St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - B.J. Upton crushed a game-winning,
three-run home run to cap a six-run ninth inning, as the Tampa Bay Rays
rallied past the Boston Red Sox, 7-4, in the finale of a four-game set
Thursday at Tropicana Field.
Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Matt Joyce and Jeff Keppinger
smacked back-to-back singles off Andrew Bailey before both runners advanced on
a groundout.
Carlos Pena then delivered a single into right field to score Joyce before
pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt worked a walk to load the bases.
Desmond Jennings scorched a two-run single into center field to tie the game
and chase Bailey (1-1) from the contest.
Vicente Padilla took over on the mound and Upton launched his fourth offering
over the wall in straightaway center field to make a winner out of Burke
Badenhop (2-2), who recorded the final out in the top of the ninth.
Jennings finished with three hits and scored twice for the Rays, who have won
two straight and sit 5 1/2 games back of Oakland for the final AL wild card
spot after the A's downed Detroit earlier on Thursday.
Jose Iglesias clubbed his first major league home run in the setback, as the
Red Sox wrapped up a seven-game road trip at 4-3.
The Sports Network