The Boston Red Sox may have stumbled out of the gate this season, but don't count them out just yet. After a gritty 2-0 shutout win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Friday, rookie standout Ceddanne Rafaela made it clear: this team has its sights set on October.

"I think we've been playing pretty good baseball lately," Rafaela said after the game. "It shows we're a pretty good team, and we're going to be in a pretty good spot in September."

Rafaela backed up his words with a solid performance, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the victory. But the real star of the night was rookie pitcher Connelly Early, who delivered seven scoreless innings to set the tone for Boston's second straight win against their division rivals.

Interim manager Chad Tracy praised the team's formula for success, highlighting Early's dominance and the lockdown bullpen duo of Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman. "That starter takes you all the way to Whitlock and Chappy," Tracy said. "We feel good about our whole bullpen, but those two guys at the back end are pretty nails."

The win improves Boston's record to 17-22, a modest start but one that Rafaela believes is just the beginning. For a team built on young talent and veteran leadership, the message is clear: keep the faith, because September could be something special.

With the series against Tampa Bay continuing, the Red Sox have a chance to build momentum—and maybe even prove that their rookie's confidence is well-placed.