Chandler Simpson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs off the bench, leading the visiting Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of their four-game series on Thursday night.

Simpson entered the game in the sixth inning and immediately knocked a go-ahead, two-run single. He then provided a key insurance run on an RBI triple in his next at-bat in the eighth.

Tampa Bay pounded out 13 hits and Hunter Bigge (1-0) worked two no-hit innings in relief of fellow right-hander Griffin Jax en route to the Rays’ seventh straight win.

Five Rays finished with multiple knocks, including Yandy Diaz (1,000th career hit) and Junior Caminero (two-run home run), who joined the list in the final inning.

However, the Rays had their streak of allowing three runs or fewer snapped after 13 consecutive games when Jarren Duran doubled and scored on a Wilyer Abreu sacrifice fly in the eighth.

The Rays blitzed Boston left-hander Jake Bennett (1-1) for three second-inning runs, as five straight baserunners reached with one out with Ben Williamson and Cedric Mullins providing RBI singles before Diaz’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0.

The Red Sox responded quickly to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, which began with Trevor Story beating out an infield single. Story then swiped second, and Ceddanne Rafaela stung an RBI single into left two batters later.

A misplay on Connor Wong’s potential double-play ball plated another run, and Caleb Durbin knocked in the tying run on a single to right.

Bennett faced the minimum across the next three innings, but after he exited, Simpson’s two-run single off Greg Weissert put the Rays back ahead.

In the eighth, Williamson’s one-out bunt single set the table for Simpson’s RBI triple into deep right.

Abreu’s sac fly cut the Boston deficit to 6-4, but the inning was limited with Willson Contreras being thrown out attempting to advance on a relay.

After Diaz’s milestone ground-rule double, Caminero crushed his 10th homer into the center-field bleachers to conclude the scoring.

–Field Level Media

Multiple Big 12 schools have already declined the line of credit being extended by the conference to its member institutions thanks to its newly established private equity partnerships, Front Office Sports reported Thursday.

The deal with RedBird Capital Partners and Weatherford Capital, approved in late April by the conference’s university presidents, would offer schools up to $30 million in credit that would be paid back through the conference withholding a portion of the school’s annual revenue distribution from the Big 12.

The firms were prepared to offer up as much as $500 million if all schools opted in, but Texas Tech, Iowa State and Colorado all have informed FOS that they don’t intend to opt into the private equity deal. Additionally, TCU, Cincinnati, Baylor, West Virginia, UCF and Houston informed local media they don’t intend to take the credit, nor does Kansas State.

Per the terms of the deal, schools have one year to opt in. But a statement from RedBird Capital Partners to FOS made it clear that won’t be the only time the deal is offered.

“This partnership is much bigger than just capital to schools — it’s a commercial partnership where RedBird and Weatherford are delivering commercial revenue to the Big 12,” RedBird Capital Partners said in a statement to FOS. “We are playing the long game where schools have one year to opt in for when the landscape becomes clearer for the ecosystem and individual needs. It’s not intended to be a one-time offer, it’s a long-term feature of a broader agreement for the Big 12 and their member schools.”

This is the first private equity deal to be reached at the conference level in college athletics, but not the first attempt. The Big Ten nearly reached an investment deal with UC Investments, the University of California system’s pension fund, last year, but the deal wasn’t finalized after multiple conference schools spoke out against it.

–Field Level Media

Veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who went from undrafted to a playoff starter in the NFL, announced his retirement on Thursday.

“For 25 years, I had the pleasure to play this great sport of football,” Heinicke wrote in an Instagram post. “It has taught me a lot, not only about myself but about life as well. Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been able to live this life.

“Thank you to all who have supported me in this journey. Thank you all who have believed in me. And thank you to those who gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. Excited for this next chapter of my life!”

Heinicke, 33, signed with the then-Washington Football Team in 2020 after appearing in seven games (one start) over the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers, respectively.

A month after signing to the practice squad, he started Washington’s wild-card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 9, 2021, completing 26 of 44 passes for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 31-23 loss.

That performance led Washington to sign Heinicke to a two-year contract. He made 15 of his 29 career starts in 2021 for Washington, completing 65% of his passes for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also ran for 313 yards in 2021, finishing with a 7-8 record as a starter.

Heinicke last played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and was released from the team during preseason ahead of the 2025 season.

He finishes his career with 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in 42 games for the Texans, Panthers, Washington Commanders (2020-22), Atlanta Falcons (2023) and Chargers. Heinicke went 13-15-1 as an NFL starter.

–Field Level Media