LF Matt Joyce redirected a 3-1 pitch from SP Jon Lester in the top of the 3rd inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-1 lead over the Boston Red Sox.
Lester cruised through the Rays lineup through the first two innings, but with 1 out in the top of the third, 1B Carlos Pena worked a walk, CF B.J. Upton lined a single to right and RF Ben Zobrist worked another walk to bring up Joyce with the bases loaded, two outs. The grand slam gives Joyce his ninth homer of the season and his fourth slam since entering the MLB in 2008.
Meanwhile, SP Alex Cobb has kept a typically dangerous Red Sox lineup to just 1 run, striking out 1 batter while walking 2 through three innings. He has allowed several full counts, but managed to ultimately escape major trouble.
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