Tampa Bay came in on a 6-game winning streak with an AL East title in sight, and for a moment that run looked like it might survive one more test. It didn't. Boston built a 4-1 cushion through 3 innings and made the Rays play catch-up the rest of the way.
Anthony did the early damage, golfing a 438-foot homer to center in the first inning and adding a 2-run single the next time through the order, and Jones followed with a 414-foot solo shot to left in the third that pushed the lead to 4-1. Tampa Bay's only answers came off outs — Díaz scored on a Caminero groundout, and Mesa Jr. crossed on an Aranda fielder's choice — the kind of manufactured run that wasn't going to close a 3-run gap by itself.
That manufacturing problem was the story of the night: Tampa Bay went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, the exact kind of stretch that ends a 6-game winning streak no matter how good the arm on the mound is. Suarez survived his shakiest control outing of the two and still got the win.
- Day-To-DayAroldis Chapman (RP) — Chapman downplayed his lat issue Friday, saying he's "not worried at all" about the injury and plans to pitch again during Boston's final regular-season homestand next week, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.09/18
- Day-To-DayWillson Contreras (1B) — Contreras (hand) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.09/18
- 10-Day-ILCeddanne Rafaela (CF) — Rafaela (quadriceps) is with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday and will do some hitting off their Trajekt machine, Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.09/17
- 10-Day-ILCurtis Mead (3B) — Mead (wrist) will begin hitting off a tee Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.09/15
- 10-Day-ILAnthony Seigler (2B) — The Red Sox placed Seigler on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to right wrist inflammation.09/13
- 10-Day-ILEli White (CF) — Boston placed White on the 10-day injured list with a right foot ligament injury Friday, retroactive to Sept. 9.09/11
- 10-Day-ILMasataka Yoshida (DH) — Interim manager Chad Tracy revealed Tuesday that Yoshida has a "significant" left hamstring injury that will keep him out until close to the end of the season, at minimum, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.08/18
- 15-Day-ILTyron Guerrero (RP) — Guerrero's (shoulder) stay on the injured list has been extended due to lower-back soreness, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.09/16
- 15-Day-ILJustin Slaten (RP) — Interim manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that Slaten (elbow) will not return from the injured list this season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.09/15
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Ovideo (elbow) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.09/18
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet (shoulder) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Fenway Park on Tuesday, Perla Paredes of MLB.com reports.09/16
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) will make a fourth rehab appearance Saturday, and the Red Sox plan to evaluate him following the outing, Perla Paredes of MLB.com reports.09/16
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — Crawford (forearm) is expected to remain on the injured list for the rest of the season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.09/07
- 60-Day-ILEduardo Rivera (SP) — The Red Sox recalled Rivera from Triple-A Worcester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday due to a lumbar strain.09/01
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Casas (abdomen/knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist Thursday.08/06
- 60-Day-ILZack Kelly (RP) — The Red Sox recalled Kelly (elbow) from Triple-A Worcester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/21
- 10-Day-ILBen Williamson (2B) — Williamson (hamstring) reported to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.09/15
- 15-Day-ILTyler Wells (RP) — The Rays placed Wells on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right forearm tightness.09/15
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Cleavinger (RP) — Cleavinger (forearm) has resumed playing catch but still doesn't have a timetable for a return from the 15-day injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.09/15
- 15-Day-ILShane McClanahan (SP) — Rays manager Kevin Cash said recently that McClanahan (forearm) has resumed playing catch but still has "a long way to go" before returning to the active roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.09/15
- 15-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP) — Rodriguez (back) is expected to join Triple-A Durham for a rehab assignment Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.09/12
- 60-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF) — Lux (shoulder) has resumed full baseball activity, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.09/11
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP) — Uceta (shoulder) is playing catch from 75 feet, per MLB.com.08/15
- 60-Day-ILJonathan Heasley (RP) — Heasley was returned to the major-league roster and placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow stress reaction.06/08
- 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP) — Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
The Polymarket room for this one peaked at 408 watchers, nearly double the season's typical crowd, and its busiest stretch came late as Boston nursed the lead. "Do rays come back?" one poster asked; another, holding Boston's run line, just wrote "tb is NOT hitting." Neither did, and the Red Sox banked the series opener.