Rays break things open in 9th, take series from Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays spent their longest nine-inning game in team history playing in wind, rain and chilly temperatures in Fenway Park. It certainly felt a lot better coming away with a win.
Steven Souza Jr. hit a three-run homer, Jesus Sucre drove in three runs and the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 11-2 on Sunday.
The Rays beat the Red Sox for the second time in three games - and just the sixth time in the last 20 meetings - a day after striking out 16 times in a loss.
"I didn't know that, but I'm excited," Rays manager Kevin Cash said when he found out that it was the club's longest game. "It's much better than losing the longest game in club history."
Evan Longoria and Sucre both had two singles, and Souza's homer came during a seven-run ninth as the Rays matched their season-high with 16 hits in a game that lasted 4 hours, 32 minutes.
Boston starter Drew Pomeranz (3-3) came out with left triceps tightness before the fourth inning. He gave up two runs and three hits while walking three and striking out three.
"He wasn't able to reproduce any symptoms later in the day," manager John Farrell said. "We'll see what transpires tomorrow. We don't think this is anything long term."
He's expected to get an MRI on Monday.
"I felt something in warmups kind of similar to what I felt in spring training," the left-hander said.
Xander Bogaerts had an RBI double for Boston after his 15-game hitting streak was halted Saturday.
Matt Andriese (3-1) gave up two runs in five innings.
Playing on a chilly, windy day with a drizzle falling on and off, both teams had trouble with pop ups - one fell against each and Rays first baseman Logan Morrison snow-coned another - and the outfielders looked like they were tip-toeing after balls on a muddy warning track.
"It was pretty ridiculous. I've never played in anything like this," Souza Jr. said. "We're all professionals. We've got to go out there and grind it out. We did a good job of not letting it get to us."
In the second, Tampa Bay made it 2-1 after Pomeranz walked the first two batters, prompting a visit Farrell. Kevin Kiermaier sacrificed before Sucre's sacrifice fly.
Sucre's RBI single increased it to 3-1 in the fourth following a wind-blown ground-rule double. Kiermaier's pop up fell between two fielders and bounced into the stands.
Longoria's RBI single made it 4-2. Sucre, Rickie Weeks Jr., Tim Beckham and Kiermaier each had an RBI single in the ninth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: DH Hanley Ramirez (strained muscle right shoulder) was back after missing three games. . LHP David Price, sidelined since early spring training with a strained left elbow, threw a simulated game after his rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket was rained out. "We'll re-evaluate following Friday and wouldn't rule out his return to us if everything goes according to plan," Farrell said.
YOUR PRESENT, MOM
Andriese won on Mother's Day for the second straight year. He earned the win against the Angels last year with his mother, Lynn, watching him for the first time in the big leagues.
"She was pretty happy," Andriese said. "I got a text from her saying `Great win.' It's good to be 2-0 on Mother's Day."
SORRY MOMS
Due to the wet field, the Red Sox had to cancel the "running of the bases" that was scheduled for postgame.
ROSTER MOVE
Tampa Bay optioned Saturday's losing pitcher Blake Snell to Triple-A Durham and recalled RHP Ryne Stanek from the same team. Snell was 0-4 with a 4.71 ERA in eight starts.
Stanek made his major-league debut, getting one out and allowing a single.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (3-1, 3.04 ERA) is set to start Monday's opener of a three-game series at Cleveland against RHP Carlos Carrasco (4-2, 1.86). Archer is coming off eight shutout innings Wednesday, earning a win against Kansas City.
Red Sox: Off Monday before opening a two-game interleague series at St. Louis on Tuesday. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1, 2.80 ERA) is in line to start.
