Field Level Media
Jul 31, 2019
Austin Meadows hit a three-run home run, and Kevin Kiermaier and Willy Adames added solo shots as the Tampa Bay Rays held off the host Boston Red Sox 8-5 Wednesday night.
Kiermaier, fresh off the injured list (thumb), also had a key RBI triple. The Rays have won the first two games of the series -- and five of their last six -- and will seek a sweep Thursday.
J.D. Martinez and Michael Chavis homered for the Red Sox, who dropped their third straight.
Kiermaier's triple came during a two-run seventh to put the Rays up 8-2 before Boston scored three in the bottom of the frame. Chavis' homer got the rally started, and Rafael Devers and Martinez each singled home runs. Colin Poche came in and struck out Andrew Benintendi to escape the jam.
Despite being charged with all three runs, Ryan Yarbrough (10-3) earned the win, giving up four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings and striking out three. He followed opener Andrew Kittredge, who pitched the first 2 1/3 innings.
Chaz Roe worked around a leadoff single and a walk in the ninth to convert his second career save in 209 games.
Like Boston fans upset the team didn't make a deal prior to the Wednesday afternoon trade deadline, starter Rick Porcello expressed his frustration after allowing a run in the first inning. Back in the dugout, Porcello slammed his fists into two of the team's TV monitors, shattering both screens.
The second inning was far worse for the right-hander, with Kiermaier homering to lead off the frame and Meadows cranking his three-run blast just fair down the right field foul line for a 5-0 Rays lead.
The Red Sox chipped away, scoring an unearned run in the third, and Martinez added his solo shot in the fourth to make it 5-2. Meanwhile, Porcello settled before Adames tagged him for his homer with two outs in the sixth for a 6-2 Tampa Bay lead.
Porcello (9-8) gave up six runs on nine hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, his fourth time allowing six runs in his last six starts. He struck out seven.
--Field Level Media