The Boston Red Sox fell 8-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night in the series opener at Fenway Park, ending their three-game winning streak and dropping to 16-22, last in the American League East. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay improved to 25-12 and extended its winning run to seven straight games, with 13 wins in their last 14.

The Rays struck first with a three-run third inning after a scoreless opening frame. Ben Williamson opened the scoring with an RBI single, Cedric Mullins added a bunt single that drove in another run, and Yandy Diaz completed the rally with a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Boston starter Jake Bennett managed to limit further damage in the inning by inducing an inning-ending pop-up to keep it 3-0.

The Red Sox responded immediately in the bottom half, tying the game 3-3 in a chaotic sequence fueled by Rays defensive mistakes and timely hitting. Trevor Story singled and Masataka Yoshida walked before Ceddanne Rafaela reached on a ground ball misplayed by Junior Caminero. An error by Taylor Walls and aggressive baserunning allowed runs to score, while Marcelo Mayer beat a potential double play and later advanced on another throwing error. Caleb Durbin lined an RBI single to complete the comeback.

Bennett, making his second major league start, settled in after the rocky inning. He retired nine straight batters following Diaz’s sacrifice fly and worked into the sixth inning before exiting after an infield single that deflected off his leg. He finished with 5 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Reliever Greg Weissert entered in the sixth with the game tied and a runner on base but failed to record an out. He allowed that inherited runner to score, then issued two hits and a walk while loading the bases before giving up a two-run pinch-hit single to Chandler Simpson. Weissert’s season ERA rose to 5.52 after the outing, and he has now allowed 7 of 14 inherited runners to score this season, the most in Boston’s bullpen.

Following the game, Weissert shared an honest take on his performance, saying:

“It’s no secret, I’m pitching like s**t. Bennett kept us in the game after the three-spot and once again I came in and just blow it. So yeah, it sucks.”

Tampa Bay kept scoring late. Simpson hit an RBI triple in the eighth inning, and Junior Caminero crushed a two-run homer in the ninth, his 10th of the season. Diaz also collected his 1,000th career hit in the game.

The Red Sox also scored a run in the eighth on a Wilyer Abreu sacrifice fly, but a baserunning out at second base stalled a potential rally.

Rays starter Griffin Jax allowed three runs (two earned) over four innings.

Boston will look to rebound in the second game of the four-game series Friday night.