Connelly Early Starts for Red Sox Against Rays After Five-Run Outing
Connelly Early got the ball for the Red Sox on Friday night against the Rays, coming in after a rough last start and with Tampa Bay chasing a long winning streak. He had allowed five runs on six hits through four innings in a 6-3 loss to the Astros on Saturday.
The assignment gave Early a quick test. It was his second appearance against the Rays, and his first came in his third major-league start on Sept. 21, 2025, when he allowed three runs, two earned, in four innings and took the loss.
Rays Pressure Early
The Rays entered Friday on an eight-game winning streak and had won 14 of their previous 15 games. They started right-hander Jesse Scholtens, who was 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA entering the game, while Early came in at 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA.
That put the matchup squarely on the Red Sox starter. Early had to handle a Tampa Bay lineup that had been producing at a high clip, and he did it one start after the Astros tagged him for five runs in four innings.
Fenway Anniversary Night
The game came one night after Boston lost 8-4 on Thursday, snapping its three-game winning streak. Friday also carried a ceremonial edge at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox commemorated the 125th anniversary of the club's first home game with a pregame ceremony.
All living Red Sox alumni with retired numbers were scheduled to deliver ceremonial first pitches before the 7:10 p.m. start, including Wade Boggs, Carlton Fisk, Pedro Martínez, David Ortiz, Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski. The celebration set the backdrop, but the immediate question was whether Early could steady the rotation against a Rays team with little margin for error in its streak chase.
Early's Second Look
For Early, the Friday start was a chance to answer the same opponent a second time. His first look at Tampa Bay ended with three runs allowed, two earned, in four innings, and this one came with the Rays carrying momentum and the Red Sox still trying to reset after Thursday's loss.
That made his outing more than a routine turn. Boston needed length and cleaner contact from a pitcher coming off a difficult night, while Tampa Bay arrived with its record and pace both pushing the pressure higher.
