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BOSTON (AP) — Making headlines once again, Wilyer Abreu smashed two home runs, with his second—a decisive two-run homer in the seventh inning—pushing the Boston Red Sox ahead for a thrilling 7-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. This victory not only marked the Red Sox’s 12th consecutive win but also saw Abreu notch four home runs over just two games.
Continuing his power-hitting spree, Abreu had previously hammered two home runs in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, sealing the sweep for Boston.
Victor Mesa Jr. had a go-ahead, two-run homer and Jonny DeLuca added a solo shot for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Abreu’s shot off Garrett Cleavinger (2-3) capped a four-run inning that wiped out a 6-3 deficit. Ceddanne Rafaela had an RBI double and Masataka Yoshida had a run-scoring ground out in the inning.
Ryan Watson (1-0) pitched two innings for his first major league victory and Aroldis Chapman got the final three outs for his 21st save.
Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, the Rays jumped ahead with three runs. Mesa Jr. hit his homer into Tampa Bay’s bullpen and Yandy Díaz added an RBI single.
DeLuca’s homer over the Green Monster made it 6-3 in the seventh.
Making his second start after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Boston’s Patrick Sandoval gave up five runs in five innings.
Tampa Bay took a 2-0 edge in the second when Ryan Vilade scored on second baseman Seigler’s throwing error and Nick Furias had an RBI single, but Jahmai Jones’ two-run homer tied it in the bottom half after Andruw Monasterio correctly challenged a called 3-2 strike that would have ended the inning.
Rays starter Ian Seymour lasted just three innings, allowing three runs and two homers after giving up a career-high tying six runs in his previous start.