Over Sale's first two starts for the Red Sox, the offense scored a total of one run during the 14 2/3 innings he was the pitcher of record. This time, they scored two over his seven innings, and it turned out to be enough. Sandy Leon broke a 1-1 tie with a fielder's-choice grounder to second in the seventh.
The Rays dealt with some early adversity when starter Jake Odorizzi had to exit just one pitch into the second inning due to left hamstring tightness. Erasmo Ramirez came in on short notice, and his first pitch was hammered into the seats in right by Mitch Moreland to make it 1-0, Red Sox.