Tampa Bay’s Jackie Robinson Day Curse Continues as Alex Bregman’s 5-for-5 Night Lifts Red Sox Over Rays
On a night when the Tampa Bay Rays hoped to break their April 15 curse, Alex Bregman had other plans. The Boston Red Sox’s third baseman delivered a stellar performance, going 5-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs, leading his team to a 7-4 victory at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Rays, who haven’t won on April 15 since 2012, saw their hopes dashed early. Bregman started the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning, giving Boston an early lead. He followed up with a solo homer in the third, a run-scoring double in the fourth, another solo shot in the seventh, and capped his night with a single in the ninth.
Jarren Duran also contributed with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the second inning. Walker Buehler pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, and Aroldis Chapman secured the save.
Despite a late rally, including a solo homer by Jonathan Aranda, the Rays couldn’t overcome the deficit. The loss continues their April 15 woes, extending the streak to 11 consecutive defeats on this date.
With this win, the Red Sox improve to 9-10, aiming to build momentum as the season progresses.
Also Read: Jackie Robinson Day 2025: Celebrating a Legacy That Changed Baseball Forever
MLB Celebrates Jackie Robinson Day
Across the league, MLB paid tribute to Jackie Robinson, marking 78 years since his MLB debut shattered the league’s color barrier and helped spark the civil rights movement.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Robinson’s team, led the tributes. But it wasn’t just about L.A. — it was about Brooklyn, too. For their game against the Rockies, the Dodgers wore script ‘B’ caps, a nostalgic nod to the Brooklyn Dodgers, where Robinson’s journey began.
Ahead of their game, manager Dave Roberts said, “Jackie knew that things were bigger than him. He had to stay the course, remain steadfast, to give people an opportunity.”
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