Tuesday, 4 a.m.
On the nights they struggle, no lead seems safe. On those nights, the bullpen of the Tampa Bay Rays looks fragile, hittable.
But on nights like Monday, all things look possible.
The Tampa Bay Rays followed that bullpen to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox, a game that pulled the team within a half-game of third place in the AL East.
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The Rays gave up three runs to the Sox in the first inning, but then threw a shutout the rest of the way. Starter Zack Eflin threw shutout ball for his last four innings, and the bullpen of Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger and Jason Adam threw four shutout innings on just two hits. Cleavinger and Adam both struck out the side.
Amed Rosario led the Rays with a double snd a triple and three RBI. Yandy Diaz had three hits and Jose Caballero had two.
The Rays took a 3-0 lead behind Rosario’s two-run triple and a single by Richie Palacios, but the Sox immediately tied the game on Tyler O’Neill’s three-run homer.
The Rays and Sox play again tonight in Fenway. Aaron Civale will start for the Rays against Nick Pivdtta.