Red Sox reactions: Boston records just four hits but two leave the yard; rookie dominates in win

BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday:

1. The Red Sox improved to 17-22 while the Rays dropped to 25-13. Boston is the first AL East team to beat Tampa, which entered 7-0 against division foes.

2. Boston recorded just four hits but two of them left the yard. Both Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela hit solo home runs.

3. Red Sox starter Connelly Early pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out eight. This was the longest start of Early’s professional career. His previous longest start was 6 ⅔ innings in a win at Baltimore on April 26.

4. Early escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third inning. He struck out Ryan Vilade swinging on a 94 mph four-seam fastball, then got Junior Caminero to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.

5. This marked Boston’s MLB-leading sixth shutout win of the season. The Sox have won four of their past five games.

6. Wilyer Abreu belted his sixth home run of the season, putting the Red Sox ahead 1-0 in the third inning. He connected on a 1-2 slider from Rays starter Jesse Scholtens and sent it 427 feet to right-center field. Abreu is 19 for 57 (.333) with three home runs and two doubles in his past 12 games.