Rays Red Sox doubleheader: Boston aims to stay hot
The Rays Red Sox doubleheader at Fenway Park Friday pits a surging Boston club against the AL's first-place Tampa Bay team. First pitch is 1:35 p.m., with Jake Bennett facing Griffin Jax in Game 1 and a nightcap at 7:10 p.m. as the Sox look to stay hot.
Key Takeaways
- The Rays Red Sox twin bill is part of a four-game series in three days, after a May 9 rainout forced Friday's doubleheader.
- Boston enters 46-48 after winning 14 of 16, including nine straight on the road; Tampa Bay leads the AL at 56-38.
- Game 1 matches LHP Jake Bennett (4-3, 2.64 ERA) against RHP Griffin Jax (5-6, 3.47 ERA) at 1:35 p.m. on NESN.
- Willson Contreras misses the opener while finishing a five-game suspension and is eligible for the nightcap.
- Boston added left-hander Alec Gamboa as its 27th man under MLB doubleheader rules.
Why does this Rays Red Sox series matter now?
Boston returns from the All-Star break trying to prove its surge is real. The Red Sox crawled back into postseason contention with that 14-of-16 stretch, while the Rays went 13-5 into the break and hold the American League's best record by three games.
According to The Boston Globe, the Sox have allowed 3.8 runs per game, their second-lowest mark through 94 games since the end of World War II. That pitching form makes this early second-half test against a first-place club a meaningful measuring stick.
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Who starts the Fenway doubleheader?
In the matinee, rookie Jake Bennett takes the ball for Boston. He has won three straight starts and thrown at least seven innings in consecutive wins over the Angels and White Sox, including seven shutout innings with four hits allowed against Chicago on July 8.
BaseballHQ notes Bennett allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, posting a 1.39 ERA over that stretch. His career ledger versus Tampa Bay is tougher: 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in 10⅓ innings.
Griffin Jax counters for the Rays. He has won four of his last five starts and enters at 5-6 with a 3.47 ERA. Career-wise he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 15 appearances, including a four-inning no-decision at Fenway on May 7.
Yahoo Sports lists Eduardo Rivera as Boston's Game 2 pitcher opposite a Tampa Bay starter still listed as TBD, with first pitch at 7:10 p.m. The Globe preview said neither club had announced a Game 2 starter at the time of publication.
What else should fans watch before first pitch?
Boston's projected Game 1 lineup opens with Seigler at second, Rafaela in center, Abreu in right, Durbin at third, Yoshida at DH, Gonzalez at first, Duran in left, Narváez catching, and Cheng at short. Contreras finishes his suspension tied to the June 30 Nationals brawl and can return for the nightcap.
Gamboa, 29, has four big-league appearances this season (four strikeouts, two runs in five innings) plus a 3.63 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 15 Triple-A Worcester games. Both clubs may add an extra player for the twin bill under MLB rules.
Coverage airs on NESN with radio on WEEI-FM 93.7. The Rays Red Sox slate kicks off the second half with stakes clear: Boston must keep rolling, and Tampa Bay aims to protect its AL lead at Fenway.