Bogaerts homers as Red Sox cool off Rays with 9-8 win
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 26: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after a win against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 26, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON - Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer, and the Boston Red Sox stopped Tampa Bay's six-game win streak with a 9-8 victory over the Rays on Friday night.
Kevin Plawecki had three hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who had dropped four in a row. Michael Wacha (9-1) struck out six in six innings, settling down after a shaky start.
Tampa Bay (69-56) began the day on top of the AL wild-card standings. Yandy Díaz, Jose Siri and Ji-Man Choi homered, but the Rays blew an early 4-1 lead.
Boston (61-65) went ahead to stay with two in the fourth and fifth, and three more runs in the sixth.
Francy Cordero connected for his seventh homer in the fourth, and Jarren Duran added a sacrifice fly against Ryan Yarbrough (1-8). Kiké Hernández singled home Bogaerts in the fifth, and Plawecki doubled in Bobby Dalbec.
Bogaerts — who came in batting .219 in August — then had the big blow in the sixth, making it 8-4 with a drive to left for his 11th homer.
Tampa Bay rallied in the eighth, scoring four times before Boston recorded an out. After Siri’s three-run shot made it 9-8, Red Sox manager Alex Cora replaced Ryan Brasier with Matt Barnes.
Appearing in his third game in as many days, Barnes retired three straight batters with two strikeouts. Garrett Whitlock then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.
The Rays got off to a fast start when Díaz jumped on the game’s first pitch for his eighth homer. Choi connected for a two-run shot in the second, and Harold Ramirez's sacrifice fly made it 4-1 in the third.
Boston grabbed a 9-4 lead on Alex Verdugo's RBI triple in the seventh.
LOCKED UP
Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow signed a $30.35 million, two-year contract that will delay the start of his free agency by one year, the team announced. The Rays’ opening-day starter last year hasn’t pitched this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Aug. 4, 2021. He went 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 14 starts last year.
Glasnow is making $5.1 million this year. He will get $5.35 million next season and $25 million in 2024, which is the first year he would have been eligible for free agency.
"Just to think about a healthy Glasnow that adds to what we consider a really good starting rotation as is, how can you not be excited about it?" Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "Knowing that we have him secure for two years, we are and should be thrilled about it."
Glasnow’s quest to return to the Rays this season will include another live batting practice against hitters Sunday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: SS Wander Franco (hamate fracture) continues to work out at Tropicana Field. "Rehabbing and strengthening," Cash said. "We’ll see where he’s at on Monday." Franco has been on the IL since July 10. ... 2B Brandon Lowe left with a left elbow contusion. He was hit by a pitch in the third inning.
Red Sox: 2B Trevor Story (right hand contusion) was scheduled to make a second straight rehab appearance for Double-A Portland but Friday’s game was postponed due to rain. ... RHP Nate Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session. Cora mentioned that another bullpen session is possible before mapping out the next course of action. "My preference is for him to go out on a rehab assignment to make sure everything goes well," Cora said. "He always pushes for the opposite, but we have to be smart with this."
UP NEXT
Tampa Bay's Jeffrey Springs (6-3, 2.46 ERA) faces Red Sox left-hander Rich Hill (5-5, 4.68 ERA) on Saturday. Springs is 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in four August starts. Hill is looking for his second straight win after beating Pittsburgh on Aug. 17.