Rays ride homers, Andriese to defeat Red Sox
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays belted three homers and got a stellar start from rookie Matt Andriese to snap a two-game losing streak in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Andriese retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced over six scoreless innings to pick up the win. The right-hander was backed up by the bullpen effort of Jake McGee, Kevin Jepsen and Brad Boxberger, who combined to pitch the final three innings.
"I think Matt Andriese was really the story of the day today -- just to come up against that lineup," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He's in a good spot. Throwing the ball really well."
Jake Elmore's two-run homer in the fifth off Wade Miley put the Rays up, 2-0, sending the left-hander to his seventh loss. Rene Rivera added to the lead in the seventh when he connected on the first pitch he saw from Matt Barnes and deposited the ball into the left-field stands for his fourth home run of the season and a 3-0 lead.
Alejandro De Aza got the Red Sox on the board with a solo home run off Jepsen in the eighth, but Evan Longoria matched him in the bottom half of the inning with his eighth home run of the season.
Video: BOS@TB: Elmore goes yard to give Rays 2-0 lead
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Using the 162 Landing: Elmore took advantage of the "162 Landing" at Tropicana Field's left-field corner when he hit a 1-2 pitch from Miley and lined it into the hallowed space for a two-run homer in the fifth. More >
Video: BOS@TB: Miley strikes out eight
Miley keeps rolling: The one mistake to Elmore proved costly to Miley, who dropped to 7-7 on the year despite allowing just those two runs in 6 1/3 innings. The southpaw fanned eight and scattered five hits in his third consecutive quality start. It was the seventh time in his last nine starts that he's allowed two earned runs or fewer over six-plus innings.
"I thought Wade pitched very well," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "You know, he gets in a 1-2 count to Elmore that the slider doesn't get to the intended spot for the two-run homer. But even when he had men on, he made big pitches." More >
Video: BOS@TB: Andriese shuts out Red Sox over six innings
Andriese spot on: In his best performance of the season, Andriese held the Red Sox to just Xander Bogaerts' two-out opposite-field single in the fourth. The right-hander fanned five, didn't issue a walk and lowered his ERA to 3.24. More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Rays tied a club record with their 10th straight win against left-handed starters.
WHAT'S NEXT
Red Sox: Right-hander Justin Masterson -- making his first appearance since May 14 -- Sunday at 1:10 p.m. ET gets the first crack at replacing Joe Kelly, who was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, in the Red Sox's rotation. In 15 career games (11 starts) against the Rays, Masterson is 2-8 with a 6.93 ERA.
Rays: Starter Chris Archer (9-4, 2.01 ERA) has won a career-high six straight decisions. He is 1-5 with a 5.18 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox, compared to 28-18 with a 2.88 ERA in 69 career appearances against other opponents.
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