Griffin Jax works 5 innings as Tampa Bay Rays beat Boston Red Sox 5-1

How the game turned

The Red Sox trailed 5-0 when Trevor Story hit a home run in the 9th, cutting the Rays' lead to 5-1.

The Tampa Bay Rays put runs on the board in 2 of their 9 innings at bat. The biggest was a 4-run 1st. The staff worked 9 innings and kept the Boston Red Sox scoreless in 8 of them. The Tampa Bay Rays finished with 5 runs and a 4-run margin.

The first turn for the Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays led 4-0 when Victor Mesa Jr. hit a home run in the 4th, extending the Rays' lead to 5-0.

Rays' bats

Jonny DeLuca went 1-for-4 with 1 run, 1 double, and 2 RBIs. Victor Mesa Jr. finished 1-for-2 with 1 run, 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 1 walk. Chandler Simpson had 1 hit in 3 at-bats with 2 RBIs. Junior Caminero collected 1 hit across 4 at-bats with 1 run. The Tampa Bay Rays' 4 hits came from 4 batters. They also drew 2 walks. 2 hits went for extra bases.

The game left DeLuca at .259 with 9 home runs and 46 RBIs on the season. For the Boston Red Sox, Trevor Story went 1-for-4 with 1 run, 1 home run, and 1 RBI.

Rays' pitchers

Griffin Jax worked 5 innings on 74 pitches, allowing 3 hits and no runs, walking 2 and striking out 5. 6 pitchers combined for the Tampa Bay Rays' 9 innings on 132 pitches, allowing 6 hits and 2 walks with 9 strikeouts.

Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval worked 7 innings on 94 pitches, allowing 4 hits and 5 runs, walking 2 and striking out 5.

The standings

Through September 20, 2026, the Tampa Bay Rays stood 95-60, 1st in the division. The Rays ranked 1st in the league with a .613 winning percentage.