Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Once again, the bullpen of the Tampa Bay Rays looked like a graveyard for an opposing team Monday afternoon.
The bullpen froze the offense of the Boston Red Sox and enabled the Rays to come from behind to win a 4-3 decision over the Sox. It was the team's 21st comeback win of the season.
The Rays were able to win despite an unimpressive start from Luis Pitino, who fell behind 3-1 after three innings. But once the bullpen started to get lose, the game changed. The Rays followed with a quartet of Jalen Beeks, Calvin Faucher, Colin Poche and Pete Fairbanks to get their win.
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Over their four innings (one apiece), the Rays gave up only two hits and no runs to the Red Sox. Together, the foursome struck out nine batters.
Poche struck out the side in the eighth, and with the tying run in scoring position in the ninth, Fairbanks struck out Xander Bogaerts to end the game.
For the Rays, it was their 25th win of the year without a home run. However, Tampa Bay did have five doubles. One of those, by Manny Margot, tied the game in the eighth. Another, by David Peralta, brought home the winning run.
"Home runs are nice," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said, "but you can win games without them."
Randy Arozarena also drove in a run with a double. Harold Ramirez drove in one with a single.
The Rays play the Red Sox again tonight at 6:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Rich Hill.