It is difficult to imagine any one series in July as a must win, but the Tampa Bay Rays four game set against the Boston Red Sox may have been exactly that. With the Rays being one of the surprises of baseball this season, anything less than a split may have delegitimized their excellent performance thus far.
The Rays took that first step on Thursday, as they scored four runs against Chris Sale to earn the victory. Then, yesterday, Tampa Bay won a 1-0 pitcher’s duel, with the only run coming from a Jesus Sucre sacrifice fly. That run allowed Alex Cobb to earn the victory, as he shut down the Red Sox on two hits and a walk in 7.