BOSTON — Drew Smyly is still looking for his first win of the season despite striking out 22 over his past two starts.

It can wait.

Smyly allowed just one hit over eight innings and the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen preserved the one-hitter to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 in 10 innings Tuesday night.

“Drew kept us in that game and did a phenomenal job,” said Kevin Kiermaier, who led off the 10th with his first home run of the season. “He’s just so much fun to play behind. He works quick and just throws a bunch of strikes

Smyly struck out 11, tying his career high for the second straight start.

Smyly was in a pitching duel with Boston’s bullpen after starter Joe Kelly left in the first inning with stiffness in his right shoulder. The Red Sox used six relievers, and the first four preserved the shutout until Matt Barnes (1-1) faced Kiermaier to lead off the 10th.

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Jackie Bradley Jr. had Boston’s hit, a single to center in the third. Erasmo Ramirez (3-0) threw a hitless ninth for Tampa Bay, and Alex Colome pitched the 10th for his second save.

“We did that as a team,” Smyly said. “It’s hard to score some nights.”

Nobody crossed the plate until Kiermaier. After falling behind Barnes early, Kiermaier fouled off a few pitches before driving a 2-2 curveball deep into the right field seats.

It was just the fourth hit of the night for the Rays, who added two more runs with two outs on a ground-rule double by Desmond Jennings after an error by third baseman Travis Shaw.


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