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OmahaBaseball · 11-22-2025, 06:52 PM

Rays Surge Late to Beat Red Sox 7–3 Behind Mead’s Big Night

St. Petersburg, FL — A tight game at Tropicana Field turned sharply in the late innings Thursday as the Tampa Bay Rays erupted for five runs over the seventh and eighth to defeat the Boston Red Sox 7–3. The win pulled Tampa Bay even with Boston in the standings at 83–70 as both clubs continue to chase postseason positioning.

Designated hitter Curtis Mead delivered the biggest swing of the night. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and two men aboard, Mead blasted a 1–2 fastball from reliever Justin Slaten into the left-field seats for a three-run homer, flipping a 3–2 Boston lead into a 5–3 Tampa Bay advantage. Mead finished 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI, and the eventual game-winner. The Rays weren’t done. In the eighth, Isaac Paredes lined a two-out RBI double and Ben Rortvedt followed with another run-scoring hit, pushing the margin to four. Tampa Bay totaled 13 hits, including three from Yandy Díaz, who doubled twice and drove in a run. Randy Arozarena and Taylor Walls each added multi-hit games, while Arozarena and pinch-hitter Amed Rosario contributed stolen bases.

Boston struck first in the opening inning on an RBI groundout by Vaughn Grissom and briefly reclaimed the lead in the fifth when Masataka Yoshida homered and Ceddanne Rafaela doubled to set up another run. But the Red Sox offense stalled from there, managing only six hits and struggling to solve Tampa Bay starter Jeffrey Springs, who scattered three runs over 7⅓ innings. Springs (14–8) struck out five and walked one across 108 pitches (Game Score 58), while Jason Adam retired all five batters he faced to secure his second save. For Boston, starter Logan Gilbert battled through five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits (Game Score 47), but the bullpen faltered. Slaten (charged with his first blown save) and Anthony Gose (1-1) combined to allow five runs in 2⅔ innings.

The game lasted 3:30 and drew a crowd of 30,169 under the Trop’s dome. With both teams now tied in the standings, the final stretch of the 2024 season promises a tense finish.

Player of the Game: Curtis Mead

AL East Standings: Tied 2nd Place, 8 Games Behind

11-22-2025, 06:52 PM	#482
OmahaBaseball Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Home of the College World Series! Posts: 3,922	Game 153: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Rays Surge Late to Beat Red Sox 7–3 Behind Mead’s Big Night St. Petersburg, FL — A tight game at Tropicana Field turned sharply in the late innings Thursday as the Tampa Bay Rays erupted for five runs over the seventh and eighth to defeat the Boston Red Sox 7–3. The win pulled Tampa Bay even with Boston in the standings at 83–70 as both clubs continue to chase postseason positioning. Designated hitter *Curtis Mead* delivered the biggest swing of the night. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and two men aboard, *Mead* blasted a 1–2 fastball from reliever *Justin Slaten* into the left-field seats for a three-run homer, flipping a 3–2 Boston lead into a 5–3 Tampa Bay advantage. *Mead* finished 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI, and the eventual game-winner. The Rays weren’t done. In the eighth, *Isaac Paredes* lined a two-out RBI double and *Ben Rortvedt* followed with another run-scoring hit, pushing the margin to four. Tampa Bay totaled 13 hits, including three from *Yandy Díaz, who doubled twice and drove in a run. Randy Arozarena* and *Taylor Walls* each added multi-hit games, while *Arozarena* and pinch-hitter *Amed Rosario* contributed stolen bases. Boston struck first in the opening inning on an RBI groundout by *Vaughn Grissom* and briefly reclaimed the lead in the fifth when *Masataka Yoshida* homered and *Ceddanne Rafaela* doubled to set up another run. But the Red Sox offense stalled from there, managing only six hits and struggling to solve Tampa Bay starter *Jeffrey Springs, who scattered three runs over 7⅓ innings. Springs* (14–8) struck out five and walked one across 108 pitches (Game Score 58), while *Jason Adam* retired all five batters he faced to secure his second save. For Boston, starter *Logan Gilbert* battled through five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits (Game Score 47), but the bullpen faltered. *Slaten* (charged with his first blown save) and *Anthony Gose* (1-1) combined to allow five runs in 2⅔ innings. The game lasted 3:30 and drew a crowd of 30,169 under the Trop’s dome. With both teams now tied in the standings, the final stretch of the 2024 season promises a tense finish. Player of the Game: Curtis Mead AL East Standings: Tied 2nd Place, 8 Games Behind Attached Images __________________ Life is Good! Last edited by OmahaBaseball; 11-22-2025 at 10:23 PM.