Wilyer Abreu and Connor Wong both brought home two runs each, while Brayan Bello bounced back after a tough second inning to pitch six strong innings. The Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-5 on Wednesday night, completing a sweep in their three-game series.
It was the first time since April 19-21, 2019, that Boston swept the Rays on the road. They had struggled in Tampa Bay, losing 15 of their last 16 games there before this series.
“It’s really important for us to come here and sweep this team,” Abreu said. “Especially because it’s been so long since we’ve done it. This win gives us extra confidence.”
Boston’s star player, Rafael Devers, saw his 11-game hitting streak come to an end after a hitless night. He also missed out on breaking the team record for homering in six consecutive games, which he was aiming for on Tuesday.
José Caballero drove in two runs with a single during a three-run second inning for the Rays, who have now lost four games in a row and fallen below .500 with a 25-26 record. Yandy Díaz added a solo homer in the ninth inning.
Bello pitched well, giving up three runs and four hits while striking out six and walking four to earn his fifth win of the season.v”I think he really found his changeup,” said Boston manager Alex Cora about Bello’s performance.
The Red Sox broke the tie in the fifth inning with a run-scoring single from Rob Refsnyder off reliever Kevin Kelly, part of a five-run inning that gave them a 5-3 lead. They added three more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Abreu’s two-run homer.
“We did a lot of positive things,” Cora noted. “We made good contact with the ball, and that was key for us.”
