Red Sox vs Rays Recap: Mayer HR Highlights Tough Loss

The Red Sox came to Tampa looking for answers. Boston was 27-37 and desperate to stop a two-game losing streak. The Rays were sitting pretty at 38-25, winning at home where they owned one of the best records in baseball. Yandy Diaz stepped up to face Boston starter Connelly Early in the first inning. You could feel the energy shift when Diaz connected. The ball rocketed off his bat and sailed over the left field wall. Three hundred ninety feet. One swing. Rays up 1-0 before the Red Sox even got a chance to bat. Tampa Bay's bats were hungry, and they made it clear right away.

Boston couldn't stay silent for long. Marcelo Mayer stepped into the batter's box in the third inning facing Rays pitcher Ian Seymour. An 80 mph sweeper came in. Mayer was locked in. He swung and sent it deep to right-center field. Four hundred one feet. The ball cleared the wall and the game was tied 1-1. But the Rays had one more punch coming. In the fifth inning, Austin Slater raced around the bases. Jonathan Aranda connected on a sweeper from Early. The ball found left field. Slater scored. Tampa Bay led 2-1. The Rays' bats were relentless.

The Rays kept Boston off the scoreboard. Connelly Early battled hard on the mound, striking out six batters through four and two-thirds innings. But the damage was done. In the eighth inning, Yandy Diaz stepped up again. This time he hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Taylor Walls scored from third base. The Rays led 3-1. That was all they needed. Bryan Baker came in for the save, and the Rays held on. Final score: Tampa Bay 3, Boston 1. The Red Sox dropped to 27-38. The Rays improved to 38-25 and stayed hot at home. Two key injuries sidelined Boston's pitching: Garrett Crochet's lat strain meant he was out long-term. But the Rays' depth showed why they belong in contention.