TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays called up Joe Boyle from Triple A to provide an extra day’s rest for the starters in their rotation in the midst of a stretch of games on 13 straight days.

He did that and more with a dazzling showing in Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves, working into the sixth inning without allowing a hit. He struck out seven while walking two and hitting another.

Boyle was lifted after hitting the first batter of the sixth and walking the second, having thrown 74 pitches. Reliever Mason Montgomery took over and allowed the Braves’ first hits, as well as two runs that went on Boyle’s line.

The Rays offense also had a good day in winning the series.

They jumped to an early lead, as Yandy Diaz welcomed Chris Sale with a homer, the 17th leadoff blast of his career. A one-out single by Junior Caminero, throwing error by right fielder Jarred Kelenic and RBI single by Jose Caballero made it 2-0.

The Rays then did something they need to do more of, adding on to a lead.

Caballero, who seems to be in the middle of a lot of good things, walked, stole second and scored on a single by USF product Coco Montes in the fourth.

Diaz walked to start the fifth, moved up when Curtis Mead was hit by a pitch and scored on a one-out single by Christopher Morel that ended Sale’s day.

After the Braves drew to within 4-3 in the sixth, the Rays rallied again, with Jonathan Aranda delivering one run with a pinch-hit single and Caminero following with a three-run homer.

Thanks for nothing

Sunday marked the sixth time a Rays starter was taken out of a game having thrown at least five no-hit innings (shown with innings pitched and number of pitches):

Pitcher, Date, IP, NP

— Nathan Eovaldi, 5/30/18, 6, 70

— Blake Snell, 8/10/18, 5, 47

— Yonny Chirinos, 5/27/19, 5, 69

— Michael Wacha, 9/28/21, 5, 61

— Jeffrey Springs, 4/2/23, 6, 81

— Joe Boyle, 4/13/25, 5, 74

Source: baseball-reference.com

Monday: vs. Red Sox

7:05 p.m. ET, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa

Pitchers: Rays — RH Shane Baz (1-0, 1.38); Red Sox — RH Tanner Houck (0-1, 4.41)

Info: raysbaseball.com

On deck

Tuesday: vs. Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Ryan Pepiot (1-1, 3.38); Red Sox, RH Walker Buehler (1-1, 5.74)

Wednesday: vs. Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Zack Littell (0-3, 6.88); Red Sox, TBA

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