07/17/26 09:07:00
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07/17 21:06 CDT Red Sox push win streak to 11 games, reach .500 with 5-3 win
over Rays to sweep doubleheader
Red Sox push win streak to 11 games, reach .500 with 5-3 win over Rays to sweep
doubleheader
By BRENDAN McGAIR
Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) --- Wilyer Abreu homered twice, All-Star Willson Contreras went
deep in his first game back from a five-game suspension, and the Boston Red Sox
extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay
Rays on Friday night to sweep a doubleheader.
The streak is the longest for the Red Sox since Sept. 15-25, 2016, and Boston
(48-48) moved to .500 for the first time since its second game of the season.
Abreu and Contreras homered back-to-back in the first inning after the Rays
jumped to a 2-0 lead. Abreu tied it with his two-run shot and Contreras
followed with his 21st of the season.
Contreras was suspended for his actions during a benches-clearing incident
against Washington last month. The suspension was reduced from seven games on
appeal.
All-Star slugger Junior Caminero hit his 29th homer for AL-best Tampa Bay,
which also got a two-run single from Johnny DeLuca. Caminero's longball tied it
at 3-all in the third.
Abreu put the Red Sox back ahead in the bottom half with his 13th homer. It was
his sixth career game with multiple home runs.
Greg Weissert (2-2) was one of six Red Sox relievers to combine for 6 2/3
scoreless innings. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for
his 20th save.
Anthony Siegler doubled in a run in the fifth for Boston.
Tampa Bay starter Mason Englert (0-3) allowed five runs in five innings.
In Friday's opener, the Red Sox beat the Rays 10-0 behind six sharp innings
from rookie Jake Bennett and homers from Masataka Yoshida and Carlos Navarez.
Up next
Tampa Bay LHP Ian Seymour (6-2, 4.59 ERA) is slated to start on Saturday
against Boston LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 2.08).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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