WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS (8): 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007, 2013 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS (13): 1903, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1946, 1967, 1975, 1986, 2004, 2007, 2013 AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS (9): 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2013, 2016, 2017 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD (7): 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 @BOSTONREDSOXPR • HTTP://PRESSROOM.REDSOX.COM • @SOXNOTES BOSTON RED SOX 8, TAMPA BAY RAYS 7 Sunday, April 8, 2018 • Fenway Park, Boston, MA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E PITCH COUNTS Tampa Bay 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 7 11 0 RED SOX Boston 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 x 8 11 0 Pitcher # (Strikes) Win: Smith (1-1) Loss: Colomé (0-1) Save: Kimbrel (3) Eduardo Rodriguez 92 (55) Hector Velázquez 37 (23) Time of Game: 3:50 Attendance: 31,979 Weather: 38°, wind NE at 15 mph Bobby Poyner 6 (4) Rays HR: Cron (1) Brian Johnson 14 (9) Red Sox HR: None Heath Hembree 4 (4) Carson Smith 25 (13) RED SOX NOTES (8-1) RAYS Pitcher # (Strikes) THE RED SOX earned their 8th straight win, matching their longest winning streak in 2017 (7/31-8/9)...Their 8-1 record is the Andrew Kittredge 33 (22) Ryan Yarbrough 73 (44) best through the fi rst 9 games of a season in franchise history. José Alvarado 15 (9) Matt Andriese 20 (20) Erased their largest defi cit of the season (trailed 7-2 entering the 8th), matching their largest defi cit overcome in 2017 (twice, Alex Colomé 17 (12) last: 9/18 at BAL)...Are 5-0 this season when the opponent scores fi rst. According to ESPN Stats & Info, had lost their last 96 games when trailing by 5+ runs in the 8th inning or later. Since 2017, have won 26 games when tied or trailing after 7 innings. Is tied for BOS's 2nd-longest April winning streak in the last 100 years (also 1978, 1982)...Their only longer April winning streak came in 2009 (11 G). Alex Cora became the 2nd Red Sox manager to begin his tenure by winning at least 8 of his fi rst 9 games (Joe Morgan in 1988). Completed their 2nd straight series sweep (also at MIA, 4/2-3)...Have swept 4 of their last 7 regular-season series (also at BAL-9/18-20/17, at CIN-9/22-24/17). Have won 6 straight games vs. TB (since 3/30), the club's longest winning streak vs. the Rays since 5/2-6/5/08. Are 5-0 in 1-run games this season, all vs. TB...The last time the Red Sox won each of their fi rst fi ve 1-run games was 2008...16 of the last 35 games between the Red Sox and Rays have been decided by 1 run. Have not committed an error in any of their fi rst 9 games, extending the franchise's longest errorless-games streak to begin a season (previous: 7, 2013)...The last previous team to play their fi rst 9 games without an error was DET in 2013 (9). Today's game-time temperature of 38° was the lowest for any Red Sox home game since 4/17/03 vs. TB (34°)...The team's last colder fi rst-pitch temperature at any stadium came on 4/5/16 at CLE (34°)...The Red Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 games with fi rst-pitch temperatures at or below 45°. ANDREW BENINTENDI (1-for-5, 2B, RBI) gave the Red Sox a lead with an RBI double with 2 outs in the 8th inning...Was his fi rst XBH of the season. Was his 8th career game-tying or go-ahead hit in the 8th inning or later, including 2 this season (also 4/3 at MIA-11th)...Just 2 of those have come with 2 outs (also 9/18/17 at BAL-11th)...Drove in his 15th career game-winning run. MOOKIE BETTS (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB) tied the game with an RBI single with 2 outs in the 8th inning. Doubled to lead off the home half of the 1st for the 2nd straight game, coming around to score in each case. Has reached base in each of his last 18 regular-season games dating back to 9/18/17, and 46 of his last 49 games since 8/15/17...Matched his 2017 season- long streak (8/15-9/2/17), also the longest streak of the Red Sox' season last year. Is 10-for-22 (.455) with 8 runs in 6 April games, having scored in each of those games...Is the fi rst Red Sox hitter to score in 6 straight games since Xander Bogaerts from 9/22-27/17 (also 6). Leads the majors with 133 doubles since 2015...His 79 2B at home in that time also lead MLB. Ranks 5th among active hitters with a .321 career AVG vs. TB (88-for-274; min. 50 G). Has walked in 3 straight games...Has 5 BB against only 3 SO in 2018.
