Sports

Chandler Simpson delivers in a pinch as Rays beat Red Sox, 8-4

By Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times The Tribune Content Agency

Updated May 7, 2026 11:11 PM

The Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero is greeted at home plate by Richie Palacios (1) after hitting a two-run home run during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Boston. (Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images/TNS) Jaiden Tripi TNS

BOSTON - The Rays looked like they were going to make a mess of their first national ESPN regular-season game in five years.

After taking a three-run lead in the top of the second inning, they gave it all back with some of their messiest play of the season, with one official error and several additional misplays.

But they rallied in the sixth inning - thanks to a bold pinch-hitting decision by manager Kevin Cash - and scored an 8-4 win over the Red Sox to extend their torrid streak to 13 wins in their last 14 games, including seven straight.

The Rays, now 25-12 and a half game behind the American League East-leading Yankees, had something else to celebrate. Yandy Diaz got two hits to reach 1,000 for his career, becoming the 20th Cuban-born player in that club.

Junior Caminero got them started with a leadoff single. After Jonathan Aranda had a walk turned into a strikeout by an ABS challenge and reversal, the Sox brought in right-handed reliever Greg Weissert to replace lefty starter Jake Bennett.

Cash stuck with the first two right-handers coming up, and that worked as Jonny DeLuca singled and Ben Williamson walked to load the bases.

Then Cash made what seemed to be a curious move, sending up speedy lefty swinger Chandler Simpson to hit for top catcher Nick Fortes.

It ended up working out very, very well.

Simpson smacked a single up the middle, scoring Caminero and DeLuca for a 5-3 lead.

Then Simpson delivered another run in the eighth. After Williamson bunted his way on, Simpson laced a ball into the right-field corner. Williamson came all the way home, and Simpson posted his third triple.

Griffin Jax worked four innings in his third "start" as he transitions from reliever back to starter, throwing 59 pitches while being charged with two earned runs from the second-inning debacle.

The Rays got more quality relief after that, with strong outings by Hunter Bigge (two innings), Kevin Kelly (one) and Garrett Cleavinger (one).

The Sox got a run in the eighth as the result of miscommunication between outfielders Cedric Mullins and DeLuca, and that ended their streak of games without allowing more than three runs at a franchise-record 13.

Caminero added a two-run homer in the ninth, his 10th of the season.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 10:58 PM.