BOSTON — Roman Anthony, widely regarded as one of baseball’s most promising young talents, made an impressive entrance on the major league stage. In the Boston Red Sox’s victory over the Tampa Bay Rays with a score of 3-1 this past Tuesday night, Anthony, in just his second game, contributed significantly by hitting a two-run double marking his first hit in the majors and also showcased his defensive prowess with a remarkable sliding catch in right field.
Anthony’s family watched from the stands as he delivered a solid performance, recuperating from a challenging debut the previous evening which had seen him go without a hit and commit an error in an extra-inning loss. He went 1 for 4 this time, providing a boost to the Red Sox by driving in two crucial runs for an early lead with his double in the first inning. His contributions were complemented by Trevor Story, who added two hits, one being a powerful solo home run over the Green Monster, landing on Lansdowne Street.
Lucas Giolito, previously struggling in recent games, turned the tide and captured his first win in a series of five starts. Giolito’s performance on the mound was pivotal, as he limited Tampa Bay to just a single unearned run—his own mishap on a pickoff attempt—while allowing only three hits and issuing three walks, all while striking out four batters over the course of six innings.
The game concluded with Greg Weissert securing the final outs in the ninth inning, earning his first save in the major leagues during this noteworthy match.
For Tampa Bay, Ryan Pepio put forth a commendable effort despite the loss, striking out an impressive nine batters over 5 2/3 innings, though he conceded three runs on five hits and issued two walks.
The defining moment occurred early in the game when Rafael Devers, after his single, advanced on Carlos Narváez’s double. It was Anthony’s decisive double that allowed Devers to cross the plate, setting the Red Sox on a course to maintain their lead.
Adding to the story, Trevor Story’s recent streak of consistent hitting saw him register his fourth consecutive game with multiple hits, a stark contrast from his earlier season struggles which had seen his batting average dip.
Looking ahead, Tampa Bay plans to send Zack Littell (6-5) to the mound against Boston’s Walker Buehler (4-4) as the series approaches its finale, aiming to clinch some wins in the competitive face-off.