Red Sox Spoil Rival’s Team Debut On Day Of AL East Trade

A trade among American League East competitors helped the Boston Red Sox pull off a dramatic win Thursday.

The Red Sox pushed their winning streak to seven with a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Down 3-1 entering the seventh inning, they rallied against a relief pitcher who switched teams earlier that day.

On Thursday morning, the Baltimore Orioles sent Bryan Baker to Tampa Bay for the No. 37 overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft. The Rays wasted little time taking their new acquisition for a spin.

Baker didn’t deliver the best first impression. The 30-year-old issued back-to-back walks to Trevor Story and Romy Gonzalez before Marcelo Mayer notched an RBI double. Ceddanne Rafaela then put Boston ahead with a two-run single, all before Baker recorded his first out.

Although Baker retired the next three batters, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman preserved Boston’s 4-3 edge. Baker, who also allowed Story and Rafaela to steal second, was saddled with his third loss of the season.

The blow-up continued a tumultuous week for Baker, who squandered a four-run lead in his final appearance with the Orioles. Baker served up two-run home runs to New York Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso without registering an out on Tuesday.

As a result, Baker’s ERA has torpedoed from 2.58 to 4.12 in three days. The Rays must hope that’s a blip for a skilled reliever with 50 strikeouts, 11 walks and a 2.56 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) this season.

It can’t be easy learning about an abrupt career move in the morning and going to work for a new organization that evening. Ryan Bass reported during Thursday’s FanDuel Sports Network broadcast that Baker was doing a crossword puzzle in the Orioles clubhouse when he found out about the trade.

Baker admitted, per MLB.com’s Jake Rill, that leaving Baltimore caught him off guard.

“Shock, for sure,” Baker said of his reaction. “It’s been everything. They gave me my opportunity to get established in the big leagues, and obviously, getting close to everybody in this room and developing on the field and off the field. It’s been four of the best years of my life, for sure.”

Baker could get a chance to redeem himself during the next three games at Fenway Park.