TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Kameron Misner homered twice and drove in three runs, Shane Baz threw six strong innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 16-1 on Monday night.

Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero also homered and each drove in a pair for Tampa Bay. Six Rays registered multiple hits.

Misner finished 3 for 4 with homers off Tanner Houck and Brennan Bernardino, his first home runs since a historic walk-off shot on opening day.

Baz (2-0) allowed two hits, one earned run and no walks with a career-high 11 strikeouts. His only mistake was an 0-1 slider to Kristian Campbell, who homered in the top of the third. After that, Baz retired the next 11 Red Sox in order.

Tampa Bay tagged Houck (0-2) for 10 hits and 12 runs, 11 earned, in 2 1/3 innings.

The Rays allowed only one Boston runner past first base until the ninth inning.

Key moment

Eight consecutive Rays reached base safely in a nine-run third, when Tampa Bay sent 14 batters to the plate. With the Rays up 14-1 on their division rivals, loudspeakers at Steinbrenner Field played the theme to Monday Night Football.

Key stat

Baz, who sat out 2023 following Tommy John surgery, has retired 34 of his last 41 batters.

Up next

In the second of 14 games between the teams, opening day starter Ryan Pepiot (1-1, 3.38 ERA) takes the mound for the Rays. Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler (1-1, 5.74), who limited Toronto to one run on four hits Friday, goes for Boston.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Liverpool FC have confirmed that Mohamed Salah has signed a new long-term contract with the club, putting to rest months of speculation over his future. The Egyptian forward, who has been one of the club’s most influential and consistent performers since arriving in 2017, has committed to extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024/25 season. This deal is a major statement of intent from both Salah and the club, as they continue to aim for silverware and sustained success.

Salah’s impact since joining from Roma has been nothing short of phenomenal. He has scored over 200 goals for Liverpool, becoming the club’s all-time leading Premier League scorer. Known for his explosive pace, sharp finishing and relentless work ethic, Salah has been a vital part of Liverpool’s triumphs in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup during Jürgen Klopp’s era. Even this season, Salah has been among the top contributors in the league with 32 goals and 22 assists in all competitions, underlining his continued excellence on the pitch.

Speaking to LFCTV, following the announcement, Salah expressed his delight at signing the new deal. “Of course I’m very excited,” he said. “We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.” He added, “I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football.”

The new contract is not just a reward for past performances, but a firm indication of Liverpool’s confidence in Salah’s ability to remain at the top level well into the future. With rumours of offers from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere swirling over the past year, this decision sends a clear message: Salah is not ready to walk away from the highest level of European football just yet.

As Liverpool move into a new chapter under manager Arne Slot, Salah’s presence will be crucial. Not only is he still a top-class performer, but his leadership and experience will be key as the club blends youth with established stars. His commitment is a huge morale boost for fans and teammates alike, and shows that Liverpool still has the pulling power to retain world-class talent, even in the face of tempting offers from abroad.

It was 78 years ago, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.

On April 15^th, Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day, the 78^th anniversary of Robinson making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. What MLB might not want to highlight is the movement that non-baseball people started in an effort to break the color barrier. The American League and the National League and going back before the formation of the present two league MLB structure, the American Association, were guided by Chicago White Stockings star player Cap Anson in 1883, and imposed an unofficial color barrier that kept Negro players from being on Major League rosters. Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first announced Negro player ever to put on a Major League uniform with Toledo of the American Association in 1884 and also the last Negro player to take off a uniform. Robinson’s debut came 62 ½ years later. In 1947, one city, St. Louis, allowed Negroes or colored people to sit in only one section of the ballpark in the right field bleachers.

There was a movement to integrate baseball in the 1930s.  Sam Lacy, a sportswriter with black newspapers began pressing baseball to hire Negro players. Lacy wanted to meet with Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis and was rebuffed. Lacy wanted to meet with Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith in 1936 and eventually Lacy did talk to Griffith who said no to the idea. There were demonstrations outside of stadiums in New York and in Chicago calling for a change. Landis died and the new Commissioner Happy Chandler saw no reason for the color barrier. Chandler might have been persuaded because New York State government officials were asking why African-Americans were excluded from organized baseball while they were dying fighting in World War II. Baseball slowly moved. Boston owner Tom Yawkey was a holdout but finally hired a Negro player for his team in 1959.

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Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com