Moore handcuffs Red Sox as Rays roll to 4-0 win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays starter Matt Moore took a no-hitter into the sixth and pitched seven strong innings to outduel former teammate David Price on Wednesday afternoon in a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
Moore (4-5) held Boston to three hits, all in the sixth, and helped the Rays (33-44) secure a series victory from the Red Sox (42-36) for the second time this season. Price (8-5) has just one win in his last seven starts, and he's now 0-3 as a visitor to The Trop since being dealt from the Rays two years ago.
Boston has been shut out three times this season, and two have come in its six games against Tampa Bay.
The Rays were able to get to Price, who gave up four runs on six hits in the first three innings. Tampa Bay's bullpen came through with two scoreless frames to close out the win.
Brandon Guyer opened the scoring with a solo home run to left in the second - his seventh of the season- in his first at-bat back after three weeks on the disabled list.
Price struck out the next three batters to retire the side, but ran into trouble in the third, however, with singles by Logan Forsythe and Brad Miller. An RBI double by Evan Longoria, an RBI groundout by Desmond Jennings and another RBI double from Guyer staked Tampa Bay to a 4-0 lead.
Boston quickly went from no hits in the sixth inning to having the tying run at the plate. Christian Vazquez singled to break up the no-hitter, and Mookie Betts followed with a single as well. Moore got Dustin Pedroia to pop out to left, but Xander Bogaerts singled to load the bases with one out. Moore got David Ortiz to pop out to third base and Hanley Ramirez to pop out to right to end the inning.
Price gave up a season-high 12 hits and six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to Texas in his previous start. He gave up eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in a start against Tampa Bay in Boston in April.
NOTES: The Rays activated Guyer off the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. He had been sidelined more than three weeks with a hamstring but still leads the majors with 15 hit-by-pitches this season. Guyer played in right field and batted fifth Wednesday against Boston. ... Tampa Bay designated rookie OF Jaff Decker, who was hitting just .138, to make room for Guyer. ... The Rays had a creative lineup in giving 1B Logan Morrison a day off. Rookie OF Taylor Motter made his first MLB start at first base -- he has already played second, short, third, left and right field -- and INF Nick Franklin played in left field for the first time. Oddly, Franklin has played eight career games at first and none in left. ... Red Sox OF Brock Holt, out since early May with a concussion, has played seven rehab games at Triple-A Pawtucket, with five in the outfield and two at shortstop, and is hitting .364. ... C Ryan Hanigan, also on the DL with a neck strain, is also in Pawtucket and has played five games in his rehab assignment, going 3-for-16. There is no immediate timetable on when they will be back in the majors but could be anytime.