All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-1 loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Porcello falters again: Rick Porcello allowed five runs in 4.2 innings in his last start, a loss against New York and Friday night's outing was only marginally better. He was tagged for four runs over six innings and suffered the loss. He felt behind 1-0 in the second on a solo homer by Ji-Man Choi, then was a strike away from bailing himself out of a second-and-third, no-out mess when he threw a slider that caught too much of the plate to Kevin Kiermaier, who pulled it past first for a two-run single. Kiermaier then struck again two innings later with another RBI single. "I've got to be better,'' bemoaned Porcello. "Fourth inning, two outs and an opportunity to get out of a jam and for me, that was kind of the momentum shifter. I can't let them spread the game out to three runs there and I misfired on a slider...Tonight it was on me -- giving up four runs is tough to come back from.''
Moreland appears headed back to IL: The Red Sox were happy to welcome Mitch Moreland back from the IL after a stint because of back spasms. He was written right back into the lineup, hitting fifth, but his return didn't last long. Moreland grounded out to second in his first at-bat, then, in the fourth inning, but this time, felt something tug in his right quad. Moreland went back out to first base in the top of the fifth following the at-bat, but soon told the training staff about the issue and was lifted in the top of the sixth, replaced by Michael Chavis. "I was just talking to the (training staff) and (Moreland) doesn't feel great,'' said Alex Cora. "We'll talk a little bit more when I'm done here with Dave (Dombrowski) and see what we're going to do.'' The Sox are also without the other half of their first base platoon, Steve Pearce, but have Sam Travis, Brock Holt and Chavis all capable of playing first base.
Shawaryn finally makes his debut: Mike Shawaryn waited three years to get promoted to the big leagues. He was called up from Pawtucket last week when the Red Sox began their series in New York, but didn't get into any of the three games there. Then, though he was a candidate to start Thursday against the Royals, didn't get in any of the games in Kansas City, either. Finally, in the top of the eighth inning Friday night, he made his major league debut. He retired the side in order in the eighth, allowed a leadoff homer in the ninth and then fanned the next three hitters he faced. "Probably my top moment in my life so far,'' gushed Shawaryn. "That first moment when you hear your name (in the bullpen), your heart starts pounding a little harder. Then you get on the mound and it calms you down; it's what you've been doing since you were a little kid. It's time to trust your stuff and do it.'' Shawaryn's parents and sister were able to be on hand for the debut.
TURNING POINT
After going without a baserunner in the first five, the Sox managed to load the bases in the sixth, but got nothing out of it when Andrew Benintendi took a called third strike and Rafael Devers went down swinging, stranding three. A base hit from either player would have put the Sox right back into the game, but it never came.
ONE UP
Xander Bogaerts: His Wall-scraping double in the ninth scored Andrew Benintendi from second, helping to avert a shutout. He was the only member of the lineup to collect more than one hit.
TWO DOWN
Rafael Devers: The Red Sox hottest and most productive hitter in the last month went cold for the night, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Mookie Betts: He's yet to provide much from the leadoff spot in his first week back and was 0-for-3 with a walk.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I've got to be better.'' Rick Porcello, who spotted the Rays a 4-0 lead.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- Christian Vazquez has thrown out 10 of the last 17 baserunners attempting to steal.
- This marked the fifth time this season that the Red Sox had been held to four hits or fewer.
- Xander Bogaerts collected multiple hits for the sixth time in the last 10 games.
- Jackie Bradley Jr. has reached base in six of his last 11 plate appearances.