BSJ Game Report: Rays 5, Red Sox 4 (11) - Three things we learned

The Red Sox lost 5-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 11 innings and were officially eliminated from the playoffs. Here are three things we learned:

1. Mitch Moreland keeps swinging.

In a little more than a week, it's quite likely that Mitch Moreland will take the Red Sox uniform off for a final time. The veteran first baseman is a free agent after this season, and given that the Red Sox will be looking to reduce payroll and have some other options (Michael Chavis, for one) at first base for 2020, it's likely he'll be somewhere else next season. But on a night when the Red Sox were officially eliminated from the playoffs, it's somehow fitting that Moreland did everything he could to extend their season for another night. Remember that early in the year, when the Sox couldn't get out of their own way and night after night couldn't produce the big hit when necessary, Moreland singlehandedly won a few games for them with some clutch moments at the plate. He did his nest to repeat that Friday night, hitting his first two-run homer in the seventh, then, minutes after a Cleveland Indians win mathematically eliminated the Sox, Moreland hit another two-run homer in the ninth when the Rays were a couple of outs away from wrapping this one up.

2. Rick Porcello tries to end on a positive.

Porcello has had a hugely disappointing season for the Red Sox, as his 5.77 ERA coming into Friday night illustrated. But for his second straight outing, Porcello provided the Red Sox with a strong start. After allowing just two runs over five innings to the Phillies last weekend, Porcello followed that up with perhaps his best start of the season, holding the Rays to just two hits over six innings. He didn't walk a batter and fanned six. But was what was particularly noteworthy was how Porcello dominated. For much of the last two seasons, Porcello had changed his approach in response to the "launch angle'' trends in the game, effectively ditching his two-seamer down in the zone and pitching more at the top of the zone. But Friday night -- and last weekend in Philly -- Porcello seemed to revert back to his old style and the results have been telling. It's too late to salvage his season, and like Moreland, he'll likely be somewhere else next year. But if he can close out with another quality start Wednesday in Texas, he may give other teams reason to evaluate his otherwise down season.

3. Sox having trouble staying healthy down the stretch

For their most recent homestand, the Red Sox were without both Mookie Betts (inflammation in the foot) and J.D. Martinez (groin). On Friday, the start of the final road trip, the Sox got Betts back, although he was limited and served as DH. But before the game, the Sox officially shut down Michael Chavis, who has been battling a pulled side muscle for the past few weeks. Chavis suffered a setback hitting in the cage on Wednesday and with just over a week remaining, the Sox made the call Friday to end his season. But just as Betts was returning -- and with Martinez getting ready to return Saturday -- the physical issues kept piling up for the Sox. Andrew Benintendi lined out in his first at-bat in the second inning and was removed from the game with a thumb injury. Benintendi already had the thumb taped up some, but his swing apparently aggravated the issue further. That left the Sox with an outfield that included Gorkys Hernandez in left and Brock Holt in right.