ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - This one was a lot easier – to say nothing of quicker – than Friday night.
It required just three pitchers and well under three hours as the Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1, for their third straight win.
Rick Porcello turned in his best starts in weeks, pitching into the eighth while allowing just one unearned run. Porcello was the picture of efficiency for much of the night, getting through some innings with single-digits in pitches thrown.
A solo homer from Mookie Betts gave the Sox a 1-0 lead in the second. That was it for the offense until the sixth when Betts singled through a drawn-in infield to score Andrew Benintendi. Rafael Devers then delivered Betts with a run-scoring double.
Addison Reed bailed the Sox out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the eighth before closer Craig Kimbrel handled the ninth for his 33rd save.
GAME NO.: 148
WHO: Red Sox (84-63) vs Tampa Bay Rays (72-76)
WHEN: 6:10 p.m.
WHERE: Tropicana Field
TV: NESNIN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Rick Porcello (9-17, 4.64) vs. Alex Cobb (11-9, 3.59)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- This has been Rick Porcello's best start in a long, long time. Seven shutout innings, and he's been remarkably efficient, too, with just 82 pitches. He's had three innings in which he's thrown single digits in pitches. He's shown improved control (no walks) and, for a change, kept the ball in the ballpark. Porcello's effort couldn't have come at a better time for him, as the Sox try to put together a post-season rotation.
- The errors are starting to pile up for Rafael Devers. He committed another tonight, giving him 10 in just 43 starts at the position. Some have been about timing -- hurrying throws that he doesn't have to, etc. -- and some, like the one on Mallex Smith, have been just plain sloppy. The feeling is that he'll improve with time and work, but it stands as potential weakness in the post-season.
- When Evan Longoria swiped third in the fourth, it marked the first stolen base against the Sox with Christian Vazquez behind the plate since Aug. 3. Of course, Vazquez's arm strength is such that teams had only attempted to run against him twice in those six weeks. And for what it's worth, that steal should have been ruled "defensive indifference'' - the Sox were in an overshift to the right side with no one anywhere near third, and Smith took a huge lead without any look from Porcello.
- Eduardo Nunez continues to make significant strides after suffering a strained PCL in his right knee a week ago. For the second day, Nunez went through some early work on the field, running laterally and testing the knee. "He's progressing pretty good,'' reported John Farrell. "With the work (Friday and today), he's making steady and rapid recovery (from the problem). I know he's encouraged how he felt swinging the bat in the cage; it was improved over (Friday). Still, there's no timetable for his return. But what he's able to do now is very encouraging.'' Nunez might be ready Wednesday, or perhaps, Friday in Cincinnati. The big test will come in the next few days when he tries to run the bases.
- Hanley Ramriez (biceps, shoulder) remained unavailable for the third straight day. He underwent treatment and is considered day-to-day.
- The Sox were encouraged watching Blake Swihart handle seven innings behind the plate in Friday's 15-inning win over the Rays. Swihart struggles earlier this season with the after-affects of an ankle injury and procedure from 2016, but has rebounded well of late. "He hadn't caught in a few weeks, and (we asked him) 'OK, jump in the game in the ninth and here's Craig Kimbrel.' Not an easy task to undertake. But he did a very good job from the game-calling, receiving to the blocking....those were pivotal at that time of the game. That was a much-needed contribution from Blake.''
- Farrell had Christian Vazquez hitting second for the first time, a reflection of Vazquez's offensive contributions this season.