ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays have to go on the road to secure their most important regular-season goal, with the potential to clinch the American League East title as soon as Tuesday during a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
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They are in position to do that because of how well they played under the familiar tilted roof of Tropicana Field all season, beating the Red Sox 5-1 on Sunday to log their 55th home win, second most in franchise history. (They were 57-24 at home in 2008.)
In doing so, they at least temporarily delayed the Red Sox from securing a playoff spot, which they would have done with a win. The Sox, however, could still make it in Sunday if the Astros lose to the Braves. The Red Sox were 32-46 and 15½ games back in the AL East on June 24. They have since gone 52-25.
The Rays headed to the airport Sunday afternoon with their American League-leading record improved to 95-60; their East lead at least remaining at five games over the Yankees, who played later Sunday at Arizona; and their magic number reduced to at least three, also pending the Yankees result.
The Rays came out swinging from the start against Red Sox lefty Patrick Sandoval, with their first four hitters scoring before an announced crowd of 24,654.
The rally started when Yandy Diaz led off with a walk, Ryan Vilade was hit by a pitch, and Junior Caminero singled to load the bases.
Jonny DeLuca doubled in to bring in two runs, and Chandler Simpson singled to score two more as all nine Rays came to the plate in a 40-pitch inning.
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The Rays added a run in the fourth on a homer by Victor Mesa Jr., his 14th in 73 big-league games.
Griffin Jax (8-10) gave the Rays a solid five-inning start, allowing three hits and striking out five. His only real trouble came in the fifth, when he loaded the bases with two outs on a single, two walks and a fielder’s choice grounder, then struck out Roman Anthony for the third out.
Rookie reliever Ty Johnson, auditioning for a spot on the postseason roster, gave up a one-out homer in the ninth to Trevor Story.
The Rays were happy to be back at the Trop after spending the 2025 season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training/minor-league home. That move was necessary due to extensive damage to Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
No matter what happens over the final week, the Rays will play again this season at the Trop. If they win the East, they will open Division Series play on Oct. 3; if they fall short, they would open Wild Card Series play on Sept. 29.
Right-hander Nick Martinez (15-4, 2.94) is set to start the opener of the doubleheader in New York, while right-hander Drew Rasmussen (15-5, 2.72) is scheduled to pitch Game 2.
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