HANLEY RAMIREZ (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, BB) drove in 2 runs, including a go-ahead run in the 1st inning...Has 8 RBI this season, all in the last 5 games. Hit safely twice, his 5th multi-hit game in his last 7 contests...In those games, is batting 12-for-34 (.353)...No AL player has more than his 4 multi-RBI games. Has 3 go-ahead RBI in his last 4 games...Since September 2017, leads the team and is tied for 2nd in the AL with 6 go-ahead RBI at home. With his RBI single, reached base for 2,500th career time (now 2,501), becoming the 19th active player to reach that milestone.
RAFAEL DEVERS (1-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI) drove in 2 with an 8th-inning double...Is tied for the team lead with 9 RBI through 8 games. Has driven in multiple runs on back-to-back days for the fi rst time in his career...Has reached base in all 8 games this season, hitting in 7.
CRAIG KIMBREL (1.0 IP) earned his 3rd save of the season and his 69th in a Red Sox uniform, tying Sparky Lyle for 8th-most in Red Sox history. Converted his 14th save in 14 opportunities vs. TB...Since 2017, is 9-for-9 with 0 runs and 1 hit allowed in 13 games vs. TB (.026 AVG).
XANDER BOGAERTS (1-for-3) singled to lead off the 2nd inning, reaching for the 6th time in his last 8 PA...Was removed from the game with a left ankle injury. In 7 games vs. TB this season, has hit .444 (12-for-27) with 7 2B, 2 HR, and 9 RBI...His 7 2B, 9 XBH, and 23 total bases vs. the Rays are all the most by any hitter against any single opponent this season. Is 5-for-11 (.455) so far when leading of an inning. EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ (3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) returned from the disabled list to make his fi rst start of 2018. Finished with 7 SO through 3.2 IP, becoming the fi rst Red Sox starter to strike out 7+ hitters without fi nishing the 4th inning since Roger Clemens on 8/31/84 at CLE...Since 1908, the only other BOS SP with such a line are Luis Tiant (7/20/71 vs. CWS), Ken Brett (7/20/70 vs. OAK), and Babe Ruth (7/1/1916 at WSH). Struck out 5 of his fi rst 6 batters, including each of his fi rst 3 batters faced...Became the fi rst Red Sox starter to strike out the side in order in the 1st inning of any start since Chris Sale on 7/6/17...Marked Rodriguez' 5th career such inning (last 4/30/17 vs. CHC-3rd).
CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ (2-for-4, R, RBI) singled twice...Since 7/29/17, is batting .333 (53-for-159)...Has hit .344 (56-for-163) at Fenway since the start of 2017. Is a career .309 hitter (29-for-94) in 30 games vs. TB...Includes a .436 mark (17-for-39) in 11 home games vs. the club.
MITCH MORELAND (1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI) drove in a run with a double in the 8th, his fi rst hit of 2018...Snapped an 0-for-9 skid to begin the season. Recorded a career-high 34 2B and 56 XBH last season, including a ML-leading 12 in April. Has doubled in each of his last 3 games at Fenway...Has 6 2B, 2 HR, and 9 RBI in his last 11 games at the venue.
