Red Sox fall to Rays, but clinch playoff spot when Astros lose to Braves
Rays Edge Red Sox, Move Closer to AL East Title
St. Petersburg, Fla. – Sunday night
The Tampa Bay Rays secured a 5‑1 victory over the Boston Red Sox, tightening their pursuit of the AL East crown as the division race enters its final stretch. In a game played at Tropicana Field, Rays right‑hander Griffin Jax delivered a dominant five‑inning performance, allowing only a single run and striking out a key baserunner in a bases‑loaded jam. Jax, whose record now sits at 8‑10, gave the Rays their first shutout since a 14‑0 win in June.
Jax began the game with a clean slate, permitting just three singles and retiring 21 of the next 23 batters. A pivotal moment came in the fifth inning when the bases were loaded. Jax struck out Roman Anthony to escape the inning without adding to his tally, while the Rays’ bullpen – Cole Sulser, Brody Hopkins and Steven Matz – each threw a scoreless inning to close out the game.
Boston’s offense burst in the first inning, scoring four runs on a rally that saw Jonny DeLuca hit a two‑run bases‑loaded double down the left‑field line and Chandler Simpson add a two‑run single. Red Sox left‑hander Patrick Sandoval, who started the game at 1‑7, was hit early by walks to Yandy Diaz and Ryan Vilade before surrendering a single to Junior Caminero. Sandoval rebounded by retiring the next 21 batters he faced, but yielded a single first‑inning walk and a fourth‑inning two‑run home run to Victor Mesa Jr., before the Rays’ offense finished the inning.
The only blemish on the Rays’ scorecard came in the ninth when Red Sox third baseman Trevor Story delivered a one‑out home run off right‑hander Ty Johnson, giving the Sox a consolation run in a game that ended 5‑1.
With the Rays’ win, the division gap narrows to 0.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, who now hold a record of 84‑53. The Red Sox secured a playoff berth earlier this week after the Houston Astros fell to the Atlanta Braves; the Sox celebrated in their clubhouse while they waited for the final tally.
Looking ahead, the Rays will have a chance to clinch the AL East title at a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Boston will face the Cleveland Guardians on Monday with LHP Payton Tolle slated to start. The Yankees’ doubleheader will feature right‑hander Nick Martinez on the opening day and Drew Rasmussen on the second.
This victory not only adds a win to the Rays’ record but also brings them within reach of their fifth division title, marking another milestone in the franchise’s storied history.
