Rays finish Steinbrenner Field stay with win over contending Red Sox

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Sep 21, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays wrapped up the home-away-from-home portion of their schedule Sunday night on a winning note.

Their 7-3 victory over the contending Boston Red Sox gave them a 41-40 record for the first, and they strongly hope only, season playing at Steinbrenner Field.

Christopher Morel had his hand all over the win, driving in four runs and making two highlight-worthy defensive plays — teaming with Carson Williams to throw out a runner at home, and making a running catch.

The Rays improved to 76-80, keeping alive the potential to finish with a winning record with victories in their final six games. It also helped their efforts to avoid finishing in last place behind the Orioles, who they are three games ahead of and face three times this week in Baltimore.

While appreciative of the opportunity to stay in the Tampa Bay area after Tropicana Field was damaged heavily by Hurricane Milton, Rays players and staff said dealing with the summer weather and the issues of playing in the Yankees’ spring/minor-league stadium created some challenges.

The Rays took a quick 3-0 lead in the first against Red Sox rookie Connelly Early, a 23-year-old making his third major-league start.

Chandler Simpson led off with a single, and Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero drew back-to-back walks load the bases.

Christopher Morel lashed a two-out double to left that brought home two, and Caminero scored from third on a fielder’s choice grounder by Nick Fortes.

The Red Sox got one back in the fourth off Rays starter Joe Boyle.

First, the Rays prevented a run with an impressive relay from Morel in left to shortstop Carson Williams to Fortes at home, cutting down Romy Gonzalez trying to score on a double by ex-Ray Nathaniel Lowe. Gonzalez had reached on a leadoff walk.

But Ceddanne Rafaela followed with a double that made it 3-1.

The Rays extended the lead to 4-1 in the sixth when Brandon Lowe delivered his 30th homer of the season. That is the second-best showing of his career, trailing only his 39-homer performance in 2021.

But the Red Sox rallied back in the seventh against Rays reliever Bryan Baker.

The first three Sox — Jarren Duran, Trevor Story and Alex Bregman — singled to get one run in. An out later, Gonzalez also singled to cut the lead to 4-3.

Boyle worked into the fifth with his usual mix of strikeouts (nine) and walks (four) on the night.

Morel knocked in two more runs during a three-run eighth.

____