RAYS NOTES (1-8) THE RAYS held a 7-2 lead entering the bottom of the 8th inning but allowed the Red Sox to score 6 runs in the frame...Was the 3rd time this season TB has allowed their opponent to overcome a defi cit to win. The Red Sox' 6 runs in the 8th are the most TB has allowed in an inning this season...The last time the club allowed 6+ runs to score in an inning was also vs. BOS, when the Red Sox scored 7 runs in the top of the 15th inning on 9/15/17. Dropped their 8th consecutive game, the longest losing streak in the majors this season and TB's longest since an 8-game skid from 7/5-16 in 2016. Became the 6th team since at least 1908 to win on Opening Day and lose their next 8 games...The last team to do so was the 2005 Colorado Rockies. At 1-8, have tied the 2011 club's start for the worst through 9 games in franchise history. Have lost each of their 5 road games this year...Marks the 2nd time in franchise history the club has dropped its fi rst 5 road games in a season (2001, also 5). Were swept by the Yankees and Red Sox in back-to-back series for the 3rd time in franchise history...The other times were 5/3-9 in 2002 and 9/7-13 in 2009. Set season highs with 11 hits, 4 XBH, and 7 runs...Were 29-2 when scoring 7+ runs last season...Scored in each inning from the 2nd through the 7th. Both Kevin Kiermaier and Joey Wendle tripled in the contest...Marked the 1st time TB has tripled multiple times in a game since 8/28/17 at KC...Is just the 4th time ever the Rays have done so vs. BOS, with the last coming on 4/25/08 at Tropicana Field...TB last recorded multiple triples at Fenway Park on 7/24/02. Rays relievers combined to toss 7.0 innings, the most single-game IP by Rays relivers this season...Club relievers tossed 7.0+ IP in 6 games last season (1-5). C.J. CRON (1-for-4, BB, R, HR, RBI) tied the game, 1-1, with a leadoff HR in the 2nd inning off Eduardo Rodriguez...Was his 1st HR of the season. Holds a .367 AVG (11-for-30) with 4 HR and 10 RBI in 7 career games at Fenway Park (.387 OBP/.800 SLG/1.187 OPS). Cron's 4 career HR at Fenway Park are the 2nd-most he has compiled in a venue other than his home ballpark (Safeco Field-7). 16 of his 60 career HR have come vs. LHP...Today's was his 1st against a southpaw since 8/13/17 (SEA's Ariel Miranda). DANIEL ROBERTSON (2-for-4, BB, 3 R) reached base safely in 3 of his plate appearances for the 6th career time (last 9/21/17 at BAL). Recorded his 10th career multi-hit contest with a pair of singles...Was his 1st of 2018. Has reached in 10 of his 18 plate appearances this season (3 1B, 1 2B, 6 BB). Stole 2nd base in the 5th inning, his 1st SB of the campaign...Is 2-for-2 in his career in stolen base attempts (also 5/7/17 vs. TOR). Scored a career-high 3 runs...Marks the 3rd time in his career Robertson has scored multiple runs in a game (also 4/20/17 vs. DET, 5/20/17 vs. NYY). BRAD MILLER (1-for-2, BB, RBI) pushed the Rays' lead to 4-1 with an RBI single in the 5th inning, his 5th RBI this season...Has hit safely in each of his last 4 games. Recorded 1+ RBI for the 2nd consecutive game, his 1st streak of consecutive games with an RBI this season. Miller's 37 career RBI against the Red Sox are his most vs. any single opponent...Is a .273 career hitter (56-for-205) in 60 career games against the club. ADEINY HECHAVARRIA (1-for-5, RBI) drove in the Rays' 3rd run of the contest with a single to CF in the 4th inning... All 7 of his hits this season have been singles. Is batting .462 (6-for-13) with runners on base this season, and .429 (3-for-7) with RISP. Is 21 for his last 69 with RISP (.304) since 4/8/17. RYAN YARBROUGH (4.0 IP, 2 H, R, 3 BB, 3 SO) tossed 4.0 relief IP for the 2nd time in his debut campaign...Has allowed 2 ER over 8.0 IP (2.25 ERA, 7 H, 7 BB, 6 SO). KEVIN KIERMAIER (1-for-4, BB, 3B, RBI) hit his 1st triple of 2018 in the 6th inning, driving in Matt Duffy for his 1st RBI of the season. CARLOS GÓMEZ (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) put TB ahead, 2-1, with a 2-out 2B in the 3rd inning...Was his 1st go-ahead RBI of 2018. Recorded multiple hits for the 2nd time this season (alos 2 hits on 3/31 vs. BOS). JOEY WENDLE (1-for-2, R, 3B, RBI) pinch hit for Brad Miller in the 7th inning and hit his 1st career triple, driving in Daniel Robertson from 1st base. Is batting .333 (6-for-18) with 2 RBI this season...Hit safely in each game this series, going 4-for-6 (.667) with 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, and 1 RBI.