ST. PETERSBURG (DA) — Ceddanne Rafaela gave Boston life with a three-run homer in the eighth inning, but the Red Sox could not complete the comeback in a 7-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rafaela, batting second and starting in center field, went 1-for-4 with a run scored and 3 RBI. His sixth home run of the season came off Steven Matz in the eighth inning with two runners on and one out, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to 5-4.
The Rays answered in the bottom half of the inning when Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer, pushing the lead back to 7-4. Caleb Durbin hit his second home run of the game in the ninth, but Garrett Cleavinger closed it out for his second save.
Drew Rasmussen controlled the game early for Tampa Bay, holding Boston to 2 hits over 7 scoreless innings. He struck out 13, walked 1 and improved to 6-2 with a 2.71 ERA.
Rafaela entered the game batting .281 with a .761 OPS, 5 home runs and 24 RBI through 62 games. He had also been on a strong run since April 25, batting .301 with an .827 OPS over 37 games, with 15 runs, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 16 RBI and 9 stolen bases.
The Curaçao-born center fielder also remained one of Boston’s top defensive players. Entering the game, he ranked tied for second among MLB center fielders in fielding run value and third in outs above average and defensive runs saved. Since the start of 2024, he led MLB center fielders with 42 defensive runs saved.
Durbin led Boston’s offense, going 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 2 RBI. Rafaela and Durbin accounted for all 5 Red Sox RBI.
Yandy Díaz went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI for Tampa Bay. Nick Fortes went 4-for-4 with 3 runs scored and 2 doubles, and Mullins drove in 2 runs with his sixth home run of the season.
Jake Bennett took the loss for Boston after allowing 4 runs on 7 hits over 5 innings. The Red Sox fell to 27-39, while the Rays improved to 40-25 and remained first in the AL East.