Justin Turner runs to first after hitting a three-run double in the sixth inning to help the Red Sox earn an 8-5 win over Tampa Bay in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday in Boston. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — Harold Ramírez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the ninth inning and Jose Siri made a diving catch for the final out, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday and a split of their day-night doubleheader.
Ramírez collected five hits on the day and drove in four runs for the major league-leading Rays (41-19), who won for just the third time in seven games.
In the opener, Justin Turner’s three-run double highlighted Boston’s six-run sixth inning that carried the Red Sox to an 8-5 victory.
The nightcap was tied at 2 when Francisco Mejía and Yandy Díaz opened the ninth with consecutive singles against Kenley Jansen (1-3). Mejía and Díaz advanced on Brandon Lowe’s fly to right and scored on Ramírez’s liner into the gap in right-center.
Calvin Faucher (1-1) worked a scoreless inning for the victory, and Jason Adam got the three outs for his eighth save. Siri closed it out with his diving grab on Jarren Duran’s bloop with two runners on.
Making his second start after opening the season on the injured list, Rays starter Tyler Glasnow went 5 1/3 innings, allowing a run and four hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
The 29-year-old right-hander made just two starts in 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2021.
Siri gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead with a pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth. He hit a grounder down the third-base line through a drawn-in infield.
But Boston tied it when second baseman Lowe dropped Rafael Devers’ two-out popup in shallow right in the seventh, allowing Connor Wong to score.
Alex Verdugo had three hits and two RBI in the opener for the Red Sox, who were swept by the Rays in a four-game series in their first meeting at Tropicana Field in April.
“The beauty of putting the ball in play,” Boston Manager Alex Cora said. “We took our walks, ran the bases well. It was a total team effort.”
Díaz hit a two-run double and Wander Franco had three hits for Tampa Bay in the first game.
Boston shortstop Kiké Hernández made two throwing errors. The first one brought home a run.
Trailing 4-1, the Red Sox rallied against Jalen Beeks (2-3). Pablo Reyes hit an RBI single before Turner doubled off the Green Monster through a stiff breeze, making it 5-4.
“He got a changeup down in the zone,” Cora said of Turner’s hit. “Tough conditions, that was the only way you could get to the wall, to be a line drive, a hard line drive.”
Masataka Yoshida followed with a run-scoring double before Jarren Duran hit an RBI single off Cooper Criswell.
Playing the opener of a four-game series on an unseasonably cool day after Friday’s game was rained out and rescheduled for Monday, the Rays jumped ahead 3-0 in the second against Garrett Whitlock.
Díaz drove his two-run double into the left-field corner after Hernández’s throwing error allowed Harold Ramírez to score. Hernández made a nice sliding play on a grounder up the middle but fired wide of second from his knees trying to get a forceout.
Corey Kluber (3-6), recently demoted to the bullpen, worked a perfect inning for the victory. Jansen pitched the ninth for his 12th save, getting three strikeouts.
Whitlock gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
SEEING DOUBLE
It was Boston’s first scheduled doubleheader since Aug. 30, 1978.
YOU CAN’T CATCH ME
The Rays had their 26th straight stolen base when Franco got his 21st, extending the longest streak in team history.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: Franco trotted into third slowly on a single and was checked by a trainer but remained in the game. … Catcher Christian Bethancourt got up slowly favoring his left leg after Boston catcher Reese McGuire landed on him on a close play at the plate but stayed in. … LHP Josh Fleming underwent an MRI for a sore left elbow.
Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora said INF Christian Arroyo (right hamstring) was set to return from his rehab assignment Saturday to be re-evaluated. “No guarantee he’ll be active here or go back and play more,” Cora said.
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