The first game of the Red Sox' doubleheader began poorly -- and got worse from there.
The Sox fell behind 4-0 in the second behind starting pitcher Josh Smith, and were beaten 9-2 by the Tampa Bay Rays for their second straight loss.
Smith lasted just four innings. The Rays added a run off a wild Colten Brewer (three walks) inn the fifth, then topped it off with four against Josh Taylor.
Sam Travis singled home the first run in the second and Jackie Bradley Jr. homered in the eighth.
The Sox are 0-4 against the Rays at home this season.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers
WHEN: 1:05 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: 3-3
SERIES TO DATE: Tampa Bay 1-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Josh Smith (0-1, 4.91) vs. LHP Ryan Yarbrough (4-2, 6.23)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
4:00 Solo homer from Jackie Bradley Jr. off the top of the RF foul pole -- that's five homers, all since May 20.
3:44 Red Sox have seven hits in the last 16 innings.
2:52 Very sloppy inning in the top of the fifth -- two walks, a throwing error and a passed ball leads to another run. Red Sox beating themselves.
2:13 Rays are challenging call at second, but if this isn't overturned, Yandy Diaz has only himself to blame. First, he thought the ball was gone off the bat and didn't run hard out of the box; then, he didn't run full speed between first and second. Other than that...
2:08 Terrific diving play by Sam Travis in LF, who lays out to grab a sinking liner off the bat of Avisail Garcia.
1:54 Big break for the Red Sox, as second baseman Brandon Lowe botches a double-play chance, allowing Eduardo Nunez to reach while sending Christian Vazquez to third.
1:48 Smith threw an incredible 42 pitches in the second inning, with lots of hard-hit balls -- out and hits. Doesn't look like Alex Cora's goal of 15 outs is going to be met.
1:38 Josh Smith leaves a cutter up in the inner half and Travis D'Arnaud cranks it over everything for a three-run homer over everything.
1:20 Further evidence that Michael Chavis is lost at the plate -- goes down swinging on four pitches, but not against high fastballs. Ryan Yarbrough didn't throw him anything harder than 86 mph.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Chavis 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Vazquez DH
Nunez 2B
Travis LF
Bradley CF
Leon C
RAYS
Meadows RF
Pham LF
B. Lowe 2B
Garcia DH
Choi 1B
Diaz 3B
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
D'Arnaud C
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox saw their four-game winning streak ended Friday night with a 5-1 loss....The Red Sox and Rays have been unable to win a home game against one another this season. The Rays are 3-0 at Fenway anfd the Sox are 3-0 at Tropicana Field....Before this season, the last time the road team won the first six games of the season in the series with the teams was 2010...Since April 29, the Red Sox have the second-best run differential at +84, behind only Minnesota (+99)….The Sox are the only team with five qualifying players who have an OBP of .360 or greater: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Andrew Benintendi...They also boast three of the four AL Leads in runs scored with Bogaerts (first 50), Betts (second at 48), and Devers (47, tied for third)….Devers have eight RBI in his last five games...After collecting just three RBI in his first 24 games, he has 37 in his last 38 games....Over his last 17 games, Jackie Bradley Jr. has hit .296....Brock Holt has reached base in each of his eight games since coming off the IL, going 11-for-27) with five RBI and seven runs scored....Over his last 10 games, Eduardo Nunez is hitting .400 (12-for-30) with six RBI...This will mark Josh Smith's second start of the season for the Red Sox....He pitched May 6 in Baltimore and allowed four runs on six hits over 3.1 in a 4-1 loss to Baltimore....Benintendi has a six-game hitting streak, during which he's 9-for-27 and has scored at least one run in four straight games....
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- The Red Sox placed Mitch Moreland (quad) back on the IL, hours after he came off the IL with a back issue. To take Moreland's place on the roster, the Red Sox recalled infielder Marco Hernandez, who missed most of the last two seasons with shoulder injuries. Moreland is due to be examined by a doctor later Saturday, though Alex Cora maintained that the Sox don't currently fear the possibility of a torn quad, which would require surgery.
- J.D. Martinez (back spasms) is out for the first game - he also was held out Friday night -- and his availability for the nightcap is unknown.
- Nathan Eovaldi will throw his bullpen Sunday. Meanwhile, Hector Velazquez is set to throw one between games Saturday afternoon.