For several innings on Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Rays (28-19) held a narrow lead over the Boston Red Sox (23-23) despite collecting just four hits. That all changed in the bottom half of the ninth. Holding a 2-1 edge, closer Fernando Rodney surrendered a two-run, walkoff home run to the pinch-hitting Jerrod Saltalamacchia, and the Rays stumbled, 3-2 in the second game of the weekend series at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay grabbed its one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning after a sacrifice fly from Ben Zobrist plated B.J. Upton and Matt Joyce scored on a one-out single from Luke Scott.
David Price was on the hill for the Rays, keeping the Red Sox hitters at bay. Price surrendered eight hits and three runs, but managed to strike out five and allow just one run over the course of seven innings.
The rubber-match finale is slated for tomorrow at 1:35 p.m. EST. Boston is looking to move up in the A.L. East standings after sitting in last place for much of April and May.
Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay and for more on the Red Sox, check out Over The Monster. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.