J.D. Martinez hit a game-winning, two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 Tuesday night.
Martinez’s liner got just over the head of Randy Arozarena in right field as the Red Sox rallied from down 3-1 late for their second straight win. Christian Vazquez forced extra innings with a leadoff home run in the ninth.
Phillips Valdez (1-0) earned the win in relief. Ryan Thompson (1-1) took the loss. With two outs in the 12th, Thompson hit Alex Verdugo with a pitch before a wild pitch advanced Hunter Renfroe and Verdugo into scoring position for Martinez.
Arozarena put the Rays up 5-4 in the top of the 12th with an RBI groundout. Tampa Bay has dropped three straight.
The Red Sox and Rays each scored a run in the 11th.
Boston’s comeback began in the eighth inning, when Verdugo and Martinez hit back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit to 3-2. A Martinez baserunning gaffe led to him being doubled off second to end the threat.
Any rally might not have been possible had it not been for a controversial catch to end the top of the seventh. With runners on first and second and one out, Manuel Margot hit a fly to left field that Franchy Cordero caught against the wall before turning a double play at second. The Rays challenged to see if the ball hit the wall first, but review upheld the call.
Tyler Glasnow started for Tampa Bay and allowed one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out nine, including his final batter with runners on the corners to protect a two-run lead.
Boston scored the game’s first run when Christian Arroyo doubled down the line in left to lead off the first and later came home on a wild pitch. Tampa Bay went ahead 2-1 on a Margot bases-loaded single with two outs in the third.
A Joey Wendle pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the sixth made it 3-1. Wendle replaced third baseman Kevin Padlo, who went 0-for-2 in his major league debut.
Red Sox starter Martin Perez gave up three runs on five hits over five-plus innings in his season debut. He walked two and struck out six.
–Field Level Media