UPDATE: In a critical showdown, Brandon Lowe smashed his 30th home run of the season, propelling the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on September 24, 2023. This win halted the Rays’ eight-game losing streak against Boston and prevented a series sweep.
The Rays (76-80) are now eyeing a strong finish as they close the season with six crucial road games. Despite the loss, the Red Sox (85-71) maintain their one-game lead in the race for the AL’s second wild card, thanks to losses from both Cleveland and Houston today.
The game took place at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yankees, as Tropicana Field remains damaged by Hurricane Milton. The Rays concluded the season with a commendable 41-40 home record, marking their ninth consecutive winning record at home.
Tampa Bay took charge early, capitalizing on rookie Connelly Early’s shaky first inning. After Chandler Simpson led off with a single, Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero walked, setting the stage for Christopher Morel’s two-run double. The Rays quickly added a third run due to a Boston error, establishing a significant lead.
Lowe’s standout moment came in the seventh inning when he launched a homer off Steven Matz, marking the second time in his career he reached the 30-home run milestone. The Rays further extended their lead in the eighth inning, scoring four runs against Boston rookie Payton Tolle, effectively sealing their victory.
Boston’s aggressive baserunning, which had fueled their earlier rallies in the series, backfired in this match. Romy Gonzalez was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first on a grounder, while Jarren Duran was picked off first base after a walk in the fifth inning. The Red Sox struggled offensively, going 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position and striking out a staggering 14 times. Notably, Lowe struck out three times himself, stranding eight runners on base.
Garrett Cleavinger (2-6) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Early (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
The game attracted a sellout crowd of 10,046, marking the Rays’ 61st sellout of the season and bringing their total attendance to 786,750.
Looking ahead, the Rays will send RHP Ryan Pepiot (11-11) to the mound on Tuesday at Baltimore, while the Red Sox will have RHP Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.46 ERA) facing the Blue Jays in Toronto the same day.
Stay tuned for more updates as the playoff race intensifies.