Final: Red Sox 5, Rays 2 -- Bats sluggish, but Price guts it out

Sean Sweeney here at Fenway, where the tarp is off. We'll keep you up to date with what's happening here in the Back Bay. Of course, the big story tonight is Chris Sale returning to the disabled list.

WHO: Tampa Bay Rays (62-60) at Red Sox (87-36)
WHERE: Fenway Park
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
TV/RADIO: NESN/93.7 FM/Am 1490 (Spanish)
STARTING PITCHING: LHP David Price (12-6, 3.75) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 2.25 in AL)
WHAT’S UP: The Red Sox are 28-3 with Sandy Leon in the battery. ... The Sox are 30-2 when Jackie Bradley Jr. records at least one RBI. ... Boston needs to go 19-20 the rest of the way to break the franchise's single-season mark for wins (105) in a season. ... With the Yankees' 11-6 win over Toronto earlier today, the Sox currently have a 10-game lead in the division. ... Boston has won each of David Price's last six starts and are 14-2 in his last 16. He has a 1.03 ERA since the All-Star break, which is the lowest in the American League. He's also allowed two runs or fewer in each of his four starts since the break. ... Price is 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 13 appearances (12 starts) against his former team, including four scoreless outings in his last seven starts. ... In the last two games, the Rays have scored a combined five runs in the first inning and one run after that. ... The Rays are 4-10 against the Red Sox this season (2-5 at home, 2-5 on the road). Seven of the 14 games have been decided by one run (1-6) and nine have been decided by two runs or fewer (2-7). Last night’s loss clinched a third consecutive losing series against the Red Sox for the first time since 2005-07. ... Glasnow is the fifth pitcher in club history standing 6’8” or taller, according to Baseball Reference, following Jeff Niemann (6’9”), Adam Russell (6’8”), Mark Hendrickson (6’9”) and Billy Taylor (6’8”). ... Glasnow, acquired from the Pirates for Chris Archer, is the first pitcher in club history to begin his Rays career with three consecutive starts of 2 hits or fewer and 1 run or fewer

Mid first: Gomez reached on a Bogaerts throwing error, before Duffy singles through the left side. Bauers then pops into an infield fly situation, Moreland catches it. After Gomez takes third, Price then gets Pham to admire a called third strike for out No. 2. Price then gets Cron to ground back to him on a full count pitch, the third ball a questionable one. 21 pitches for Price. Rays 0, Red Sox coming to bat.

End first: Betts chases a high fastball for a K, before Benintendi rips a stand-up double into the left-field corner. Moreland then clobbers the first pitch he sees for a double off the base of the bullpen wall, and Benintendi scores. Moreland then steals third before Martinez walks. Martinez then gets a huge jump and steals second on 1-0. Bogaerts then walks on four to load the bases, before Glasnow walks Kinsler on four. 2-0 with Moreland scoring. Wood already warming for Tampa. Holt appears to ground into a 3-4, but the first baseman throws it wild and two runs score. Holt credited for one RBI, and reached on a fielder's choice. It's 4-0 now. And then Glasnow gets out of it by catching Kinsler between second and third, and Holt is nabbed, too. 4-0 Sox through one.

Mid second: 1-2-3 inning on nine pitches for Price. He's at 30.

End second: Leon fans, and so does JBJ. Betts then flies out to right. 1-2-3 inning, a much better inning for Glasnow.

Mid third: Perez K's with an offspeed pitch at the belt. Gomez then tries to bunt, but he can't get by Holt, who throws off-balance to get him. Then Price pulls the string and gets Duffy to admire called third strike.

Freddie Lynn in attendance, and the Fenway Fandom gives him a rousing reception.

End third: Benintendi pops to second, before Moreland swings and misses at strike three. Glasnow looks to be settling in, but he grooves a full count pitch at the knees, and Martinez pounds it all the way into Williamsburg for his 38th home run of the season. Bogaerts then grounds to third, and that's the inning. 5-0 Sox after three full here in the Fens.

Mid fourth: Price fans Bauers for his fourth K of the night, before Pham walks. Cron moves him to second with a base hit through the left side. Wendle then flies out to left, WTP, but with the runners both taking off thinking that had The Wall written all over it, JBJ fires to Kinsler at second to double up Pham. F7-4 on the double play.

End fourth: 1-2-3 frame.

Mid fifth: Price gets Adames looking, K No. 5. Kiermaier grounds to short. Perez singles before Gomez is plunked, two on, two out. But Duffy flies out to JBJ in center, and that's the inning. Halfway home.

End fifth: Red Sox go 1-2-3.

Mid sixth: Price walked Bauers to lead off the inning. He goes full to Pham (fifth three-ball count, fourth full count), but he gets him looking, but Crom turns on the next pitch and drives it over everything and onto Lansdowne. It's his 23rd homer. Two pitches later, Wendle flies out to JBJ. Adames then grounds out to short, and that's the inning. 5-2 Red Sox after 5 1/2 in the Fens.

End sixth: Another 1-2-3 inning. Sox haven't had a baserunner since Martinez's solo homer.

Mid seventh: Kiermaier reaches on a double into the left field corner, and it looks like Hembree is warming. Price fans Perez looking for his seventh K of the night, the second time he has been caught admiring the third strike. He then K's Gomez looking on a fastball right down Broadway with pitch No. 99. And then Duffy lines softly to Moreland for the final out. Stretch time in the Back Bay.

End seventh: Kinsler flies to left, Holt pops to third, and that's it for Glasnow who throws 6.2 innings, scatters three hits, four earned runs, four K's. Adam Kolarek in. He fans Sandy Leon on four pitches. Ryan Brasier coming in to pitch for the Sox.

Mid eighth: Bauers grounds to short, but it looked like he may have beat the throw... Tampa challenges, and he's out. Brasier then fans Pham. He then gets Crom to keep it in the yard, Betts chasing it down after running a mile.

End eighth: With Kimbrel and freshly-recalled Workman warming, JBJ grounds to second, Betts grounds to short, before Benintendi singles through the right-hand side. Moreland grounds out, and here comes Kimbrel.

Mid ninth: Kimbrel gets Wendle to ground to short, K's Adames, and gets Kiermaier to fly out to left. Crank up Dirty Water, that's the ballgame.

LINEUPS

Tampa Bay

Carlos Gomez RF
Matt Duff 3B
Jake Bauers 1B
Tommy Pham LF
CJ Cron DH
Joey Wendle 2B
Willy Adames SS
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Michael Perez C

RED SOX

Mookie Betts CF
Andrew Benintendi LF
Mitch Moreland 1B
JD Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Ian Kinsler 2B
Brock Holt 3B
Sandy Leon C
Jackie Bradley Jr CF