ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Blake Snell had another strong outing against Boston – something that is becoming a regular occurrence for the Tampa Bay lefty.
Snell threw six scoreless innings, Wilson Ramos drove in two runs, and the Rays avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Red Sox, 6-3, on Thursday night.
Snell (6-3) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out eight to improve to 2-0 in three starts against Boston this season. He’s given up two runs in 19 innings.
“Blake, you know, looks good against them,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “Really, really good performance.”
Snell gave up two runs in 7⅓ innings in a 4-3 road victory over Boston April 27. He had a no-decision March 30, going 5⅔ scoreless innings in Boston’s 1-0 win.
“Every start, I want to be aggressive,” said Snell, who is 3-1 with an 0.86 ERA in five home starts.
Mitch Moreland hit a solo homer and Rafael Devers had an RBI double off Matt Andriese in the ninth as Boston got within three runs. But, Alex Colome retired Sandy Leon on a two-out grounder with Devers on second to get his 11th save.
Red Sox starter Rick Porcello (6-2) lasted just 3⅔ innings, allowing six runs – four earned – and eight hits. He threw 92 pitches.
“Anytime I’ve struggled this year it’s been a result of falling behind hitters,” Porcello said. “That’s what happened tonight. I got into some bad counts, and you get hurt by that.”
Boston (34-16) dropped to 9-4 against the Rays this year.
The Rays took a 5-0 lead after two innings, helped by a pair of Boston miscues.
Denard Span scored the first of two runs during the first when Leon was charged with an error for dropping Porcello’s throw home on Ramos’ bases-loaded comebacker. Brad Miller added a sacrifice fly.
Ramos had a bases-loaded two-run single in the second that also saw Matt Duffy score a third run from first base when right fielder Mookie Betts picked up an error for an errant throw back to the infield.
Duffy put Tampa Bay up 6-0 on a third-inning RBI single.
Dustin Pedroia will be activated by the Red Sox on Friday after missing Boston’s first 50 games while recovering from knee surgery. Pedroia’s return will come exactly seven months after cartilage-restoration surgery on his left knee.
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1) will go against Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (4-1) Friday night in the first of three games at Fenway Park.