Brandon Lowe’s 30th Homer Powers Rays Past Red Sox, 7-3
UPDATE: In a stunning performance, Brandon Lowe hit his 30th home run of the season, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a decisive 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on September 24, 2023. This win snapped an eight-game losing streak against Boston and prevented a series sweep, marking a significant turnaround for the Rays.
The Rays (76-80) capitalized on the Red Sox’s missteps, showcasing their resilience at Steinbrenner Field, the temporary home ground following Hurricane Milton’s damage to Tropicana Field. Despite the loss, the Red Sox (85-71) maintained a crucial one-game lead in the AL’s second wild card race, as both Cleveland and Houston also lost on Sunday.
The game kicked off with a rough start for Boston rookie Connelly Early, who struggled in the first inning. After Chandler Simpson‘s lead-off single, Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero walked, setting the stage for Christopher Morel‘s two-run double. A Boston error allowed a third run to cross the plate, creating an early 3-0 lead for the Rays.
Lowe’s impressive seventh-inning homer off Steven Matz provided much-needed insurance, marking his second season reaching 30 home runs. The Rays sealed the game with four additional runs in the eighth inning against rookie Payton Tolle, effectively breaking the contest wide open.
Boston’s aggressive baserunning, which had fueled their earlier rallies, backfired dramatically. Romy Gonzalez was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first on a grounder, while Jarren Duran was picked off after a walk, illustrating the Red Sox’s struggles. The team went just 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position and struck out a staggering 14 times throughout the game.
In his second relief outing, Garrett Cleavinger (2-6) earned the win with a scoreless inning, while Early (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits.
The match attracted a sellout crowd of 10,046 fans, marking the 61st sellout of the season and bringing total attendance to 786,750 for the Rays.
Looking ahead, the Rays will send right-hander Ryan Pepiot (11-11) to the mound against Baltimore on Tuesday, while the Red Sox’s Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.46 ERA) faces the Blue Jays in Toronto the same day.
Stay tuned for further updates as the playoff race heats up!
