Thursday, 4 a.m.
Right about now, the Boston Red Sox have just one question.
Do they really have to leave St. Petersburg?
The Red Sox, dominated in recent seasons by the Tampa Bay Rays, completed a sweep against the Rays with an 8-5 victory Wednesday night. The Rays, who held a 3-0 lead early, fell to 25-26 on the season.
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The Rays have now lost four straight games.
The Red Sox didn’t do much early or much late. But they scored five times in the fifth and three times in the sixth, getting seven of their eight hits in the two-inning outburst.
The Rays’ bullpen has been better lately, but they couldn’t stop the Sox in those middle innings. Richard Lovelady and Kevin Kelly each gave up two earned runs.
For the Rays, Ryan Pepiot returned, but he went just four innings and gave up three earned runs.
The Rays had jumped to their lead when Jose Caballero singled in two runs and Yandy Dias grounded out.
After the Sox came back, however, the Rays didn’t offer much resistance. Diaz did hit his fourth home run.
The Rays are off today. They play against the Kansas City Royals Friday night at Tropicana Field at 6:50 The Rays have not announced a starter. The Royals will start Seth Lugo.