The Red Sox’ pitching staff has allowed just nine runs in its last eight games. Boston moved to the .500 mark for the first time since March 28.
“It means a lot,” said interim manager Chad Tracy, who was named to his post on April 25, when the Red Sox were 10-17. “We talked a lot about the journey it’s been and how rough things were, but the guys have come together and they’re playing great baseball. … It’s nice, but there’s a long way to go.”
Wilyer Abreu has nine games with multiple extra-base hits this season — including a pair of homers in Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader — but plenty of other Red Sox are feeling good during this stretch.
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“It’s very fun right now,” Abreu said. “Everybody’s pushing in the same direction.”
Is a 12th-consecutive win on the horizon? Here’s a preview.
RAYS (56-40): Diaz DH, DeLuca CF, Caminero 3B, Vilade 1B, Simpson LF, Williamson SS, Mesa Jr. RF, Fortes C, Palacios 2B
Pitching: LHP Ian Seymour (6-2, 4.59 ERA)
RED SOX (48-48): Seigler 2B, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, Contreras 1B, Gonzalez DH, Durbin 3B, Monasterio SS, Jones LF, Narváez C
Pitching: LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 2.08 ERA)
Time: 4:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Rays vs. Sandoval: Yandy Díaz 3-17, Nick Fortes 2-5, Cedric Mullins 0-4, Taylor Walls 0-2
Red Sox vs. Seymour: Wilyer Abreu 0-2, Willson Contreras 0-2, Jarren Duran 0-4, Caleb Durbin 0-0, Romy González 0-2, Jahmai Jones 0-1, Carlos Narváez 0-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-3, Connor Wong 0-1, Masataka Yoshida 0-1
Stat of the day: Ian Seymour, who was born in Connecticut and raised in Westborough, Mass., is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three career appearances against the Red Sox.
Notes: Saturday marks Patrick Sandoval’s second start since returning from Tommy John surgery that had sidelined him since 2024. … Sandoval owns a 3.19 ERA across eight career outings in the head-to-head series. … Seymour made his MLB debut in relief in Boston on June 9, 2025, and worked four innings of one-run ball in his first career start against the team on June 8. … The Rays still hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Yankees atop the division, but Friday’s losses to the Red Sox dropped them to 4-7 in their last 11 games. … In three straight contests, Tampa Bay has allowed at least five runs.
Cam Kerry can be reached at [email protected].
