An unyielding matchup devoid of hits was finally decided in the 16th inning, as Dustin Pedroia drove in the only run to give the Boston Red Sox a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Red Sox Outlast Rays In 16th-Inning Battle Of Attrition
The AL East rivals totaled 29 runs in splitting the first two games of the series before combining for a whopping eight hits in Sunday’s five-hour, 44- minute finale — the longest game in Rays history.
Pedroia provided three of the Red Sox’s five hits, none bigger than a single off Adam Russell (1-2) that plated Josh Reddick in the 16th.
The pitching duel was decided by the bullpens after Josh Beckett and Jeff Niemann were brilliant over eight scoreless innings.
Against a Boston club that amassed 47 runs over its previous six games, Niemann yielded a mere two hits and two walks while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts.
Beckett, who suffered a hyper-extended left knee in his previous start, was somehow even better, retiring the final 22 hitters he faced after Evan Longoria singled off his foot in the first inning.
Longoria was the only runner Beckett allowed in his outing, and the All-Star hurler finished with six strikeouts in the no-decision.
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