Everything you need to know about the Red Sox’ 8-7 win over the Rays in quickie form with BSJ insight and analysis.
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Red Sox erase five-run deficit with six-run eighth: Trailing 7-2 with one on and two out in the eighth, the Red Sox unleashed the hounds and pounded out six-straight hits to overtake the Rays for a thrilling 8-7 comeback victory. The Red Sox had lost their last 96 games when trailing by five runs or more in the eighth inning. It was the largest deficit erased this season. In the first seven innings, the Sox had a combined four hits; they added seven more in the eighth inning alone.
The Sox are officially off to their best start in history: The 8-1 mark is the best record the Sox have ever had after nine games. Less than two weeks into the season, they've already matched their longest winning streak of a year ago, and Alex Cora has become the second manager in franchise history to win at least eight of his first nine games. Joe Morgan (1988) is the other.
Xander Bogaerts' left ankle injury puts a damper on the win: Bogaerts went chasing after an errant throw in the seventh, and in doing so, slid in front of the protective railing in front of the visitor's dugout, stopping himself on the steps. He returned to his position but was clearly in discomfort and after conferring with the training staff, limped off the field, favoring the ankle. "I asked him and he wasn't sure if (it happened) when he slid or when he landed,'' said Cora. Brock Holt replaced him at short for the rest of the game. Bogaerts will undergo further tests tomorrow.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox were down to their last out in the eighth when Mitch Moreland -- 0-for-3 on the afternoon and 0-for-12 on the young season -- battled through a long at-bat before finally swatting an opposite-field double to left, scoring Hanley Ramirez with the first run of the inning. "I thought Mitch was kind of a prime example of a guy who had been fighting all day long, and something broke for him in the end,'' said hitting instructor Tim Hyers. "He didn't give (the at-bat) away. Sometimes, the scoreboard gets lopsided and guys give them away. But this group, so far, they're not giving anything away.''
TWO UP
Mookie Betts: Betts reached base three times with a walk, a single and a double. It's early yet, of course, but Betts has a .475 on-base percentage and has struck out just three times in the first nine games.
Craig Kimbrel: This wasn't the Kimbrel on display in the home opener when he uncharacteristically issued two walks in succession. After the Red Sox took the lead in the bottom of the eighth, Kimbrel got ready in a hurry and came in and overpowered the Rays, retiring them in order on two infield popups and a groundout to short.
TWO DOWN
J.D. Martinez: It was a rough afternoon all around for Martinez. At the plate, he was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and five baserunners stranded. In the field, he made a poor throw that cost the Sox a double play in the fourth, then misplayed a ball near the warning track in the seventh.
Eduardo Rodriguez: Making his first start of the season after being delayed by off-season knee surgery, Rodriguez was overpowering with his fastball, but didn't have much else in his arsenal. He couldn't command his changeup in the zone, leaving him with no chase pitch. That, in turn, forced his pitch count up so that he was lifted with two outs in the fourth, having thrown 92 pitches.
UP NEXT
After yet another off-day Monday -- their third since last Wednesday — the Red Sox host the New York Yankees for the first of three on Tuesday. The series will be a good test for the Sox, who have enjoyed feasting on a steady diet of two poor teams from Florida through the first nine games.
OF NOTE
- The Sox have yet to make an error through nine games. The last team to play their first nine games without an error was Detroit in 2013.
- The game-time temperature of 38 degrees was the coldest for a Sox home game since 2003, when they played Tampa Bay in 34-degree temperatures.