Final: Rays 9, Red Sox 1 - Losing streak reaches three -- again.

Suddenly, the Red Sox find themselves with their second three-game losing streak in the last week.

The Sox were throttled by the Tampa Bay Rays, 9-1, and suffered their first series sweep of the season. Nathan Eovaldi had another rocky outing, allowing six runs in just four innings. The Rays then added three more runs off the beleaguered Red Sox bullpen.

Boston had just three hits and went the entire series without hitting a homer. They managed just five runs in the three games and just two over the final 18 innings.

The Rays, meanwhile, won their eighth in a row.

IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:

2:34   The little things are adding up against the Red Sox. A rare error by Mitch Moreland started off the inning, and a wild pitch from Eovaldi paved the way for a run here.

2:13   Eovaldi didn't give the Red Sox the start they desperately needed - he's allowed five runs on seven hits through the first three innings, putting the Sox in a deep hole. Other than David Price on Thursday afternoon, the Red Sox have been let down by their starters of late.

2:03   For a team struggling at the plate of late, falling into a 3-0 hole with Blake Snell on the mound for the Rays is not what the Red Sox had in mind. Important for Eovaldi to limit the damage in this inning so the Sox don't fall any further behind.

1:46  Through the first two innings, Nathan Eovaldi has looked sharper -- despite the two runs allowed in the first inning. He was able to limit the damage after the first two hitters reached base, and in the second inning, he attacked the strike zone and utilized his fastball more.

1:40  Steve Pearce tried to be aggressive and advance a base on a dirt ball, but the move backfires as he's gunned down trying to move to second.

 

WHO: Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
WHEN: 1:10 p.m.
WHERE: Tropicana Field
WHAT'S UP: After dropping the first two games of their final series of the season with the Rays, the Red  Sox find themselves in the middle of their worst stretch of the season to date, having dropped five of their last seven games as the second-place New York Yankees draw to within seven in the American League East standings. The Sox haven't hit much of late, managing just four runs in the last two games, during which they've had just two extra-base hits (both doubles). Alex Cora is giving J.D. Martinez a day off Sunday -- in anticipation of the off-day in the schedule Monday, giving Martinez two straight days off. Meanwhile, the top of the lineup hasn't produced. Mookie Betts was hitless Saturday night and over his last nine games, has posted a slash line of .158/.220/.211. As if things weren't bad enough, the Sox will have to deal with Tampa Bay ace Blake Snell Sunday afternoon, who has pitched well against them -- and most everyone else, for that matter. The Rays, meanwhile, are enjoying their best play of the season, having won seven straight and sitting a season-high nine games over .500.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-5, 3.81) vs. LHP Blake Snell (15-5, 2.07).
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM

LINEUPS



RED SOX

Betts RF
Nunez 3B
Bogaerts SS
Pearce DH
Moreland 1B
Kinsler 2B
Holt LF
Leon C
Bradley CF

RAYS

Wendle 2B
Duffy 3B
Choi DH
Pham LF
Bauers 1B
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Lowe RF
Perez C