Red Sox Extend 12-Game Win Streak, Rally Past Rays 7-6

The Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 7-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, marking their longest win streak since 2016. Venezuelan outfielder Wilyer Abreu hit two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh inning that capped a four-run rally to overcome a 6-3 deficit. Abreu has now hit four home runs across two games in the series, including two in Friday's nightcap of a doubleheader sweep.

The Red Sox swept the Rays on Friday with a 10-0 shutout victory in the opener and a 5-3 win in the second game. In the nightcap, All-Star Willson Contreras homered in his first game back from a five-game suspension, going back-to-back with Abreu in the first inning. Jake Bennett pitched six scoreless innings in the shutout, while the second game required six Red Sox relievers to secure the win. Boston moved to .500 (48-48) for the first time since its second game of the season and now sits tied for the final AL wild-card spot.

For the Rays, Victor Mesa Jr. hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Jonny DeLuca added a solo shot over the Green Monster to put Tampa Bay ahead 6-3. However, the Red Sox rally in the seventh proved decisive. Ceddanne Rafaela had an RBI double and Masataka Yoshida added a run-scoring ground out during the inning. Ryan Watson (1-0) earned his first major league victory with two innings of relief, and Aroldis Chapman recorded his 21st save.

The turnaround marks a dramatic reversal for Boston, which held the worst record in the AL as recently as June 24. The team has won 19 of its last 24 games and 16 of 18 since June 24 under interim manager Chad Tracy, who took over in late April when the Red Sox were 10-17. Interim manager Chad Tracy credited the team's cohesion during the stretch. "The guys have come together and they're playing great baseball," Tracy said.

The Rays, despite the losses, maintain a 2.5-game lead in the AL East but have gone 4-7 in their last 11 games. Rays starter Ian Seymour lasted only three innings, allowing three runs and two home runs after giving up a career-high six runs in his previous start. The series continues with Sunday's finale featuring Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (8-5, 2.83 ERA) against Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray (11-1, 2.54 ERA).