The offensive awakening the Red Sox exhibited the previous two nights was nowhere to be found Sunday afternoon.
The Red Sox were limited to a single run on just five hits – all singles – in dropping a 4-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of the weekend series. The loss snapped Boston’s four-game winning streak.
The lone run was pieced together in the second, thanks to two walks, an error and a single by Christian Vazquez. After that, the Sox had just one other inning in which they put multiple runners on base.
Rick Porcello shut out the Rays for the first four innings before being roughed up for four hits and a run in the fifth, his final inning of work.
Tampa Bay padded its lead with solo homers off the Boston bullpen. Wilson Ramos took Brandon Workman deep in the sixth and Lucas Duda did likewise with Robby Scott in the seventh.
GAME NO.: 143
WHO: Red Sox (81-61) vs Tampa Bay Rays (70-73)
WHEN: 1:35 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
TV: NESN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Rick Porcello (9-16, 4.67) vs. Alex Cobb (10-9, 3.64)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- In the fourth inning, first baseman Sam Travis made a superb scoop on a one-hop throw from shortstop Xander Bogaerts to record the final out of the inning. When Travis was up in Boston earlier this year, he was told he needed to improve his defense. To his credit, he worked hard on that part of his game in Pawtucket, and all this week, he's been getting early work with infield instructor Brian Butterfield. That play showed the work is paying off.
- Proof that Rick Porcello's two-seamer is working today: seven of his first dozen outs recorded came on the ground. Porcello needs the good sink to be effective, since he's always had a lot of balls put in play against him and doesn't have the high strikeout rate of others.
- Catcher Christian Vazquez is 2-for-2 and his average for the season is up to .295. The mere fact that he's hitting as high as sixth in the order -- for only the second time this year -- is evidence that John Farrell is gaining more faith in him as a hitter.
- The Sox squandered a big chance in the sixth, with runners at first and second with no out. But Tampa Bay reliever Dan Jennings got Mitch Moreland to hit into a huge double play, then retired Rafael Devers on a groundout to second, stranding Andrew Benintendi at third.
- Eduardo Nunez, as expected, is out of the lineup Sunday, dealing with a right knee contusion he suffered Saturday night on the bases. Nunez was lifted in the third inning Saturday. He's set to undergo treatment today and Monday, with the hope that he can return to the lineup Tuesday night.
- David Price came through his simulated game Saturday without any issues and a second one is now set for Wednesday, at which time Price will throw three innings.