Major League Baseball

Rays extend season-opening win streak to 10 by beating Red Sox 1-0

Published Apr. 10, 2023 10:43 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

The Tampa Bay Rays became the first major league team since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers to open the season with 10 straight wins, getting a solo homer from Brandon Lowe in the eighth inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 on Monday night.

Lowe homered for the third straight game, sending a one-out pitch from Chris Martin (0-1) into the right-field stands. Lowe has nine RBIs over his last three games.

The 1987 Brewers and 1982 Atlanta Braves share the major-league record for the best start to a season at 13-0.

In a matchup of the AL’s top two scoring teams, pitching and defense prevailed. This was the Rays’ first win by fewer than four runs as Tampa Bay fell one short of the 1939 New York Yankees, the most recent team to win 10 consecutive games by four or more at any point in a season.

Tampa Bay opener Jalen Beeks allowed one hit over two innings, and Josh Fleming gave up one hit over the next four. After Garrett Cleavinger worked a perfect seventh, Colin Poche (1-0) worked out of bases-loaded, two-jam in the eighth by striking out Rafael Devers.

Pete Fairbanks completed the three-hitter and got his first save.

Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta gave up three hits in five scoreless innings. Josh Winckowski allowed one hit in two innings.

The Rays were coming off consecutive 11-0 wins over Oakland in which the Athletics were limited to four hits overall. Boston had a three-game weekend sweep over Detroit in which the Red Sox outscored the Tigers 24-9.

Brandon Lowe slams a solo homer to right field to give the Rays a 1-0 lead over the Red Sox

Brandon Lowe slammed a solo homer to right field to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox.

Boston center fielder Rob Refsnyder, one of several players who will be filling in for the injured Adam Duvall, saved a pair of runs with a sliding catch on the warning track that took away an extra-base hit from Randy Arozarena in the third.

Duvall, hurt attempting a diving catch on Sunday, was placed on the 10-day injured list before the game with a fractured left wrist.

Bobby Dalbec, recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take Duvall’s roster spot, had a pinch-hit single in the eighth.

Boston manager Alex Cora said "there’s a good chance" RHP Garrett Whitlock (hip surgery) will make his season debut Tuesday night against Rays ace Shane McClanahan (2-0).

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Read more:

• Gleyber Torres, Yankees earning immediate dividends for their patience
• Ronald Acuña Jr. looks all the way back, which could make Braves the class of the NL
• Kris Bryant is healthy again. Can he regain his All-Star form in Colorado?
• What we learned in MLB this week: The stolen base is back
• Why some MLB pitchers want time added to the pitch clock — and why it should stay as is
• MLB power rankings: Braves, Yankees, Mets dominate opening weekend
• 2023 NFL mock draft: Football writers make all 31 first-round picks
• Sharp: The success rate of first-round QBs makes Lamar Jackson's case for him
• Iowa's Caitlin Clark: LSU's Angel Reese 'should never be criticized' for gesture

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience

Major League Baseball

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Red Sox

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Red Sox

Milwaukee Brewers

Major League Baseball

MLB - Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays - 04/10/2023