Rafaela’s two-run, walk-off homer gives Red Sox 5-4 win over Rays

BOSTON AP Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to a season-best eight games with a - win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night Rafaela had already extended his RBI streak to seven games when he turned on a slider thrown by Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks - and sent it over the Green Monster for his th homer of the season Reinstated off the Injured List before the encounter Red Sox All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman went for with a double off the Green Monster Tampa Bay scored in the first inning against Red Sox starter Hunter Dobbins who left the encounter an inning later due to right knee pain Chris Murphy - was one of six relievers used by the Red Sox after Dobbins departed Boston tied it in the second behind Rafaela s RBI single but Tampa Bay pushed across three unearned runs to break a - championship in the third Boston got to within - in the fourth when rookie Marcelo Mayer doubled in a run and Abraham Toro followed with an RBI grounder With his double in the sixth Tampa Bay outfielder Chandler Simpson extended his hitting streak to games the longest by a rookie in franchise history Jonathan Aranda and Jake Mangum each had two hits for the Rays Key moment Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony came off the bench in the ninth and drew a walk off Fairbanks then scored on Rafaela s walk-off shot Key stats Appearing in th MLB championship Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story had two hits and is now one away from hits in his career Up next Boston LHP Garrett Crochett - ERA goes against Tampa Bay RHP Baz - on Saurday On Friday Major League Baseball stated that Crochet won t pitch in next week s All-Star Encounter AP MLB https apnews com hub mlb