The Tampa Bay Rays became the first major league team since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers to open the season with 10 straight wins, getting a solo home run by Brandon Lowe in the eighth inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 1 -0 Monday night.
Lowe homered for the third straight game, sending a one-out pitch from Chris Martin (0-1) into the right-field bleachers. Lowe has nine RBIs in his last three games.
The 1987 Brewers and 1982 Atlanta Braves share the major league record for best start to a season at 13-0.
In a matchup of the two best scoring teams in the AL, pitching and defense prevailed. It was the Rays’ first win by fewer than four runs since Tampa Bay fell one short of the 1939 New York Yankees, the most recent team to win 10 consecutive games by four or more at any point in the season
Tampa Bay starter Jalen Beeks allowed one hit in two innings and Josh Fleming gave up one hit over the next four. After Garrett Cleavinger pitched a perfect seventh, Colin Poche (1-0) worked out of a two-run, bases-loaded jam in the eighth by striking out Rafael Devers.
Pete Fairbanks completed the three-hitter and earned his first save.
Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta gave up three hits in five scoreless innings. Josh Winckowski allowed one hit in two innings.
The Rays were coming off back-to-back 11-0 wins over Oakland in which the A’s were limited to four total hits. Boston played a three-game weekend over Detroit in which the Red Sox outscored the Tigers 24-9.
Brandon Lowe hits a solo homer to right field to give the Rays a 1-0 lead over the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe hit a solo homer to right field to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox.
Boston center fielder Rob Refsnyder, one of several players filling in for the injured Adam Duvall, saved a pair of runs with a sliding catch on the warning track that took out Randy Arozarena’s extra-base hit in the third.
Duvall, injured while attempting a diving catch Sunday, was placed on the 10-day disabled list before the game with a fractured left wrist.
Bobby Dalbec, recalled from Triple-A Worcester to fill Duvall’s roster spot, had a pinch-hit single in the eighth.
Boston manager Alex Cora said “there’s a good chance” RHP Garrett Whitlock (hip surgery) will make his debut Tuesday night against Rays ace Shane McClanahan (2-0).
Report from The Associated Press.
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