Nick Pivetta dominated on the mound, pitching into extra innings with a sharp fastball and a filthy curveball. The game was tied 4-4 in the 13th when Kevin Kiermaier hit what looked like a go-ahead RBI double. The ball bounced off the outfield wall, then off Hunter Renfroe, and somehow flipped back over the fence for a ground-rule double. Yandy Díaz, who had been sprinting from first, would have easily scored, but under MLB rules, both runners got two bases from the time of the deflection. Since the deflection was accidental, the umpires ruled correctly, but it still robbed Tampa of the go-ahead run. Kevin Cash didn’t argue too hard because he’s seen this before and knew the rule cold.
Red Sox fans didn’t care. They escaped the jam in the top of the inning with two Rays stranded, thanks to more sharp pitching. Then, in the bottom of the 13th, Renfroe—who the ball bounced off earlier—scored the winning run, and Christian Vázquez crushed a walk-off bomb over the Green Monster. The place erupted. Water bottles flew, players danced around the bases, and the dugout went wild. Boston stole the win, helped by a strange bounce and a little home field luck. The Rays were stunned. One accidental play changed everything.