Duran has go-ahead single in the 9th, Red Sox beat Rays 3-2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jarren Duran had a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth and the COVID-19 impacted Boston Red Sox stopped the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays' nine-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.

Boston infielder Yairo Muñoz became the latest Boston player to test positive for the coronavirus. Eight Boston players and two coaches have either had a positive test or are considered close contacts since last Friday.

“That was a great win,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Everybody was into it. It was a great baseball game, let's put it that way.”

Rafael Devers opened the ninth with a single off Pete Fairbanks (3-5) , the sixth Rays pitcher, and went to second on Alex Verdugos one-out infield hit. After Christian Vázquez struck out, Duran made it 3-2 on his base-hit to right.

Garrett Whitlock (7-2) went two scoreless innings before Adam Ottavino worked the ninth to get his 11th save.

Rays rookie Wander Franco homered off Chris Sale, extending his on-base streak to 32 games. He is one game away from tying Hall of Famers Mel Ott (1929) and Arky Vaughn (1932) for the third-longest stretch for a player under 21.

Sale made his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, allowing two runs and six hits over a season-high six innings. In addition to inducing three double plays, the lefty struck out three, walked two and hit two batters.

“There's no doubt we've had some gut-punches over the last week, week and a half,” Sale said. “We've still got some fight left in us, we've got some kick. No one in here has given up.”

Tampa Bay went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

“That's what happens when you're facing a guy like Chris Sale,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He looked really good. He's shown throughput his career he's got a...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Duran-has-go-ahead-single-in-the-9th-Red-Sox-16429710.php