ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Denard Span made a huge splash in his debut for his hometown team on opening day, lining a bases-loaded triple to highlight a six-run rally in the eighth inning that sent the Tampa Bay Rays over the Boston Red Sox 6-4 Thursday.
The revamped Rays, playing with a starting lineup featuring just one position player from opening day a year ago, had been shut out on one hit through the sixth by Chris Sale. Tampa Bay took advantage of four walks in the eighth to come back.
Span’s triple was only Tampa Bay’s third hit of the day and gave the Rays a 5-4 lead.