ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Austin Meadows, Mike Zunino and Brandon Lowe homered to help the Tampa Bay Rays snap a seven-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over the East-leading Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. of the American League.
Rich Hill (6-2) struggled with control problems but limited the Red Sox to one run in five innings. The 41-year-old southpaw, who threw 58 of 97 pitches for strike, allowed three hits, gave up five walks and struck out five enemies.
Rays rookie Wander Franco, who hit a three-run homer in his major league debut Tuesday, went 3-0 and traded two walks.
The umpires had Rays closer Diego Castillo change his hat before pitching the ninth inning. The four umpires met with Boston manager Alex Cora at the end of the game.
There was no immediate announcement on the reason for requesting the cap change. Major League Baseball instructed umpires to begin restricting sticky substance use among pitchers beginning Monday.
Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vázquez sounded RBI singles for the Red Sox, who had their lead over the Rays reduced in the middle of the game.
For Boston, Garrett Richards (4-5) struggled again, allowing five touchdowns, three hits and four walks in one 1/3 inning. He has given up 15 runs in 11 innings of his last three starts.
For the Rays, the Dominicans Wander Franco 3-0 with a run scored; Manuel Margot 4-1 with a run scored. Cuban Randy Arozarena 3-0.
For the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Christian Vazquez 4-1 with an RBI; Enrique Hernández 4-1. The Dominicans Rafael Devers 3-1 with a run scored; Danny Santana 5-0. Mexican Alex Verdugo 3-0 with one scored.
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