Overview
- Boston beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Friday night, with Roman Anthony hitting a leadoff 438-foot homer and driving in three runs with a bases-loaded single.
- Starter Ranger Suárez delivered a quality start by working 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five and issuing a season- or career-high five walks.
- Reliever Erik Miller recorded his fifth save but had a tense ninth that included multiple wild pitches and two walks before a game-ending grounder.
- The victory ended Tampa Bay’s six-game winning streak, cut the Rays’ AL East lead to four games after a Yankees win, and left Boston (84-70) a win or favorable combination of results from clinching—the team entered the day with a magic number of three.
- Boston’s late push is testing bullpen depth and pitching workloads as the club balances pushing to secure a postseason spot with managing injuries and protecting pitchers for potential playoff use.