BOSTON – The Red Sox are finding out quickly that the Tampa Bay Rays aren’t the Kansas City Royals.
Rays pitching shut the Red Sox down again, en route to a 9-2 win in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have lost two in a row after their four-game winning streak was snapped Friday night.
Tampa Bay starter Ryan Yarborough cruised through 7 2/3 innings of work, giving up two runs on four hits. He struck out seven.
Boston starter Josh Smith, who was called up for the doubleheader, was tagged for four runs over four innings of work. Smith gave up seven hits.
All four of those runs came in the second inning, with three coming on a home run by Travis d’Arnaud:
Way over d'Green Monster. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/19Je77LWjh
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 8, 2019
Left-hander Josh Taylor gave up four runs in the ninth inning.
Sam Travis drove in a run for Boston, while Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo shot off the Pesky Pole.
The Sox and Rays will play game two at 6:10. David Price (3-2, 2.83 ERA) will take the ball for Boston. Tampa Bay plans to use an opener.