ESPN news: Red Sox set to change the narative against rival Rays
The American League East rivals square off in Boston on Tuesday for the second game of a four-game series, with the Tampa Bay Rays hoping to maintain their current dominance against the Boston Red Sox. The Rays have won 12 of the 14 games between the two clubs since the beginning of 2023, including Monday’s 5-3 victory that lifted Tampa Bay back to.500 on the season.
On Monday, Tampa Bay broke a 3-3 tie with single runs in the fourth and eighth innings to win for the second time in three games. Yandy Diaz (3-for-5) and Amed Rosario (2-for-4) were the team’s offensive catalysts. Rosario collected two extra-base hits to tally a season-high three RBIs. “Good for us that we got guys on in front of him, but he came through in a big way at the beginning of the game and certainly at the end of the game,” Kevin Cash, the Rays manager, said.
On Tuesday, right-hander Aaron Civale (2-3, 5.88 ERA) of the Rays will make his career debut at Fenway Park. Less than a mile from Fenway, the Connecticut native attended Northeastern University during his college years. Civale has made four consecutive starts without going five innings, and he is searching for his first victory since April 9 against the Los Angeles Angels. “A starter’s job is to throw as many pitches as they can, both for themselves and the bullpen. That’s my goal. That aspect of things is obviously annoying, Civale remarked. “I want to pitch deeper into games, but (my last start) was definitely a step in the right direction.”
In 4 2/3 innings against the White Sox on Wednesday, the 28-year-old was given up two runs on five hits and suffered a defeat. But he kept Chicago off the scoreboard in the first three periods. On Monday, after both teams scored three runs in the first inning, the Red Sox were unable to muster any offense; nevertheless, Kutter Crawford overcame a rough start to finish the game with six innings pitched. “Those were the outings last year that would go 4 2/3, six (or) seven runs and put us in a bad spot for the rest of a series,” Alex Cora, the manager of Boston, said. “After the (first), (Crawford) found it.”
In the crucial inning, Tyler O’Neill launched a three-run home run, and Wilyer Abreu managed two singles in the defeat. On Tuesday, Boston is set to send Nick Pivetta (1-2, 3.60 ERA) to the mound. The right-hander will try to extend his run of success against Tampa Bay, where he has surrendered three runs or fewer in the last four of his ten career appearances. In a loss to Atlanta on Wednesday, Pivetta surrendered five runs (all on three home runs) and seven hits in four innings. After being placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right elbow flexor strain, it was his first start since April 3.
“I expect myself to be the same and go out there and produce the way that I want to,” he stated. “But things happen and I would like to have done better, but it is what it is.” Despite having a 4.56 lifetime ERA in 11 games against the Rays, the 31-year-old is 1-6.
