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The 2026 Red Sox Hall of Fame class will be honored during pregame ceremonies. The group includes Johnny Damon, Jon Lester, Mike Timlin, and the late Sherm Feller, the longtime public address announcer. Bill Mueller\u2019s home run on July 24, 2004 will be honored as this year\u2019s \u201cMemorable Moment.\u201d Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:40 p.m. <\/span><\/p>\nThursday\u2019s game will be broadcast on ESPN.<\/span><\/p>\nHere is a preview.<\/span><\/p>\nRAYS (24-12):<\/b> D\u00edaz DH, Vilade LF, Caminero 3B, Aranda 1B, DeLuca RF, Williamson 2B, Fortes C, Mullins CF, Walls SS.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Get Starting Point<\/span><\/p>\nA guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPitching:<\/b> RHP Griffin Jax (1-2, 5.14 ERA)<\/span><\/p>\nRED SOX (16-21):<\/b> Duran LF, Contreras 1B, Abreu RF, Story SS, Yoshida DH, Rafaela CF, Mayer 2B, Wong C, Durbin 3B.<\/span><\/p>\nPitching:<\/b> LHP Jake Bennett (1-0, 1.80 ERA)<\/span><\/p>\nTime:<\/b> 7:10 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\nTV, radio:<\/b> ESPN, WEEI-FM 93.7<\/span><\/p>\nRays vs. Bennett:<\/b> Has not faced any Tampa Bay batters<\/span><\/p>\nRed Sox vs. Jax:<\/b> Wilyer Abreu 2-5, Willson Contreras 2-2, Jarren Duran 1-4, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 1-2, Andruw Monasterio 0-1, Carlos Narv\u00e1ez 0-1, Trevor Story 1-4, Connor Wong 0-2<\/span><\/p>\nStat of the day:<\/b> Wednesday night\u2019s win was just the third time in franchise history the Red Sox won a nine-inning game when they struck out at least 15 times and had four or fewer hits.<\/span><\/p>\nNotes:<\/b> Bennett won his first start, holding the Astros to a solo home run and stranding six of seven baserunners across five innings in a 3-1 win last Friday<\/a>. \u2026 That game marked Chad Tracy\u2019s Fenway debut as interim manager. \u201cThere\u2019s comfort with that for me, for sure, because I know the kid,\u201d Tracy said of Bennett, who also began the season at Triple-A Worcester. \u201cI know him better than anybody here as far as watching him and what he\u2019s capable of doing.\u201d \u2026 The Red Sox have allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of their last 11 games. \u2026 The Rays are riding six-game winning streak after posting consecutive three-game sweeps at home over the Giants and Blue Jays. At 24-12, they are just a \u00bd game behind the Yankees in the division and have the second best record in the AL. \u2026 Jax is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in 14 career appearances (one start) against the Red Sox. \u2026 After allowing 11 runs (eight earned) in 11 relief appearances to start the season, Jax has tossed five innings of shutout, two-hit ball over two starts.<\/span><\/p>\n
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