Crawford allows big league-high 34th homer, 16th loss, Rays beat Red Sox 7-2

BOSTON (AP) — Kutter Crawford allowed his major league-high 34th home run, a go-ahead drive by Junior Caminero, and took his big league-worst 16th loss when the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 Saturday.

“Command was off today. He didn’t have feel for the four-seamer,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “So, a lot of cutters. He’s very efficient if he attacks the zone. Today he was erratic.”

Caminero had three RBIs for the Rays (80-81), who with a series sweep would avoid their first losing season since 2017. Caminero and Brandon Lowe had three hits each.

“I felt good,” Caminero said through a translator. “Go out there, play my game that I know how to pay. Things are working out for me right now. And just being consistent, that’s the key for me.

Shane Baz (4-3) won his third straight start, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings with seven strikeouts, one walk, two hit batters and a run-scoring wild pitch.

“Very encouraged with the way he finished it,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He looked good today. Limited damage. Did a nice job of being super efficient, even with the home run in the first inning. The swings and misses that they took, the efficiency. I think you respect the fact that he’s got nasty stuff. Guys don’t want to get deep in an at- bat with him, and that works in his favor if he’s throwing strikes like he was.”

Crawford (9-16) gave up six runs, five hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, finishing with a 4.36 ERA. His 33 starts tied for the major league lead.

“Not very good,” Crawford said. “Didn’t have a whole lot of feel for the fastball, so I had to use the cutter a lot, but overall, just not a very good outing.”

Tristan Casas’ 13th homer put Boston ahead in the first.

Caminero gave the Rays a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the third off Crawford (9-16) following Yandy Díaz’s walk,

Tampa Bay opened a 6-1 lead in the fifth on consecutive one-out singles by Díaz, Brandon Lowe, Caminero and Jonathan Arando, the last two driving in runs. Josh Lowe hit a two-run single off Greg Weissert.

Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran doubled up Josh Lowe at first base in the fourth on Jose Siri’s flyout. Durran began the day with 11 assists, tied for the major league lead among outfielders.

Boston finished 8-7 this year in its yellow City Connect uniforms, a tribute to Patriots Day weekend and the Boston Marathon. The Red Sox are 20-10 in the yellow jerseys since the start of 2023.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: INF José Caballero, who was hit on the side of his lower left leg by a pitch in the seventh inning of Friday’s game, was out of the starting lineup. Caballero, who entered Saturday leading the American League with 44 stolen bases, underwent an X-ray, which was negative.

UP NEXT

Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-7, 3.64 ERA) starts Sunday’s season finale. RHP Quinn Priester, a 24-year-old acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline for infielder/outfielder Nick Yorke, likely will make his Red Sox debut. Taken 18th overall in the 2019 amateur draft, Priester was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in nine starts at Worcester and 4-2 with a 4.38 ERA overall in 16 Triple-A starts this year.

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Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero (13) celebrates his two-run home run beside Boston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen that also drove in Yandy Díaz (2) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda, right, follows through on an RBI single in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt, right, fields a groundout by Boston Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom in front of relief pitcher Drew Rasmussen, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Tampa Bay Rays players Brandon Lowe (8), Taylor Walls (6), Christopher Morel, center, and Josh Lowe, right, celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox during a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe scores as Boston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen, center, and starting pitcher Kutter Crawford watch on an RBI single by Jonathan Aranda during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford stands on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to Junior Caminero that also drove in Yandy Díaz, left, during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford reacts after giving up an RBI single to Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Le’Veon Moss was banged up and bottled up with No. 24 Texas A&M down three points in the fourth quarter of the final scheduled neutral-site game against Arkansas at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Three straight carries covering 46 yards triggered the winning drive in yet another victory for the Aggies over the Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium.

Marcel Reed threw for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 5-yarder to Tre Watson that was set up by Moss, and ran for a score in the 21-17 win Saturday.

“We pound ourselves about finishing in the fourth quarter a lot,” said Moss, who had 110 yards on 12 carries. “That’s just the main focus of finishing the fourth quarter.”

Reed had a hand in two tying scores before halftime — a 58-yard pass to Noah Thomas and his 5-yard TD run — before the Aggies went on to beat the Razorbacks for the 12th time in 13 meetings since joining them in the Southeastern Conference in 2012.

Nine of those victories for Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) came at AT&T Stadium against the alma mater of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

The series, which started with a 15-year contract the year Jones' retractable roof venue opened in 2009, is set to move to campus sites full-time.

Seven of Texas A&M's 10 victories over Arkansas (3-2, 1-1) since 2014 have been one-score games, with three going to overtime. The Hogs led 17-14 early in the fourth on Kyle Ramsey’s 45-yard field goal.

“Arkansas, Texas A&M in AT&T Stadium, how else would you expect it to go?” Aggies coach Mike Elko said. “All the way down to the stretch, and you needed to make plays in the fourth quarter to win it.”

The Razorbacks scored three plays into the game when Taylen Green threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa, and Ja’Quinden Jackson's 8-yard run for the Razorbacks' only other touchdown put them up 14-7.

Devin Bale's punt for Arkansas pinned Texas A&M at its 1 with 5:34 left and the Razorbacks trailing by four points. Reed threw 10 yards to Jabre Barber and Moss ran for another 30 to give the Aggies some breathing room before a punt backed up the Razorbacks to their 10.

“He got dinged up a little bit early so we didn’t have him for a good part of the middle of the game,” Elko said of Moss. “We got him healthy and ready to roll when it was time, and he was able to go out there and rip off some really big runs.”

Arkansas converted a fourth-and-1 and moved to the 34 before Nic Scourton hit Green from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by A&M's Jaydon Hill with 1:30 left. The Aggies ran out the clock.

Arkansas' Jackson was limited to 37 yards on 10 carries after coming in leading the SEC at 118 yards rushing per game.

Green had 279 yards passing but just 12 rushing on 12 carries as the Aggies finished with two sacks and nine tackles for loss.

“I thought their defense was extremely physical,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “We knew it going in. We thought that was the best part of their football team, and they certainly showed it.”

Reed, who is 3-0 as the starter since Connor Weigman sprained his throwing shoulder, finished 11 of 22 for 163 yards and no turnovers. Weigman was in uniform.

Arkansas: The Razorbacks set up their second TD with Bale's 25-yard run on a fake punt. But they might have tried the trickery with him one time too many. Bale was the holder on a fake field goal and was dropped for a 5-yard loss, leaving the score tied at 14 in the third quarter.

Texas A&M: Since losing to No. 16 Notre Dame in the opener at home, the Aggies are building momentum in the first season under Elko. Both of the SEC victories have been away from College Station, starting with a win at Florida two weeks ago.

Arkansas: hosts No. 5 Tennessee next Saturday.

Texas A&M: hosts No. 11 Missouri next Saturday.

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Texas A&M defensive back Dezz Ricks (10) intercepts a pass intended for Arkansas wide receiver Tyrone Broden (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) reacts in front of Arkansas defensive back Marquise Robinson (13) after scoring on a touchdown run during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green looks to pass against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner's hand is seen on the face of Arkansas offensive lineman Keyshawn Blackstock while rushing in during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Arkansas punter Devin Bale, right, runs with the ball with Texas A&M defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe in tow while running a fake punt play for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas A&M wide receiver Noah Thomas (3) gestures at Arkansas defensive back Marquise Robinson (13) while scoring on a long touchdown reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner, left, and defensive lineman Nic Scourton react after a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)