BOSTON – Justin Meadows tied the game with a home run homer in the ninth inning, Nelson Cruz took the lead with a single in the 10th and the Tamba Bay Rays rallied six scores to beat the Sox 11-10 on Monday night. Boston Reds.
The Rays, leaders of the AL East Division, took advantage of four opposing errors, the worst when center fielder Alex Verdugo missed a Cruz fly apparently due to the sun with bases loaded and two outs in the fourth.
The ball bounced off Verdugo’s glove and Cruz ended up flipping all the pads on the play and scored when second baseman Taylor Motter hit a wild pitch that allowed Tampa Bay to get closer to 7-5 against starter Chris Sale.
Cruz also hit a home run and a pair of RBI singles for the Rays cause, who increased their lead in the LA East Division lead to eight and a half games over New York. The Red Sox missed the chance to pass the Yankees for the top LA wild-card spot.
When the Red Sox led 9-8, Meadows opened the ninth and hit a full-count fastball to Garrett Whitlock (7-3). The ball bounced off Fenway Park’s center-field wall without Verdugo being able to catch it jumping. Boston missed the relays and Meadows out-shot at the plate.
Trailing 11-9 in the 10th inning, Boston reduced the difference to one when Jose Iglesias singled off Collin McHigh (6-1). With one out against and runners in first and middle, JD Martinez fired an unquestionable out to the right side.
For the Rays, Cuban Randy Arozarena 6-2, two runs scored, one produced. The Dominicans Wander Franco 6-4, three scored; Nelson Cruz 6-3, three runs scored, three RBIs, and Francisco Mejía 3-0.
For the Red Sox, Cuban José Iglesias 1-1, an RBI. Rafael Devers 4-2, one scored, one produced. Puerto Rican Christian Vázquez 5-1, one scored, one RBI. Panamanian Jonathan Araúz 5-1, two runs scored, one RBI.
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