On Wednesday, Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony—the game’s consensus No. 1 prospect—lined a double down the left field line for his first big-league hit. It gave Boston a 2–0 lead in the first inning and created an inauspicious start for Tampa Bay Rays starter Ryan Pepiot.
Pepiot settled in from there, allowing just one more run the rest of the way over 5 2/3 effective innings, but Anthony’s base hit proved to be the difference in a 3–1 defeat. On a micro level, the day was a disappointing one. But from a zoomed out perspective, it was yet another positive step for a Rays pitching staff that has gained steam by bucking the franchise’s typical new-age roster management tendencies.
