Gonzalez's RBI single in 12th lifts Red Sox past Rays 5-4

BOSTON (AP) — Romy Gonzalez singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th as the Boston Red Sox rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Gonzalez dropped a hit to shallow right off reliever Manuel Rodríguez, who had intentionally walked Tyler O'Neill to start the inning. Instead of forcing a possible double play, the move allowed Connor Wong to easily score the game-winner after a wild few extra innings.

"It's huge. Getting a walk-off win in the big leagues is unbelievable," said Gonzalez, who was overwhelmed by a swarm of celebrating teammates shortly after rounding first base.

Cedanne Rafaela homered for Boston in the fifth and delivered a sacrifice bunt in the 11th that helped atone for his throwing error, which allowed Tampa Bay to take a brief 4-3 lead. Rafaela was relieved after the game to have come through offensively after his defensive gaffe.

“I already did the error,” Rafaela said he thought as he came to the plate in the 11th. “I just have to do something to bring that run in.”

The bunt moved David Hamilton, who opened the inning on second, to advance to third and score easily when Rodríguez fielded a grounder up the middle.

"The kid makes an error and he came back and turned the page right away," Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He finished the game the way he should and he played all the way to the end.”

Boston ended a six-game home losing streak to the Rays. Brennan Bernardino (2-1) got the win and Rodríguez (0-1) took the loss.

Josh Lowe hit a solo homer in the first and Randy Arozarena got one in the sixth.

The Rays made a base-running blunder in the 11th when Ben Rortvedt, who opened the inning on second, got caught in a rundown between third and home. Arozarena made it to second and went on to score on the error by Rafaela.

Boston starter Nick Pivetta pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts.

Civale, a Connecticut native who played in college nearby at Northeastern University, made his Fenway Park debut. He pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

HOT SHOT

Boston reliever Chris Martin managed to get his head out of the way and his glove in the right place to catch a screaming line drive by Lowe for the third out in the seventh. Martin then fell to the mound and laid sprawled out for several moments as trainers came out of the bullpen to check on him. Martin eventually got to his feet and got a loud round of cheers from fans who had just seen the replay.

SCOREBOARD

The Red Sox added an extra game at the end of the left field scoreboard. The Boston Bruins were playing the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the second round of the NHL playoffs. Fans cheered when the final 2-1 score flashed and the Bruins remained alive to host Game 6 on Thursday night.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Reinstated IF Jonathan Aranda (fractured right finger) from the 10-day injured list and optioned IF Austin Shenton to Triple-A Durham. … Paredes returned to the lineup as the designated hitter, two days after getting hit in the helmet by a pitch. Paredes was off Monday for the series opener.

Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday. Manager Alex Cora said Whitlock was able to throw in the mid-90s recently and could rejoin the rotation by next week.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (0-1, 1.50 ERA) gets his second start following an early stint on the injured list with a strained pectoral. Bradley, who was 2-0 against Boston as a rookie last year, pitched six innings against the Yankees in his season debut May 10, allowing four hits and one run in his season debut.

Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck (3-4, 2.24) gets the start for Boston, where he has an ERA of 2.54 through four starts this season.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Aaron Civale walks back to the mound after giving up a solo home run to Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe dives but can't make the play on a two-RBI double by Boston Red Sox's Dominic Smith during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin, center, is escorted to the dugout after fielding a line drive off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe for the final out of the top of the eighth inning during a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela, left, tags out Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Amed Rosario (10) on a steal attempt during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez connects on his game-winning RBI single in the 12th inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. The Red Sox won 5-4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela, right, tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Rortvedt, who got caught in a rundown during the 11th inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez is doused with water after his game-winning RBI single in the 12th inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Boston. The Red Sox won 5-4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Taylor Pendrith shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Matt NeSmith into the weekend in the 3M Open.

Playing in windier afternoon conditions, Pendrith made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and tapped in for another birdie on the par-5 18th. He had a 12-under 130 total at the TPC Twin Cities, playing the first 36 holes without a bogey.

The 33-year-old Canadian won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May in Texas for his first PGA Tour title. He tied for fifth last week in the Barracuda Championship in California.

“Today was pretty tricky with the wind, it was blowing pretty hard at times, so my speed was great all day and stayed really patient," Pendrith said. “I didn’t really have many good looks through the first hour I would say of golf and was able to stay patient and make a couple, made a couple longer ones, which was nice.”

NeSmith had a 64 in the morning before wind gusts topping 20 mph hit the course in the afternoon and early evening.

Seeking his first PGA Tour victory, NeSmith lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, his lone top-10 finish in 20 prior starts this season. He has missed 11 cuts.

“Patience is key out here whether it be to win golf tournaments, to make cuts, to try and keep your card to try and get in the top 30,” NeSmith said. “I think it pertains to each and every person out here. You never know when you’re going to get hot, you never know when good golf’s coming. Just kind of try and be patient, try and keep calmer heads and you never know what will happen.”

First-round leader Jacob Bridgeman had a 70 to drop three strokes back at 9 under with Andrew Putnam (66). Doug Ghim (64), Lanto Griffin (66), Alex Smalley (65) and Jhonattan Vegas (66) were 8 under.

“I felt like anything under par today was pretty good, especially in the afternoon,” said Bridgeman, one of the last players to tee off Friday. “The wind was blowing really hard in the beginning of the round, caught a little bit of a lull at the end, which was nice. But greens were kind of bumpy from all the traffic. … I stayed patient all day, didn’t really have a whole lot of great chances.”

The event is the second-to-last tournament before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, with some players near the 70-player cutoff failing to advance to the weekend. Nick Dunlap (64th in the standings), Luke List (71st) and defending champion Lee Hodges (73rd) missed the cut.

Jacob Bridgeman walks on the 10th tee during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Stewart Cink watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Kurt Kitayama watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Lanto Griffin watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Andrew Putnam watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Matt NeSmith walks off the 18th green after his putt during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Matt NeSmith watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Taylor Pendrith lines up his putt on the 18th green during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Taylor Pendrith putts on the 18th green during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)