BASEBALL: Chandler Simpson, Rays surge past Red Sox, run win streak to 7

Chandler Simpson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs off the bench, leading the visiting Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of their four-game series on Thursday night.

Simpson entered the game in the sixth inning and immediately delivered a go-ahead, two-run single. He later added an insurance run with an RBI triple in the eighth.

Tampa Bay totaled 13 hits, with Hunter Bigge (1-0) pitching two no-hit innings in relief of Griffin Jax, helping the Rays extend their winning streak to seven games. Five Rays finished with multiple hits, including Yandy Diaz, who notched his 1,000th career hit, and Junior Caminero, who hit a two-run homer in the final inning.

Boston snapped Tampa Bay’s streak of allowing three runs or fewer in 13 consecutive games when Jarren Duran doubled and scored on a Wilyer Abreu sacrifice fly in the eighth.

The Rays jumped on Boston starter Jake Bennett (1-1) early, scoring three runs in the second inning. Five consecutive baserunners reached before Ben Williamson and Cedric Mullins delivered RBI singles, followed by Diaz’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

The Red Sox quickly answered. Trevor Story started the inning with an infield single, stole second, and Ceddanne Rafaela added an RBI single. A misplay on Connor Wong’s potential double-play ball and a single by Caleb Durbin tied the game.

Bennett held the Rays scoreless for the next three innings, but Simpson’s two-run single off Greg Weissert in the sixth put Tampa Bay back in front. In the eighth, Williamson’s one-out bunt single set the stage for Simpson’s RBI triple into deep right field. Abreu’s sac fly cut the deficit to 6-4, but Willson Contreras was thrown out trying to advance on the play.

Diaz followed with a milestone ground-rule double, and Caminero capped the scoring with his 10th home run of the season into the center-field bleachers. -Field Level Media/Reuters