Connelly Early delivered a career-high seven scoreless innings, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Two solo home runs provided all the offense needed.
May 8, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early (71) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Wilyer Abreu’s two-out homer in the third inning gave Boston the early lead, and Ceddanne Rafaela (2-for-4) added a solo shot of his own in the fourth for insurance.
Early (3-2) struck out eight, allowed just four hits and one walk, and recorded his first scoreless start of the season. Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman followed with scoreless innings, preserving Boston’s MLB-leading sixth shutout.
Nick Fortes (2-for-3) collected two of Tampa Bay’s four hits. The Rays were blanked for the first time this season, snapping a seven-game winning streak.
After allowing just one hit through the first two innings, Early worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third with a strikeout and a 5-4-3 double play. Back-to-back hits by Nick Fortes and Taylor Walls had started the frame.
The Red Sox were hitless for the first 3 2/3 innings against Jesse Scholtens (3-2), a primary reliever making his second start of the season. But Abreu broke the deadlock with a two-out blast over the bullpens in right-center field.
Rafaela followed an inning later, sending a line-drive homer over the Green Monster in left to make it 2-0.
After the Rays’ big threat, Early dominated, allowing only a single to Fortes in the fifth. He responded by striking out back-to-back batters to end the inning. Early finished his outing by striking out Fortes looking in the seventh.
With Chapman closing, third baseman Caleb Durbin made a diving stop to help retire Junior Caminero in a 1-2-3 ninth that included two strikeouts. Chapman earned his eighth save.
–Field Level Media
