Overview
- Early, who worked a career-high seven shutout innings Friday at Fenway Park, led Boston to a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay.
- Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela supplied the offense with solo home runs in the third and fourth innings.
- The left-hander struck out eight, allowed four hits and one walk, and threw 96 pitches with 70 for strikes.
- He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third with a strikeout and a 5-4-3 double play in what he and interim manager Chad Tracy called the turning point.
- Garrett Whitlock handled the eighth and Aroldis Chapman closed for his eighth save to lock down Boston’s MLB-leading sixth shutout, blanking a Rays team that had won seven straight.