ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Griffin Jax tossed five shutout innings and the Tampa Bay Rays crept closer to the AL East title with a 5-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
The Rays will have an opportunity to clinch the franchise’s fifth division title during Tuesday’s doubleheader at the New York Yankees.
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Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero, left, scores off a single hit by Chandler Simpson as Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman, right, looks on during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson (14) steals second base as Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, left, is late with the tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Rays' Victor Mesa Jr. watches his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax throws to home plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Despite the loss, the Red Sox later secured a playoff berth when the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves. The Red Sox waited out the Astros-Braves result and held a celebration in their clubhouse. The Red Sox, who were 32-46 and 15 1/2 games back in the AL East on June 24, have since gone 52-25.
Jax (8-10) allowed three singles and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning by striking out Roman Anthony. Cole Sulser, Brody Hopkins and Steven Matz each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
Boston’s Trevor Story spoiled the shutout in the ninth with a one-out home run off right-hander Ty Johnson.
The Rays scored four first-inning runs off left-hander Patrick Sandoval (1-7). Jonny DeLuca smashed a two-run, bases-loaded double down the left-field line and Chandler Simpson followed with a two-run single. Sandoval began the inning by walking Yandy Diaz and Ryan Vilade, then surrendering a single to Junior Caminero.
Sandoval then retired 21 of his next 23 batters and worked through the seventh inning, allowing only a first-inning walk and a fourth-inning homer, both to Victor Mesa Jr.
After a day off Monday, Boston will start LHP Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.02) at home against the Cleveland Guardians. Right-hander Nick Martinez (15-4, 2.94) is set to start the opener of the doubleheader in New York, while right-hander Drew Rasmussen (15-5, 2.72) to pitch Game 2.
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Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero, left, scores off a single hit by Chandler Simpson as Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman, right, looks on during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson (14) steals second base as Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, left, is late with the tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Rays' Victor Mesa Jr. watches his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax throws to home plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
SAINT-PIERRE, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron moved Sunday to deepen a strategic partnership spanning space, defense, energy and business, another step in Canada’s accelerating turn toward Europe as relations with the United States deteriorate.
They met in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory just off Newfoundland’s coast where France and Canada are separated by only a few kilometers — a striking setting for two countries trying to build closer economic and security ties across the Atlantic.
“Only a few kilometers separate Canada and France at their closest point. Our values are even closer,” Carney said in French while standing alongside Macron.
Carney said the countries will task their space agencies and defense ministries to develop and share infrastructure, including launch systems and ground-based reception facilities. They also agreed to expand cooperation in energy, telecommunications, climate resilience and economic development.
The meeting comes days after Carney embraced the prospect of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member and argued that deeper ties with Europe would make Canada less vulnerable to economic coercion by any single country.
Macron called Carney’s visit a “historic moment,” saying that amid global turmoil, the two countries were affirming “our sovereignty, our freedom to decide” and their determination to build closer ties.
Macron also backed Canada’s future involvement in the European Union.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state have pushed the Canadian government to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and pursue deeper economic, security and political relationships with Europe.
Macron welcomed Carney on Sunday at the airport of the French territory off Newfoundland’s coast.
“This is an important moment,” Macron said Saturday upon arrival in Saint-Pierre-et- Miquelon, home to about 5,800 people.
Talks “will allow us … to strengthen our bilateral economic ties and defense relationship,” Macron said.
Macron also said that Sunday’s talks are part of broader efforts to help France secure oil and gas supplies as the Iran war disrupts global energy markets and raises fears of higher prices for fuel and other essentials.
“Canada is a country with significant resources of critical minerals and rare earths. It is also a major oil and natural gas producer,” Macron said. “What we want to do is conclude agreements to secure more liquefied natural gas that can be shipped to Europe’s Atlantic coast.”
The leaders discussed aerospace, energy, critical minerals and advanced technologies such as quantum computing, satellites and supercomputing, Carney’s office said in a statement.
Sunday’s meeting also follows Trump’s announcement of a deal on Greenland that would expand the U.S. military presence there while keeping the island under Danish control. The agreement followed months of threats by Trump to seize the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally.
Macron welcomed the agreement Saturday.
“Danish sovereignty is being respected, international law is being respected,” he said. “Anything that helps ease tensions is a good thing.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, looks to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as he delivers remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney embrace after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, leads Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to his plane after the leaders delivered remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, reacts to French President Emmanuel Macron as he delivers remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, takes a selfie with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
