Ceddanne Rafaela Expects Red Sox To Be In 'Pretty Good Spot' Come September

Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela

Ceddanne Rafaela Expects Red Sox To Be In 'Pretty Good Spot' Come September originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox have gotten off to a slow start, but Ceddanne Rafaela expects the team to be a playoff contender by the end of the season.

Boston picked up a 2-0 shutout win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in the second game of a four-game series at Fenway Park. It was a stellar performance from the Red Sox, and Rafaela believes that shows just how good they can be.

“I think we’ve been playing pretty good baseball lately,” Rafaela said postgame on Friday. “I think it shows we’re a pretty good team and we’re going to be in a pretty good spot in September.”

Rafaela finished the game going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the 2-0 win.

Boston was also led by Connelly Early, who pitched seven scoreless innings, which was a key to the success, according to interim manager Chad Tracy.

“It's a good formula,” Tracy said postgame. “That starter takes you all the way to and Chappy -- we feel good about our whole bullpen, but those two guys at the back end are pretty nails. So to get the game there with a two-run lead as well, and it lines up where Whit was in that top bucket of righties that lines up well. So it was outstanding.”