The inability to get the big hit in a big spot cost the Red Sox, who dropped a 2-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays and left 11 baserunners on base in the process while going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Charlie Morton, who was dinged for a five-run second inning by the Sox last week at Tropicana Field, shut them out for six innings, allowing just two hits.
The Sox had their late-inning chances, squandered a one-out double by Xander Bogaerts in the sixth and, after Mookie Betts led off the eighth with a homer, the Sox loaded the bases with two outs only to have Jose Alvarado fan Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Rays grabbed a 1-0 lead off David Price with a leadoff homer by Yandy Diaz. In the fourth, they sent seven men to the plate and Mike Zunino banged a double off The Wall, scoring Tommy Pham.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
WHEN: 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox 3-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP David Price (1-1,3.75) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (2-0, 3.38)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
7:07 Jose Alvarado loads the bases, but gets Bradley to swing at ball four to end the threat in the eighth.
6:48 Betts hits the second pitch Diego Castillo -- a cutter over the middle -- into the center field bleachers to get the Red Sox on the board.
6:03 Red Sox again fail to cash in -- one-out double by Betts, but Devers fans and Chavis flies out to LF. They're 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
5:20 Price gets out of a bases loaded, one-out jam with just one run allowed, but it costs him mightily with his pitch count -- he needed 32 pitches to get through that inning.
5:13 For the second time today, Price beaten on a pitch on which he was ahead in the count. Threw an 0-1 four-seamer to Yandy Diaz in the first for a homer and there, Mike Zunino hits a Wallball single on a 1-and-2 changeup.
5:03 Price's tempo tends to slow to a crawl with baserunner on.
4:57 Rays make a couple of mistakes in the bottom of the third -- throwing error by Willy Adames and a wild pitch by Charlie Morton -- but Sox can't cash in, as Mookie Betts is stranded at third base.
4:35 Jackie Bradley Jr. continues to scuffle at the plate, swinging at a 1-and-2 curveball inside for strike three.
4:32 Five walks in seven games for Michael Chavis, who continues to show patience at the plate for a young hitter.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Betts RF
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Chavis 2B
Pearce DH
Bradley CF
Vazquez C
RAYS
Diaz 1B
Pham DH
Robertson 2B
Garcia RF
Zunino C
Kiermaier CF
Heredia LF
Adames SS
Arroyo 3B
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have won 5-of-7 and are 9-7 following their 2-8 start...This marks the fourth game between the Rays and Sox in the last nine days...The Sox swept a series at Tropicana Field last weekend...Thirty of the last 50 games between the Sox and Rays have been decided by either one or two runs...In the 20 one-run games, the Sox are 13-7, including 8-1 in the last nine...Michael Chavis has four hits since being called up and three are for extra bases, including two homers...He's reached base in nine of his 23 plate appearances...Mookie Betts has three doubles in his last two games...J.D. Martinez has hit safely in 24 of 26 games this season...Andrew Benintendi has also reached base safely in 17 of his last 18 games and over his last 16 games, is hitting .344...Benintendi has hit leadoff in 39 games in the big leagues and has reached base in 37 of those, with base hits in 32 of them...Over the last 10 games, Rafael Devers has hit .333 (10-for-30)...Red Sox starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 of the last 13 games....In 15 appearances against his former team, David Price is 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA, limiting them to two runs or fewer in eight of his last nine outings...Kevin Kiermaier is 5-for-19 with a homer against Price while Willy Adames is 1-for-8....Charlie Morton, who started against the Sox last Saturday at the Trop and allowed five runs on five hits over six innings against them...Benintendi is 4-for-11 with two homers and five RBI against Morton while Xander Bogaerts is 6-for-14 with a homer and two RBI...At the opposite end, Martinez is just 3-for-15 against him.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- J.D. Martinez was a late scratch from the lineup due to back spasms. Steve Pearce will replace him at DH.
- Both Dustin Pedroia (knee) and Eduardo Nunez (back) worked out on the field Saturday morning, taking batting practice and running the bases. The plan is for both to do more of the same Sunday morning, though the threat of rain could curtail outdoor activities. "(Nunez) is moving well, Pedey, too,'' said Alex Cora. "We'll sit down with them and see what's the next step.
- Brock Holt (scratched cornea) got six at-bats with the Pawsox in Rochester Friday night at the start of his rehab. "He saw the ball well,'' said Cora.
- Brian Johnson (elbow) will throw a fastball-only bullpen Sunday.