Monday, 4 a.m.
Looking back, the difficult decision was not to start Joe Boyle.
The hard part was to stop him.
Boyle, called up f
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or a spot start by the Tampa Bay Rays, was dominant in a series-winning 8-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.
Boyle, starting so the team could push its rotation back by a day, went five innings of hitless, scoreless baseball Sunday. Boyle, 25, was acquired in the trade of Jeffrey Springs in the offseason. Boyle struck out seven batters in his start.
For Boyle, it wasn’t the easiest assignment. The Braves were hitting well on Saturday night, homering four times. And his opposing starter, Chris Sale, is a former Cy Young winner.
It’s always notable when a manager pulls a pitcher who has a no-hitter going, but Kevin Cash suggested that Boyle wasn’t going beyond the sixth.
For a moment, it looked as if the Braves might overcome another lead as they did on Saturday. They trailed 4-0, but came back to within one run with a three-run sixth.
Tampa Bay came back with a four-run sixth, however, all of the runs coming with two out. Jonathan Aranda singled in Jake Mangum and Junior Caminero had a three-run homer as the Rays’ pulled away.
The Rays are home tonight against Boson at 7:05. Shane Baz will start for the Rays against Tanner Houck.