BOSTON — In an exciting display of power hitting, rookie Marcelo Mayer delivered two of Boston’s four solo home runs, leading the Red Sox to a 4-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. This victory marked the second series win for the Red Sox against the Rays this season, showcasing Mayer’s contribution along with homers from Abraham Toro and Jarren Duran.
In the fifth inning, Toro hit a decisive go-ahead homer, giving Boston the edge they needed. Pitcher Walker Buehler contributed a solid performance by allowing just three runs on six hits across seven innings, striking out seven batters, and securing his fifth win since returning from an injury on May 20. Aroldis Chapman then took the mound in the ninth, delivering a scoreless performance to earn his 12th save of the season.
For Tampa Bay, Yandy Díaz made an impact with a two-run homer. Zack Littell, the starting pitcher for the Rays, lasted six innings, where he allowed eight hits and recorded six strikeouts. However, the game marked a rare instance this season where a Rays starter conceded more than three earned runs in 19 games.
The Red Sox found themselves in a tense situation late in the game when Tampa Bay loaded the bases in the eighth with the score at 4-3. Boston’s bullpen faced the challenge and prevailed, with Greg Wiessert striking out Matt Thaiss to mitigate the threat and maintain their slim lead.
Key moments of the game include Duran launching the game with an initial pitch home run, followed by Mayer’s solo home run in the second inning, sending Littell’s slider over the right-field wall. Mayer hit another home run two innings later, this time targeting Littell’s fastball, matching his earlier feat in nearly the same location.
Notably, Mayer’s performance set a milestone as he became the youngest Red Sox player to hit multiple home runs in a game since Rafael Devers accomplished the feat in 2018. Mayer, at just 22 years and 181 days old, added his name to this exclusive list.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox will see LHP Garrett Crochet (6-4, 2.35 ERA) take the mound as they prepare to host the New York Yankees for a three-game series starting Friday. Meanwhile, the Rays will engage in a three-game series against the Mets in New York, with RHP Taj Bradley (4-5, 3.95) set to be the starting pitcher for the opener.