ST. PETERSBURG – Rays manager Kevin Cash stopped short of calling Wednesday’s game against the Red Sox a must-win, but he did say it was “pretty important.’’ His team lost seven of its last eight games and was in danger of losing its grip on second place in the AL East prior to a six-game road trip.
Charlie Morton to the rescue.
The veteran right-hander threw seven innings, six of them impressive, and the bullpen nailed down the final six outs in a 3-2 win. Morton (12-3) struck out 11 and threw 105 pitches. Relievers Adam Kolarek and Chaz Roe got three outs in the eighth and Emilio Pagan got three outs in the ninth to save the game.