The Red Sox offense slumbered through the first five innings. But the time it came to life, it was too late.
Lefty Blake Snell checked the Sox on five hits and the Tampa Bay Rays notched their seventh straight victory, a 4-3 win over the Red Sox.
All four of the Tampa runs came in the first four innings off starter Drew Pomeranz, and all four came via home runs. Wilson Ramos hit a two-run shot over everything in the first. Rob Refsnyder (third inning) and Daniel Robertson (fourth) later added solo homers. Pomeranz was allowed seven runs in 7.2 innings this season.
The Sox finally broke through in the sixth, with Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez contributing run-scoring doubles. Martinez then singled home Betts in the eighth, but that was as close as the Sox got. The Sox got the potential tying run on base to start the ninth when Xander Bogaerts reached on an infield single, but closer Alex Colome retired the next three hitters, stranding Bogaerts.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox finished a nine-game road trip with a 6-3 mark, winning two of the three series. They sit atop the American League East with the best record (19-5) in baseball and a four-game lead over second-place New York in the division. The Rays have been on a roll themselves, having won the last six in a row, the franchise's longest winning streak since 2014.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Drew Pomeranz (0-0, 7.36) vs. LH Blake Snell (3-1, 2.54)
TV//RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:23 If nothing else, the Red Sox are having better at-bats as the night develops. Through the first five innings,
8:50 Now that was a hard-hit ball. And no surprise that it came off the bat of Mookie Betts, who belts a line drive to straight-away CF for a run-scoring double.
8:54 Vazquez jumps at a hanging curveball from Snell and hits a Wall-scraper for a double. It wasn't exactly pasted, but for now, it's probably the hardest-hit ball the Sox have managed to hit all night.
8:20 Christian Vazquez throws out Rob Refsnyder attempting to steal second base, part of a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play in the top of the fifth. That marks the first time this season that the Red Sox have thrown out a would-be base stealer. Opponents had successfully stolen 10 times before tonight.
7:58 Pomeranz is having so much difficulty with the fastball and curveball that he's gone to more changeups and cutters in an effort to try something else against the Rays lineup.
7:39 Third inning, same deal. Another juicy 88 mph four-seamer, though this one was better located -- down-and-in to Rob Refnsyder. But Refsnyder swatted it into the Monster Seats. Virtually every ball put in play by the Rays so far has been hard-hit.
7:18 Diminished velocity is an issue again for Drew Pomeranz, who gives up a monster two-run homer to Wilson Ramos on a four-seam fastball that was measured at 87 mph. Last year, especially in the second half, his velocity dipped, but he continued to be effective. This season, in his second start, the dropoff is more concerning.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Ramirez DH
Martinez LF
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 3B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C
Lin 2B
RAYS
Duffy 3B
Cron DH
Gomez RF
Ramos C
Robertson 2B
Miller 1B
Hechavarria SS
Smith CF
Refsnyder LF
NEWS AND NOTES
- As expected, the Red Sox placed Brock Holt on the DL with a strained left hamstring. "He won't be ready in the next few days,'' said Alex Cora. "It's good for him to get his time to recover. He tried moving around today and he was honest with us. I think it's the smart move.''
- The Sox will not have the use of Craig Kimbrel, who pitched the previous three games, saving the last two. Before the game, Cora was non-committal about who he would use in a save situation. "We'll see,'' he said. "We'll match it up. We have to mix-and-match and see where we are.''
- RHP Tyler Thornburg rejoined the club and threw a bullpen. The plan had been for him to throw a live BP session, but the weather interrupted those plans. Thornburg could be sent out on a rehab assignment after the weekend. "It's good for him to be here and get away from Fort Myers and be in this atmosphere,'' said Cora.
- INF Marco Hernandez is with the team and "is making strides, slowly but surely,'' after a shoulder setback in spring training.