Red Sox 2, Rays 0

 

A bright spot in this Super El Nino-influenced summer of our discontent: Abreu and Rafaela homer and Early strikes out eight as the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays,2-0, in Diamond City.

It was Abreu's sixth home run of the year and Rafaela's third. The only other Boston hit all game was a Jarren Duran single in the seventh, but he stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error to capitalize on his hit. However, with two out already that inning, the Sox weren't able to bring him home.

Early lived up to his potential and hype, and went seven full innings with no runs, only four hits, and eight Ks. Whitlock and Chapman were immaculate in relief and didn't give up a single run. 

Also, DA JANKEES LOSE!, 6-0, to Milwaukee last night, so the Sox pick up a game on their lead. They're still nine games back, but at least Baltimore also lost, 4-3, to the Angels last night, so Boston is no longer all alone in last place in the AL East. Both teams are 17-22 (.436), which is more than the Twins, Astros, and Angels can say, or for that matter, the NL's Mets, Rockies, and Giants.

This afternoon (4:10 pm), Payton Tolle (1-1, 2.04) is slated to take the mound for Boston against the Rays' Nick Martinez (3-1, 1.71). Statistically, it might appear that Martinez has the advantage, but he's started seven games this season for Tampa Bay, while Tolle has started only three. Martinez is a career 1-3 against Boston in five games (nine starts) and has given up eight homers, while the Sox have earned a total of 23 runs against him in 35⅔ innings.

But who knows? This game probably won't happen - there's currently a 100% chance of rain forecast for Boston between 4:00 and 7:00 today, so we're most likely looking at a rainout to be made up at some future date.