Rays Claim Second In The AL East After Victory Over Red Sox Tuesday Night

BY LILY BELCHER

ST.PETERSBURG--With last night’s 3-2 win over the Red Sox, led by Chris Sale making his season debut, the Rays reclaimed second in the AL East as they dance a half game over Boston, staring down the final two games of a four-game series.

Corey Kluber took the mound at the Trop Tuesday night, tossing six innings with seven strikeouts and giving up only two runs. He retired the first twelve batters he faced before running into trouble with the second half of Boston’s lineup in the fifth.

Back-to-back base hits by Alex Verdugo and Trevor Story put two runners in scoring position. Verdugo scored off a bunt and groundout by Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec drove in Story with a triple that fell between a sliding Brett Phillips in centerfield and Randy Arozarena in left.

Rays’ batters answered in the bottom half of the sixth with a leadoff base hit by Harold Ramirez and a walk to Isaac Paredes. Pinch-hitting Francisco Mejia snuck a groundball base hit through the left side of the infield, scoring Ramirez and moving Mejia into scoring position.

Chaos ensued during Taylor Walls’ at bat as a comebacker to Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Strahm’s hand forced Strahm to make a quick toss to get a running Walls out at first. The throw went past Cordero and into foul territory, allowing Paredes to round third and score. Cordero recovered and tried to stop Mejia from advancing past third, but overshot, sending the ball flying past the backstop and Mejia scores standing up.

The three-run sixth inning for the Rays was enough to take the win over Boston and extend their winning streak against the Red Sox to four games this month.

The Rays will face the Red Sox again Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 as Shane McClanahan faces Josh Winckowski on the mound.

Predictions for tonight's game: McClanahan tosses at least 100 pitches and 7 innings. Diaz has a good offensive night (including an RBI double). Christian Bethancourt gets his first hit in a Rays uniform pinch hitting after the bullpen takes over for McClanahan.

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Other Notes:

• Yandy Diaz extended his on base-streak to 15 games. The 30-year-old is batting .303 with a .416 OBP, striking out only 33 times in 320 at bats this season.

• Shane McClanahan will make his final start before the All-Star break Wednesday night. The sophomore southpaw has the lowest ERA in the league and has nine wins out of 12 decisions, making a strong case to start for the American League in the Midsummer Classic.

• Wander Franco underwent successful hamate surgery on his right wrist as the Rays have an MLB-high of 16 players on the IL.

Should McClanahan Start For The AL In The All Star Game?

• YES
• NO