ST. PETERSBURG — LHP Blake Snell had the fastball blazing, the curveball breaking and, after his sterling six innings in the Rays' 9-1 series-sweeping win Sunday over the Red Sox, the now-standard praise spewing from teammates and opponents.

For 3B Matt Duffy, having Snell on the mound is somewhat tranquil.

"I almost have to tell myself to wake up there because he's so good I feel like I don't even have to do much,'' Duffy said. "I'm just kind of chilling over here. I have a really good seat for the game.''

For Red Sox manager Alex Cora, it was tormenting.

"The kid is tough,'' he said. "Good fastball and the breaking ball was good. He's been doing that to us all season. He's one of the best lefties in the big leagues. His stuff is outstanding. … There was a lot energy (among the Red Sox), but the guy on the mound sucked it up."

Snell allowed two hits, two walks, striking out eight, throwing 55 of his 89 pitches for strikes in improving to 16-5 and lowering his ERA to 2.05, impressing not only the Red Sox but a national TBS audience.

"I thought he had great stuff,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Snell numbers of the day

14 Consecutive games at the Trop allowing one or no earned runs, going back to September 2017, the longest such streak in the majors since at least 1913, when such data was first compiled.

16 Wins, fourth-most for any Rays pitcher in a season.

17 Majors-most (for nonopeners) starts this season allowing one run or less, including his past five.

3-0/1.08 Record/ERA against the rival Red Sox, allowing three earned runs in 25 innings over four starts. No other pitcher in the majors with at least three starts against Boston has an ERA under 4.00.

Batmen

The win wasn't all about the pitching, as the Rays continue to find ways to produce runs. Sunday it was somewhat rapid fire. They came out swinging in the first against ex-mate Nathan Eovaldi, a blooped double by Joey Wendle, singles by Duffy and Ji-Man Choi, and a one-out sac fly by Jake Bauers producing two runs. The third inning was similar, as three straight one-out hits by Duffy, Choi and Tommy Pham got them one more run, and a triple by Kevin Kiermaier two more. Michael Perez added a two-run double in the seventh, and by the end of the day they were 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position. "A lot of good at-bats,'' Cash said.

Medical matters

OF Mallex Smith was released from a local hospital after a bout with a viral infection that started early Friday. "He's doing considerably better,'' Cash said. "It's good news to hear that he's getting out.'' While there is no set timetable, Cash suggested Smith could be back shortly after the 10-day disabled list stint ends Sept. 1. The Rays have not provided more details since they say the issue was nonbaseball related. … LHP Vidal Nuno (hamstring) threw 49 pitches over 2⅔ innings for the advanced Class A Stone Crabs, allowing one run on four hits and a walk, in his third rehab outing.

Quote of the day

"Hopefully it's uplifting to the club, but these guys come into the ballpark pretty lifted.''

Cash, on the impact of the series sweep

Miscellany

• RHP Ryne Stanek will be the opener Tuesday against the Braves, with RHP Yonny Chirinos working the bulk of the innings. RHP Diego Castillo is the likely opener Wednesday, followed by LHP Jalen Beeks.

• The Rays are nine games over .500 for the first time since June 2015, one shy of their high in four seasons under Cash.

• With Sunday's win, the Rays have won eight straight at home and since June 11 are a majors-best 29-8 at the Trop.

• The Rays left after the game and will spend Monday's off-day in Atlanta.

• A moment of silence was held pregame for U.S. Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday in Arizona.