Franco, AL East-leading Rays win 8th in row, top Red Sox 6-1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox had a rough day before the game began, then the Tampa Bay Rays made it even more rugged.

Wander Franco extended his on-base streak 30 games with a two-run single, fellow rookie Luis Patiño pitched neatly into the sixth inning and the AL East-leading Rays won their eighth in a row, beating Boston 6-1 Monday night.

The Red Sox had their total of players on the COVID-19 related injured list increase to four when left-hander Martín Pérez and right-hander Matt Barnes were added prior to the first pitch. Infielder-outfielder Kiké Hernández and infielder Christian Arroyo were placed on it last Friday.

After the game, Boston manager Alex Cora said the team found out that reliever Josh Taylor was considered a close contact and will be quarantined. Coach Ramon Vazquez tested positive, while first base coach Ton Goodwin is also a close contact individual.

“I'm just glad that the people that tested positive, they feel OK," Cora said. “They're going to be OK. The professional side of it, we just got to keep grinding.

“It's not easy,” he said. "It's a lot tougher today than yesterday, and yesterday was tougher than the day before, and hopefully tomorrow we're OK. That's what I prayed for, for this to be the end of it and then it's all about baseball."

When asked if he was frustrated or angry about the situation, Cora said, “I'm just tired.”

“To be thinking about it the whole time and to have deal with this before a game and during a game and all that, honestly that's how I feel right now,” he said.

Boston outfielder Hunter Renfroe, placed on the bereavement list Thursday following the death of his father, could return Tuesday.

Brandon Lowe hit his career-high 31st homer on the first pitch from Boston starter Nick Pivetta, sending the...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Franco-AL-East-leading-Rays-win-8th-in-row-top-16424119.php