TAMPA Bay’s Brandon Lowe drove in the only run with a late homer to lead the Rays– the major league’s only unbeaten club– to their 10th consecutive win, beating the Boston Red Sox 1-0 on Monday night (Tuesday in Manila) in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In the eighth inning, Lowe, who went 1-for-3 with a walk, stroked a one-out, 96-mph middle-in fastball from Chris Martin (0-1) to right-center field for the game-winning shot.
Lowe’s heroics came on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.
One of five pitchers who combined on the three-hit shutout, reliever Josh Fleming crafted four shutout innings, striking out five and yielding one hit after entering in the third. Colin Poche (1-0), the Rays’ fourth pitcher, got the win with a scoreless eighth, which was Boston’s only inning putting runners in scoring position. Closer Pete Fairbanks pitched a perfect ninth for his first save as Rays pitching recorded its third consecutive shutout.
Boston starter Nick Pivetta spun five scoreless innings before turning the duties over to the bullpen. After outscoring the opposition 75-18 through the first nine victories, Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense mustered just three hits and two walks against the right-hander.
In other games, it was the Dodgers 9, Giants 1; Rangers 11, Royals 2; Braves 5, Reds 4 (10 innings); Cubs 3, Mariners 2 (10 innings); White Sox 4, Twins 3; Guardians 3, Yankees 2; Orioles 5, Athletics 1; Astros 8, Pirates 2; Phillies 15, Marlins 3; Mets 5, Padres 0; Rockies 7, Cardinals 4; Nationals 6, Angels 4; and Diamondbacks 3, Brewers 0.
Dodgers 9, Giants 1
Max Muncy busted out of a season-long slump with a grand slam and a three-run home run, Julio Urias threw six sharp innings and Los Angeles opened a three-game road series by pounding rival San Francisco.
Muncy also singled, all after Mookie Betts had led off the game with his second homer of the season for the Dodgers, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Urias (3-0) limited the Giants to one run and four hits. He walked two and struck out eight. — Field Level Media
