Rays forced to change pitchers in ninth, but hold on to beat Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) — Erasmo Ramírez retired Romy González on a game-ending groundout with two on after the Rays were forced to remove Jason Adam because they lost track of mound visits, and Tampa Bay beat the Boston Red Sox 7-5 on Thursday night.

“Hundred percent on me. I let the mound visits slip in my mind,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s on me. I screwed up and I’m glad that it didn’t cost us a ballgame.”

Isaac Paredes had a tiebreaking single in the ninth off Kenley Jansen (1-1) that hit off the Green Monster, and Richie Palacios added a sacrifice fly.

Adam allowed a two-out walk to Rob Refsnyder and a single to Rafael Devers. Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder started to the mound and had crossed the foul line when he was stopped by plate umpire Alex Tosi. The Rays had lost track of mound visits when catcher Ben Rortvedt had gone out to speak with Adam after the walk to Refsnyder.

“I have a clean inning, we don’t have to deal with any of that,” Adam said. “I’m really bad at keeping track of our mound visits.”

If a team has exhausted its mound visits entering the ninth inning, it gets an additional one. But the Rays used their last one in the ninth.

“The rule is clear, once he crosses the foul line, if they’re out of trips, the pitcher must be removed. We attempted to stop him and he kept walking,” crew chief Phil Cuzzi said to a pool reporter.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora came onto the field, arguing a pitching change had to occur because the Rays attempted a mound visit.

After a delay of about six minutes for a rules check by umpires, Cash motioned to the bullpen. Following a gap of about 8 1/2 minutes between pitches, Ramirez retired Gonzalez on a 2-2 pitch for his first save since 2020.

"You never expect those kind of situations,” Ramírez said. “They called to the bullpen and I’m the only arm available in that moment, so whatever happened, it’s my name that’s going to be called.”

Cora complained that Ramírez should not have been allowed time to warm up on the mound.

“You got to throw him out right away,” Cora said. "That’s the way the rules goes.”

Tampa Bay took three of four from the Red Sox, won for the eighth time in their last nine games at Boston and are 14-3 against Boston over the past two seasons. The Rays (23-22) moved ahead of Boston into third place in the AL East.

Manuel Rodríguez (1-1) pitched a hitless inning.

Jansen blamed himself.

“To me, it’s unacceptable. I expect better from myself. I’ve got to be better in those situations … stay focused and pitch my way back in,” Jansen said. “Tough one. Got to shake this off and be better tomorrow.”

Josh Lowe homered for the Red Sox and Palacios drove in two runs.

Jarren Duran had two doubles and a solo home run in the sixth that tied the score 5-5 as Boston rebounded from a 4-1 deficit. Devers also homered.

The Red Sox lost for the first time in games started by Cooper Criswell this season. The one-time Tampa Bay right-hander allowed five runs – three earned – in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two and saw his ERA rise from 2.10 to 2.76.

Rays starter Zack Littell allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) made his third rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Thursday night. He threw 69 pitches in 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run five hits while striking out three. Baz hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2022.

Red Sox: RHP Isaiah Campbell, on the injured list since April 12 with a right shoulder impingement, threw a 20-pitch batting practice session Thursday. … Boston has yet to determine whether RHP Garrett Whitlock (oblique) will come off the IL next week or if one more rehab start is needed. Whitlock started for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Tyler Alexander (1-2, 5.45) starts Friday at Toronto, which goes with RHP Chris Bassitt (3-5, 5.06).

Red Sox: RHP Bryan Bello (4-1, 3.13) makes his second start since coming off the injured list as Boston opens a three-game series on Friday night at St. Louis. The Cardinals start RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2, 3.67).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB