All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 8-5 loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Porcello struggles again: Starter Rick Porcello gave up six runs in 5.2 innings, including a four-run second that featured two homers: a solo shot by Kevin Kiermaier and a three-run shot by Austin Meadows. Both came on fastballs that Porcello didn't properly locate. Worse, most of the damage that inning came with two outs. In his last seven starts, Porcello has pitched to a 9.35 ERA. "There's no doubt it's been frustrating,'' he said. "I haven't been able to be effective for us for pretty much all year. I care about this team, I care about this game and I care about what I'm doing and when that's not happening, it's tough to swallow.'' The frustration boiled over early in the game for Porcello, who slammed and broke two TV monitors in the dugout. "It was a reaction to frustration,'' said Porcello. "It's not behavior that I condone. It's not behavior that is representative of my personality."
https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1156761759824384001
Offense isn't enough: Over the last three games, the Red Sox have scored 16 runs, just a little bit under their average of about 5.7 runs per game over the course of the season. But if the Sox, who scored 38 runs in three victories against the Yankees last weekend, thought they could outhit their mistakes by racking up the runs, they've discovered otherwise the last few nights. "That's a little tough,'' said Xander Bogaerts. "But it's part of the game -- some games,, you win 1-0. I remember when we were scoring all those runs against the Yankees, everything was good. Maybe if we could score 10 runs a game, we'd be in good shape.'' The Sox had opportunities but stranded nine baserunners, including five over the last three innings alone.
Sox clubhouse not dissuaded by lack of trades: Red Sox management decided to stand pat at the trade deadline, but a couple of players insisted they weren't disappointed that they won't be received any roster upgrades. "Maybe a little surprised,'' said Bogaerts, "but I wouldn't say we're disappointed. We know the team that we have, if we're playing to our capabilities, we know how good we are. We're one of the best teams in the league. You hear a lot of chatter and you don't know what's going to happen. But we've got to trust the guys that we have.'' Porcello echoed with a similar sentiment. "Those are things that are out of our control,'' said the pitcher. "We're focusing on the group we have right now. We've got plenty of talent in here; we just have to go out and be consistent and win ballgames.''
TURNING POINT
As was the case in the series opener Tuesday night, the Red Sox had their chances, and none was bigger than in the seventh when they scored three runs and had runners at the corners with Andrew Benintendi due. Benintendi has been one of the hottest hitters on the team of late and has swung the bat well against lefties, but with Colin Poche on, Benintendi went down swinging and the Sox didn't score again the rest of the way.
ONE UP
J.D. Martinez: Martinez has beaten up Rays pitching all year (.467) and Wednesday was no different as he bashed out three hits, including a leadoff homer in the fourth.
TWO DOWN
Heath Hembree: Hembree entered a 5-2 game and promptly gave up two runs with a walk, triple and single. He's allowed runs in three of his last six appearances.
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez is hitting under .200 since the All-Star break and was chasing pitches out of the zone in an 0-for-4, two strikeout night.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Everyone knows what we have to do. It's obvious now. We know where we're at and we're in a big hole.'' -- Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Michael Chavis is tied with Eloy Jimenez for most home runs (17) by an American League rookie.
- In 13 games since being recalled, Sam Travis is batting .379 with a 1.109 OPS.
- Rafael Devers finished July with 34 RBI, the most for any Red Sox player in any month since David Ortiz had 35 in July 2006.
- Darwinzon Hernandez has strung together seven straight scoreless relief appearances.