Rays 8, Braves 3: Boyle’s spot start fuels series victory

Waking up today, we expected Shane Baz to take the mound for the series finale against Atlanta. When it was announced that Joe Boyle would instead be making his Rays debut, Rays fans had every right to be worried as to the reason why. Exhale, there was no injury to Baz. The Rays just decided to push everyone in the rotation back one day and give Boyle a spot start after his strong start to the season with Durham.

Yandy Diaz hit a leadoff home run off of reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale, his second of the season. Another sign that he might be rounding into form, which is a huge boost for the offense.

Boyle finished his outing with two unearned runs who both scored after he departed in the top of the sixth. He recorded seven strikeouts and walked just two in his first start for the club.

Junior Caminero extended the Rays’ lead into more comfortable territory with a three-run bomb in the bottom of the sixth.

After a shaky outing from Mason Montgomery (accompanied by even shakier defense), Garrett Cleavinger and Mason Englert came in to pitch the final three innings, holding the Braves to three runs.

The back end of the Rays bullpen has some things to work out, but the lineup chasing Sale in the fifth is a good sign for a group that has struggled. If the team can reach a stretch where everyone is firing on all cylinders, they could make some serious noise in the division.

Next up, the Rays face AL East competition for the first time this week, starting with a four-game set against Boston, before they play host to the Yankees next weekend at their Spring Training home.