ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Christian Bethancourt and Yu Chang homered back-to-back in the sixth and the improved Tampa Rays Bay beat the Boston Red Sox 8-4 on Tuesday.
The Rays have the best record in the American League since August 4 at 22-10 and are 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees, leaders of the Eastern Division. Tampa Bay is also in a three-team fight for the first wild card with Seattle and Toronto.
After Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen was written off and placed on the paternity list following the birth of his son Tuesday, six pitchers combined to give up six hits.
Garrett Cleavinger (1-1) allowed one hit in the third and fourth innings, scoreless, for his first victory since June 20, 2021.
Triston Casas hit his first home run in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox, who are 18-38 against rivals from the AL East. Xander Bogaerts went 0-for-3 and ended a team-record nine-game multi-hit streak.
He shared the record with Kevin Youkilis (2007), Jim Rice (1978), and Roy Johnson (1934).
For the Red Sox, Puerto Rican Enrique Hernández 3-0.
For the Rays, the Cubans Yandy Díaz 4-1 with a run scored, Arozarena 4-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Colombian Harold Ramírez 3-1 with two RBIs. The Mexican Isaac Paredes 4-0. Dominican Francisco Mejía 4-2 with an RBI. Panamanian Christian Bethancourt 4-2 with a run scored and an RBI.