ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It has been undeniably Chaim Bloom's best move this entire season.
Taking Michael Wacha away from the Rays.
Wacha - the starter who has emerged as one of the American League's best while riding a one-year, $7 million deal - returned to his 2021 home, Tropicana Field, and absolutely showed his former team what's what.
The righty allowed just two runs over six innings, striking out seven while throwing 97 pitches. The performance actually bumped up his ERA slightly from 2.56 to 2.58. That's how good he has been.
Wacha's latest masterpiece marked the 14th time in 18 starts he has allowed two or fewer runs. This time he left with the Red Sox holding a one-run lead, with Jeurys Familia coming on for the bottom of the seventh.
The performance this time around came courtesy a light's out changeup, which he threw 31 percent of the time, getting eight whiffs on 21 swings with 10 foul balls.
It was the second time this season Wacha has pitched at Tropicana Field, having held the Rays to two runs over five innings on April 22.