Alex Bregman powers Red Sox to 7-4 victory over Rays

Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald on Apr 15, 2025

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. – Finally, on Tuesday night, the ship righted itself.

After getting beaten up by the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays over the last week, it was finally the Boston bats’ turn.

Led by Alex Bregman, who had his first career five-hit game, the Red Sox tallied 12 knocks in a 7-4 victory over the Rays on Jackie Robinson Day and One Boston Day.

Bregman was immediate and unceasing in the contest, contributing two singles, a double and two home runs. His first single drove in Rafael Devers, who’d doubled, for a 1-0 lead in the first. He led off the third and seventh with home runs, plated another run with an RBI double in the fourth, and singled to make it a career night in the ninth.

Bregman’s first opposite-field homer of the contest was also a reminder that this is Yankees territory; Steinbrenner Field’s dimensions are identical to the Bronx ballpark, the only other place where Bregman’s hit would’ve been a homer. His second was an oddity in that regard, somehow only a home run in Tampa.

“He always has a plan,” said manager Alex Cora. “He was very calm today in the batter’s box. Didn’t chase. I know it’s killing him right now, he hasn’t walked in a while against a righty, but he’s swinging at the right ones. … He had an amazing night.”

Seven of the nine men in the Red Sox lineup contributed a hit, including Trevor Story, who had the team’s other multi-hit performance. Jarren Duran hit his first home run of the year – answering his manager’s call from the previous day to hit more to left-center – and drew a pair of walks. His two-run shot – Carlos Narváez was on base with a single – put Boston up 3-0 in the second.

Walker Buehler held the Rays to two earned runs on three hits, three walks, and struck out three in his five-inning start. The only Rays batter he didn’t retire through the first three innings was first baseman Jonathan Aranda, who led off the second with a solo homer. The Red Sox starter ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth, his final frame, but was bailed out by the much-improved defense on the diamond behind him. The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, and led off the fifth with a single and a walk, but could only manage a sacrifice fly in the former. Overall they went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

As Buehler, in his manager’s words, “battled with command,” the clean defensive night was key for Boston.

Justin Wilson, Zack Kelly and Aroldis Chapman pitched the rest of the way. Kelly pitched 2 2/3 innings, and tried to close out the game but when the Rays put up a pair of runs in the ninth, Cora called for his closer.

“Zack Kelly was outstanding,” Cora said. “He was great. We needed him to go as far as possible. Obviously the big guy came in at the end to finish the game, but Zack was amazing.”

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