Advertisement

Holt's 10th-Inning Single Lifts Red Sox Over Rays 4-3

The Boston Red Sox didn't blame Mookie Betts for a baserunning blunder, and neither did the speedy outfielder.

Betts overcame getting thrown out on the bases late in a tie game, doubling to extend his career-best hitting streak to 13 games and scoring on Brock Holt's 10th-inniing single to give his team a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

"I wasn't necessarily trying to make up for anything. I was just trying to help the team get a run across," Betts said. "Fortunately I got a ball to fall and Brock got a hit behind me."

Betts was in danger of losing Boston's longest hitting streak in two years after reaching on a fielder's choice in the seventh and getting thrown out after stealing second.

The young leadoff man took several steps off the bag when catcher Curt Casali's throw sailed over second baseman Logan Forsythe's head. He stopped abruptly when he realized centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier was backing up the play, but stumbled on his way back to the base and was easily tagged out.

"We put a hit and run on, the ball goes into center field and his first instinct is to go. Kiermaier does a great job of backing up and he gets hung up off the base," Boston manager John Farrell said. "We've seen a number of number of times when things don't go right for him and comes right back to find a way to contribute."

That's exactly what Betts did given one more chance to extend his hitting streak, lifting a perfectly placed fly ball that dropped down the left field line for the Red Sox's longest hitting since Jacoby Ellsbury had a 19-game streak in 2013.

Holt followed with his game-winning hit off Steve Geltz (1-3).

"I didn't hit the ball hard but I got it to fall," Betts said. "That was the main thing."

Alexi Ogando (2-0) came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning to get the win, retiring the only batter he faced to escape a jam with runners at second and third base. Koji Uehara pitched a perfect 10th for his 15th save.

Alejandro De Aza and Jackie Bradley, Jr. drove in second-inning runs to help Boston build a 3-1 lead against Alex Colome, who allowed four hits, walked five and struck out two over six innings.

Newly acquired Marc Krauss doubled to drive in a run his first at-bat for Tampa Bay, and the Rays scored twice in the sixth on David DeJesus' sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to make it 3-3.

Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, who has lost six straight decisions since last winning at Seattle on May 16, allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out five in an outing he felt was a step in the right direction.

" Obviously you want to win and help the team any way you can, and when you don't it's frustrating. It's even more frustrating win you feel like you're not too far off from having quality starts," Porcello said. "It's certainly been a frustrating stretch but this is a positive start but I hope from here to keep getting better and get back to the right track."

The Rays, needing help at first base because of injuries, obtained Krauss from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Kyle Winkler on Thursday. His second-inning double drove in Logan Forsythe, who had three hits off Porcello.

The Rays outhit the Red Sox 12-10, but stranded eight while going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Asdrubal Cabrera doubled and Jake Elmore was walked intentionally to begin the ninth, but the Rays failed to get down a sacrifice bunt in a critical situation for the second straight game and wound up wasting an opportunity to win it.

"It's definitely frustrating. We had several situations to get a job done and we just didn't get it done, plain and simple," Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. said. "In order to win ballgames like that, we have to come with clutch hits in those big opportunities."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: LF Hanley Ramirez (left hand) missed his second straight game and is day to day. ... RF Shane Victorino (left calf) will continue playing for Triple-A Pawtucket this weekend before joining Double-A Portland.

Rays: LHP Matt Moore (elbow surgery) had what could be his final rehab start for Triple-A Durham pushed back because of rain, likely delaying his return to the rotation until at least next Thursday. ... RHP Jake Odorizzi (oblique) will throw batting practice Saturday. ... 1B James Loney (broken left middle finger) hit off a tee.

HOT BAT

De Aza, acquired by the Red Sox from Baltimore for minor league pitcher Joe Gunkel and cash on June 3, had a run-scoring double in the second and is batting .333 (10 for 30) with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs over his last eight games. He hit his first home run for Boston during an 8-6 loss to Baltimore on Thursday.

NO STEAL

1B Mike Napoli scored Boston's third run, sprinting home from third base in the fourth inning on Casali `s throw to second to catch Blake Swihart stealing. Napoli was not given a stolen base on the play. The official scorer ruled he advanced on the throw

Napoli, who walked three times and scored twice, did wind up getting his second steal of the season in the sixth, swiping second base.

MOVING DAY

Red Sox: INF Jeff Bianchi, designated for assignment June 15, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Rays: 1B Allan Dykstra and INF Eugenio Velez were released by Triple-A Durham.

UP NEXT

Red Sox LHP Wade Miley (7-6) and Rays RHP Matt Andriese (2-2) are Saturday's starters. Miley is 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay, and he hasn't allowed a run over 12 innings at Tropicana Field.

Advertisement

More from WBUR

Listen Live
Close