FINAL: Red Sox 2, Rays 1 -Duran's Clutch Hit and Strong Bullpen Powers Boston to Win

The Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Tanner Houck went four innings of one-run ball, four hits and four strikeouts in his first start since September 4th. Boston got five scoreless innings out of the bullpen tonight. 

The Rays got out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Taylor Walls RBI single scoring Josh Lowe. 

It was not until the sixth inning when Trevor Story took Ryan Pepiot deep to left field to tie the game at one. 

Jarren Duran came up clutch in the eighth inning with a big RBI single scoring Story to give Boston a 2-1 lead.

 Kenley Jansen made it interesting in the ninth inning. After quickly recording the first two outs, Jansen walked back-to-back batters who would go on to do a double steal. However, Jansen struck out Logan Driscoll to end it. Alex Cora said after the game that Jansen has been dealing with a shoulder issue but said he was good to go for the three outs tonight. 

Pepiot went six innings of one-run ball, two hits and 12 strikeouts. Pepiot pitched an immaculate inning in the fifth. Christopher Morel robbed Triston Casas of a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning.

 Justin Slaten was credited with the win by working out of a first-and-third jam in the seventh. 

The Red Sox will be back in action tomorrow night for the rubber game when Brayan Bello takes the mound at 6:50 p.m. 

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WHO: Red Sox (75-76) at Tampa Bay Rays (74-77)
WHEN: 6:50 p.m.
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg 
SERIES TO DATE: 4-4 (1-3/3-1)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.24) vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.76)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LIVE BOX
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Duran CF
Devers 3B
O'Neill LF
Yoshida DH
Wong C
Abreu RF
Casas 1B
Story SS
Rafaela 2B

SP Tanner Houck

RAYS
Morel LF
B. Lowe 2B
Caminero 3B
Aranda 1B
J. Lowe RF
DeLuca CF
Shenton DH
Walls SS
Rortvedt C

SP Ryan Pepiot

WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox are 1-4 so far on their 7-game road trip to NYY (1-3) and TB (0-1), after going 4-2 on a 6-game homestand vs. CWS (2-1) and BAL (2-1).

The Red Sox have lost 9 of their last 10 road games, including a 7-game road losing streak from 8/31-9/13–their longest since 9/10-10/2/22 (8 games).

At 75-76 (.497), Boston fell below .500 for the 1st time since 6/11 (33-34)...The only day this season that the Sox fell to 2 games below .500 was 5/18 (22-24).

The Sox have been held to 3 runs or fewer in each of their last 2 games, 3 of their last 5, and 15 of their last 25.

The Red Sox were held to 3 hits last night, their 2nd-fewest since the start of June (2 H on 8/29 vs. TOR)...They scored 3+ runs on 3 or fewer hits for the 1st time since 8/27/21 at CLE (4 R, 3 H).

In their last 21 games, beginning 8/26, Red Sox starting pitchers rank 2nd in the AL and 4th in MLB with a 2.73 ERA (34 ER/112.0 IP).

Sox starting pitchers have allowed 2 runs or fewer in 4 of their last 6 games, 8 of their last 11, and 16 of their last 21.

Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in baseball. The Red Sox have an MLB-best 2 players in the top 10 and an MLB-best 4 in the top 25.