Early Opportunity Goes To Waste: Rays 0, Red Sox 2
May 8, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) reacts during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images The Rays had an early opening against Connelly Early. Yes, the pun was sitting right there, and unfortunately so were three Tampa Bay baserunners in the third inning that got stranded on the best opportunity to score a run Friday night.
Tampa Bay opened quietly against Early. Yandy Díaz struck out after an ABS challenge overturned the original call, Ryan Vilade flew out, and Junior Caminero lined out sharply to center. Rays starter Jesse Scholtens had to work around a pair of first-inning walks to Willson Contreras on an ABS challenge and Wilyer Abreu, but he escaped with two popups from Masataka Yoshida and Trevor Story.
Early baserunners, no damage. Fine enough. The Rays had their first chance at runs in the second when Jonathan Aranda singled, but Jonny DeLuca, Ben Williamson, and Chandler Simpson could not advance him.
At that point, Early still looked hittable. The Rays just needed to string together some hits. That inning arrived in the third.
Nick Fortes singled, moved to second on a disengagement violation, and Taylor Walls followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Then, Díaz was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with nobody out. This was it.