BOSTON — With a two-run home run, Ceddanne Rafaela contributed to the Boston Red Sox’s 4-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, as Brayan Bello delivered a strong pitching performance, allowing only one run into the seventh inning. The win marked the completion of a series sweep and extended Boston’s winning streak to 10 games.
Rafaela, whose previous heroics included a walk-off, two-run homer on Friday, connected for his 14th home run of the season in the sixth inning. Earlier in the same inning, Trevor Story drove in the go-ahead run with a single.
The Red Sox last achieved a 10-game winning streak in July 2018. As they enter the All-Star break, they hold the third position in the highly competitive AL East division, trailing behind Toronto and the New York Yankees.
For Tampa Bay, Chandler Simpson extended his hitting streak to 16 games, setting a new club record for a rookie. The Rays experienced their 11th loss in the last 14 games and concluded their road trip to Minnesota, Detroit, and Boston with a 2-8 record.
Bello, aged 26, (6-3) pitched effectively for 6⅓ innings, allowing six hits, striking out five, and issuing no walks. His performance followed his first nine-inning complete game in his prior start. Aroldis Chapman, an All-Star, secured his 17th save by striking out the final three batters.
Boston took an initial 1-0 lead when Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was called for obstruction. His foot was positioned in a way that hindered Marcelo Mayer’s path to the bag on a pickoff attempt, allowing Mayer to score.
The Rays ended an 18-inning scoreless drought in the fourth inning, leveling the score on Josh Lowe’s sacrifice fly.
Ryan Pepiot (6-7) pitched six innings, giving up four runs, with three being earned.
