Alejandro De Aza, right, scores in front of Curt Casali on a sacrifice fly by Jackie Bradley Jr. during the second inning. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Boston took advantage of five walks from Tampa Bay Rays’ hurler Alex Colome, converting the free passes into a pair of runs en route to the Red Sox 4-3 victory over the Rays. While Tampa Bay had the opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the ninth, thus ending the game, Craig Breslow and Alexi Ogando managed to escape the high leverage wRISP situation unscathed. The Rays start the day at 41-34, with just a one-game lead over Toronto and Baltimore in the AL East.


Source: FanGraphs

It was apparent that Colome didn’t have his best stuff from the get-go. The righty gave up a pair of walks to Brock Holt and David Ortiz in the first inning, yet a two-out popper in foul territory allowed Colome to escape the frame unscathed.

However, the three runs he allowed came in innings where Colome led things off with a walk to first baseman Mike Napoli. In the second, after the first walk to Napoli, Alejandro De Aza doubled to left-center past a diving Kevin Kiermaier, scoring Napoli from first. A Blake Swihart groundout followed by a Jackie Bradley Jr. sacrifice-fly to left gave Boston a two run advantage.

The third run off Colome came in the fourth inning, with runners on the corners and one out. The Red Sox put together a textbook double steal with Swihart attempting to swipe second and Napoli in motion toward home. And while Curt Casali was able to gun down Swihart at second, Napoli scored easily. It was a mental mistake on the part of Casali that cost Tampa Bay a pivotal run.

All told, Colome allowed three runs on four hits, walking five while striking out two.

The Rays answered with three hits off Rick Porcello in the second, including an RBI double off the bat of the newest addition to the roster, Marc Krauss.

Tampa Bay tied the game with two runs in the sixth against Porcello. Joey Butler hit a knuckling single to center to start the frame, and Evan Longoria blistered an opposite field double off the right field wall to put both runners into scoring position. David DeJesus followed with a sac-fly to make it 3-2, then Porcello wild pitched the tying run home. That got Colome off the hook.

With the game tied in the seventh, Kevin Jepsen took the mound and threw a scoreless frame. Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger followed with two goose eggs in the eighth and ninth innings (respectively), setting the stage for a walk off win in the bottom of the inning.

Asdrubal Cabrera absolutely smoked a double down the left-field line to start the inning against Breslow. Jake Elmore was walked intentionally, setting up a double play situation for Boston, but Curt Casali struck out (swinging) after not getting the bunt down for the first out. Kevin Kiermaier was able to move the runners to second and third with a grounder to second, but Butler flared to right against Ogando to end the threat and inning.

Mookie Betts led off the 10th with a bloop double to left off Steve Geltz, and then Brock Holt — who was hitless entering the 10th — hit an opposite field single to left, scoring Betts. The Rays went down in order in the bottom of the inning against closer Koji Uehara.

The New What Next

Tampa Bay and Boston are set for game two on Saturday. Matt Andriese will take the mound for the Rays,  opposite of LHP Wade Miley. Andriese (2-1, 2.40 ERA since being recalled) allowed four earned runs on five hits — including three home runs — over 5-1/3 innings in a loss Monday against the Blue Jays. Miley (6-2, 3.10 ERA in his past eight starts) has been fantastic in three career starts against the Rays, going 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 6/27/15 Starting Lineup

Guyer CF
Butler DH
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Souza Jr. RF
Cabrera SS
DeJesus LF
Elmore 1B
Rivera C
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— Matt Moore’s final rehab start with the Durham Bulls was delayed by rain. His start has been bumped back to today, and his return to the Rays is now lined up for Thursday.

— It looks like Casey Gillaspie might be getting called up to the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs soon:

— Even after Tampa Bay lost four of its last five, only three teams have more than their 41 wins — St. Louis Cardinals at 49, Los Angeles Dodgers at 42, and the Houston Astros 43.

— Our Rays watch party with the Brewery Bay at Green Bench Brewing Company is less than a week away! 

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