Game 97: Rays at Red Sox lineups and notes

So much for a post All-Star game lull.

The Red Sox extended their winning streak to 11 after taking both games of a Friday doubleheader against the Rays.

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It’s the team’s longest win streak since 2016. No team has a better record than Boston’s 19-5 mark since June 19.

The Red Sox’ pitching staff has allowed just nine runs in its last eight games. Boston moved to the .500 mark for the first time since March 28.

“It means a lot,” said interim manager Chad Tracy, who was named to his post on April 25, when the Red Sox were 10-17. “We talked a lot about the journey it’s been and how rough things were, but the guys have come together and they’re playing great baseball. … It’s nice, but there’s a long way to go.”

Wilyer Abreu has nine games with multiple extra-base hits this season — including a pair of homers in Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader — but plenty of other Red Sox are feeling good during this stretch.

“It’s very fun right now,” Abreu said. “Everybody’s pushing in the same direction.”

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Is a 12th-consecutive win on the horizon? Here’s a preview.

RAYS (56-40): TBA

Pitching: LHP Ian Seymour (6-2, 4.59 ERA)

RED SOX (48-48): TBA

Pitching: LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 2.08 ERA)

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Rays vs. Sandoval: Yandy Díaz 3-17, Nick Fortes 2-5, Cedric Mullins 0-4, Taylor Walls 0-2

Red Sox vs. Seymour: Wilyer Abreu 0-2, Willson Contreras 0-2, Jarren Duran 0-4, Caleb Durbin 0-0, Romy González 0-2, Jahmai Jones 0-1, Carlos Narváez 0-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-3, Connor Wong 0-1, Masataka Yoshida 0-1

Stat of the day: Ian Seymour, who was born in Connecticut and raised in Westborough, Mass., is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three career appearances against the Red Sox.

Notes: Saturday marks Patrick Sandoval’s second start since returning from Tommy John surgery that had sidelined him since 2024. … Sandoval owns a 3.19 ERA across eight career outings in the head-to-head series. … Seymour made his MLB debut in relief in Boston on June 9, 2025, and worked four innings of one-run ball in his first career start against the team on June 8. … The Rays still hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Yankees atop the division, but Friday’s losses to the Red Sox dropped them to 4-7 in their last 11 games. … In three straight contests, Tampa Bay has allowed at least five runs.

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