dustin Pedroia had a two-run home run, extending Odorizzi's streak to 13 starts giving up at least one home run, a team record and matching the longest in the majors this season.
The Rays had chances to get back in the game, but couldn't come up with hits with runners in scoring position.
They hit into three inning-ending double plays. With runners at second and third in the second, the Rays had both runners tagged out on a bunt by Mallex Smith. Wilson Ramos grounded into 5-4-3 double plays to end the fifth and seventh innings.
Tampa Bay got a solo home run by Steven Souza, his 17th, matching a career high, to pull within 7-3 in the seventh against reliever Heath Hembree.
Boston got a solo home run from Hanley Ramirez -- his 13th -- off reliever Adam Kolarek to tack on a late run. Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel, who had pitched only once in the previous six days, pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.
The Red Sox tagged Odorizzi for four runs and four hits in the third inning. Tzu-Wei Lin singled and scored on an RBI double by Mookie Betts, who in turn scored on an RBI single by Andrew Benintendi.
Pedroia followed with a two-run homer -- his third home run of the season -- to give Boston a 4-0 lead. Jackie Bradley Jr. added a solo home run in the fourth to make it 5-0 for the Red Sox.
The Rays struggled early against Pomeranz but scored two in the fourth on an RBI double by Wilson Ramos and an RBI single by Brad Miller, who was back in the lineup after being activated from the disabled list.
Odorizzi's pitch count grew quickly and he didn't make it out of the fifth inning, giving up a single to Pedroia and then walking the next three batters, including Bradley with the bases loaded. Christian Vazquez added an RBI groundout against Rays reliever Chase Whitley, padding the lead to 7-2.
The Red Sox played without shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who left Thursday's game in the first inning after being hit in the right hand with a pitch. X-rays were negative, but Bogaerts had said after Thursday's game that he wasn't able to throw a ball and hadn't even tried to grip a bat. Lin filled in at shortstop and scored Boston's first run in the third.
NOTES: The Rays placed INF Tim Beckham on the 10-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain, with 2B Brad Miller getting activated from the DL to take his place. Miller had been sidelined by a groin strain but returned to the lineup with two singles and two walks Friday night. With the addition of Adeiny Hechavarria at short and Miller back at second, Beckham may be relegated to a utility role when he returns healthy. ... Rays RHP Chris Archer, who pitched Sunday and is 7-5 with a 3.95 ERA this season, was named as an All-Star. He's replacing pitchers who are scheduled to throw Sunday, even though he's scheduled to pitch Sunday himself. Rays manager Kevin Cash will be part of the AL coaching staff. Tuesday would be Archer's normal bullpen day between starts. Archer joins OF/DH Corey Dickerson, who was voted by fans to be the AL's starting designated hitter.
Jul 7, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox bounced back behind starter Drew Pomeranz in an 8-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Pomeranz (9-4) gave up two runs in six innings, and Boston (50-37), which lost to Tampa Bay on Thursday, tagged Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (5-4) for a season-high seven runs before he left in the fifth inning. The Rays (45-43) couldn't build on an impressive 4-1 win in the series opener on Thursday, leaving 10 runners on base.
Boston's Dustin Pedroia had a two-run home run, extending Odorizzi's streak to 13 starts giving up at least one home run, a team record and matching the longest in the majors this season.
The Rays had chances to get back in the game, but couldn't come up with hits with runners in scoring position.
They hit into three inning-ending double plays. With runners at second and third in the second, the Rays had both runners tagged out on a bunt by Mallex Smith. Wilson Ramos grounded into 5-4-3 double plays to end the fifth and seventh innings.
Tampa Bay got a solo home run by Steven Souza, his 17th, matching a career high, to pull within 7-3 in the seventh against reliever Heath Hembree.
Boston got a solo home run from Hanley Ramirez -- his 13th -- off reliever Adam Kolarek to tack on a late run. Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel, who had pitched only once in the previous six days, pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.
The Red Sox tagged Odorizzi for four runs and four hits in the third inning. Tzu-Wei Lin singled and scored on an RBI double by Mookie Betts, who in turn scored on an RBI single by Andrew Benintendi.
Pedroia followed with a two-run homer -- his third home run of the season -- to give Boston a 4-0 lead. Jackie Bradley Jr. added a solo home run in the fourth to make it 5-0 for the Red Sox.
The Rays struggled early against Pomeranz but scored two in the fourth on an RBI double by Wilson Ramos and an RBI single by Brad Miller, who was back in the lineup after being activated from the disabled list.
Odorizzi's pitch count grew quickly and he didn't make it out of the fifth inning, giving up a single to Pedroia and then walking the next three batters, including Bradley with the bases loaded. Christian Vazquez added an RBI groundout against Rays reliever Chase Whitley, padding the lead to 7-2.
The Red Sox played without shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who left Thursday's game in the first inning after being hit in the right hand with a pitch. X-rays were negative, but Bogaerts had said after Thursday's game that he wasn't able to throw a ball and hadn't even tried to grip a bat. Lin filled in at shortstop and scored Boston's first run in the third.
NOTES: The Rays placed INF Tim Beckham on the 10-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain, with 2B Brad Miller getting activated from the DL to take his place. Miller had been sidelined by a groin strain but returned to the lineup with two singles and two walks Friday night. With the addition of Adeiny Hechavarria at short and Miller back at second, Beckham may be relegated to a utility role when he returns healthy. ... Rays RHP Chris Archer, who pitched Sunday and is 7-5 with a 3.95 ERA this season, was named as an All-Star. He's replacing pitchers who are scheduled to throw Sunday, even though he's scheduled to pitch Sunday himself. Rays manager Kevin Cash will be part of the AL coaching staff. Tuesday would be Archer's normal bullpen day between starts. Archer joins OF/DH Corey Dickerson, who was voted by fans to be the AL's starting designated hitter.
