Rays lose no-no in 10th, stun Red Sox on walk-off

Kevin Kiermaier capped Tampa Bay’s three-run tenth inning with a game-ending homer, and the Rays beat the Boston Pink Sox 3-2 on Saturday night time after shedding their bid for a mixed no-hitter within the prime half of the ultimate body.

Matt Wisler (1-0) surrendered Boston’s first hit when Bobby Dalbec opened the tenth with a triple, driving in automated runner Jackie Bradley Jr. for a 1-0 lead. Christian Vázquez adopted with a sacrifice fly to left.

Main League Baseball guidelines say it would not rely as a no-hitter till the sport ends and a crew finishes with no hits.

“You do not wish to see that go to waste,” Kiermaier mentioned. “They threw nice. Each side did. That is about pretty much as good a pitchers’ duel as you will get, every crew utilizing six or seven arms. However that is 2022 for you. Nothing is regular anymore.”

Hansel Robles (1-1) then got here in for Boston and struck out the primary two Tampa Bay batters within the backside half. However automated runner Randy Arozarena superior on a balk and scored when Taylor Partitions reached on a throwing error by second baseman Trevor Story.

After Partitions swiped second, Kiermaier drove Robles’ 3-1 pitch deep to proper for his first homer of the season.

Based on ESPN Stats & Data, this marks the primary time in baseball historical past {that a} crew has misplaced a no-hit bid in further innings and gone on to win in walk-off trend. Two different groups received a sport wherein their no-hit bid was damaged up in further innings, however they have been the street crew on each events: the 1995 Montreal Expos in opposition to the San Diego Padres and the 1904 Chicago Cubs in opposition to the New York Giants.

Boston completed with two hits. Tampa Bay had three.

“It is a dream of mine. I’ve needed to hit a walk-off homer. I’ve by no means achieved it any stage,” mentioned Kiermaier, who was batting .125 when he got here as much as hit within the tenth. “I will always remember this second, at the present time. After my early-season struggles I wanted that so unhealthy. Our crew did. What a win!”

Brandon Lowe’s leadoff double within the fourth off Boston starter Garrett Whitlock was the one hit of the sport earlier than Brett Phillips’ two-out single within the eighth off Kutter Crawford. Mike Zunino adopted with a 400-foot fly ball hauled in by Kiké Hernández on the wall in heart.

Whitlock, who made 46 aid appearances for Boston final season, struck out seven in 4 innings in his first main league begin.

J.P. Feyereisen pitched two excellent innings as Tampa Bay’s opener, placing out two. Javy Guerra then bought two outs earlier than Jeffrey Springs pitched two innings. Jason Adam bought 4 outs, Ryan Thompson pitched the seventh and Andrew Kittredge labored the eighth and ninth.

“It is difficult, however they’re additionally all actually good,” Boston bench coach Will Venable mentioned. “We all know our work’s reduce out for us after we play these guys. They’ve plenty of nice pitchers that may combine and match and do plenty of various things.”

The homer was Kiermaier’s first since Aug. 16.

“I simply hope that HR makes me click on so I could make extra of an offensive contribution,” he mentioned. “Hasn’t been nice thus far, however I’ll get my swings and hope it is a turning level for me.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.