ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Strong starting pitching carried the Red Sox again, who held off the Rays for a 2-1 victory Sunday to take three-of-four in their season-opening series.
Hector Velazquez allowed one run over 5.1 innings and four relievers made sure that held up. Joe Kelly pitched the ninth for his first career save, stranding runners at the corners.
After Brad Miller led off the second with a solo homer, the Sox tied it in the sixth when J.D. Martinez collected his first RBI with the Sox, singling home Mookie Betts. In the sixth, a bases-loaded single from Rafael Devers sent the Sox ahead for good.
WHO: Red Sox. vs Rays
WHEN: 1:10 p.m.
WHERE: Tropicana Field
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Hector Velazquez vs RHP Jake Faria
SEASON SERIES: Red Sox, 2-1.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
4:07: A four-pitch walk to Brad Miller by Barnes has put the potential tying run on base with two out in the eighth. But Barnes comes back nicely and drops a called strike curveball on Matt Duffy to get out of the inning.
3:53: Looks like it will be Matt Barnes in the eighth. I'll be interested to see who gets the ninth, with Craig Kimbrel unavailable today.
3:32 Red Sox have to be thrilled with what they got from Velazquez today -- 5.1 IP, 5 H 1 ER, 1 BB, 5K, 79-58. Threw strikes, worked ahead and got them into the sixth.
3:21 Brock Holt attempts to score from second on the single by Devers and is easily tagged out at the plate. That's four unforced outs on the bases in four games for the Red Sox.
3:20: Once again, Rafael Devers shows remarkable poise at the plate. The other night, he drove in the only run of the game on a two-strike count. Just now, he swung out of his shoes on a 95 mph two-seamer at the bottom of the zone - a real pitcher's pitch -- and then came right back and lined the next pitch into right for a run-scoring single.
3:08 With a sharp grounder up the middle, Jackie Bradley Jr. has his first hit of the season -- in his ninth at-bat -- to lead off the Red Sox' half of the sixth. That chases Alvarado, who is replaced by Yonny Chirinos.
2:53: Looked like Christian Vazquez was going to shoot a single into right field and score Rafael Devers from second, but Tampa Bay second baseman Joey Wendle made a diving stop and threw to first for the final out. Sox had two on and no out and couldn't add on.
2:44 Martinez fights off an inside slider from Faria and drills a single to left, scoring Betts from second. Game tied 1-1, and that's it for Faria (83 pitches), who gives way to lefty Jose Alvardo.
2:41: Big spot here for J.D. Martinez, who comes to the plate with two on and no out in the top of the fifth.
2:16: It appeared as though Tampa first baseman Brad Miller took his foot off the bag while stretching to take a throw from third baseman Matt Duffy, but the Sox didn't challenge and Mitch Moreland is called out at first.
2:08: Pure power (!) from Velazquez in the botton of the third as he strikes out the side -- all three swinging -- on just 11 pitches, regularly touching 93 mph with his four-seam fastball
2:02: Jake Faria needed 22 pitches in each of the first two innings, but just got three outs -- against four hitters -- on a mere six pitches for the top of the third.
1:55: After allowing two singles, Velazquez limits the damage by getting Adeiny Hechavarria on an inning-ending forceout. Took 21 pitches to get through the inning, however.
1:43: Velazquez tried to come inside with a first-pitch fastball, but didn't get in enough, apparently. Brad Miller turns on the pitch and hits it out to right to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.
1:40: Red Sox squander their first scoring opportunity. After consecutive two-out walks by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Blake Swihart, Brock Holt lines to left to strand both.
1:27:: Quick nine-pitch bottom of the first for Hector Velazquez, who retires the Rays in order on two flyouts and a groundout. Velazquez knows his job -- throw strikes, stay out of the middle of the plate.
1:17: After a leadoff single, Mookie Betts swipes second base for his first stole base of the season. He was thrown out in the ninth inning last night following a replay challenge revealed that, after sliding in ahead of the throw, he momentarily took his hand off the bag
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
Betts RF
Devers 3B
Martinez LF
Bogaerts SS
Moreland 1B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
Swihart DH
Holt 2B
RAYS
Span DH
Kiermaier CF
Gomez RF
Miller 1B
Duffy 3B
Wendle 3B
Ramos C
Smith LF
Hechavarria SS
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Blake Swihart makes his 2018 debut, serving as the DH. "We found a spot for him, so that's good,'' said Alex Cora. "As we know, this is a different (case). He's a catcher and he's learning to play the other positions. On a daily basis, that's going to be the hardest decision, as far as the lineup (goes) - how can we get him in? He'll get four at-bats today and get his feet wet.'' Cora said in the upcoming series in Miami, with NL rules, Swihart could be utilized as part of a late-inning double switch, either to the outfield or behind the plate.
- Cora said J.D. Martinez, making his second straight start in LF, will "most likely" be given Monday off.
- Andrew Benintendi (0-for-11) was given the day off. He'll be back in left field Monday in Miami. "He's not getting too many pitches to drive,'' said Cora. "They're pitching him to the edge of the strike zone and he's not getting many pitches in the zone.''
- LHP Brian Johnson makes his first start of the season Monday. "Confidence-wise, he's at an all-time high,'' said Cora. "He did a good job (in spring training). He got better and better with location. He used his fastball to the outside part of the plate against righties, and then he can expand outside, or lower-in with a breaking ball. He's in good spot. He understands who he is. For him to get outs, he needs to read swings and pitch the way he's capable of.''
- Cora said Craig Kimbrel, who pitched the previous two nights, is unavailable Sunday.