A four-run lead in the early innings couldn't stand up for the Red Sox, who saw the Tampa Bay Rays put up seven unanswered runs to take a 7-4 decision Monday night.
Starter Jhoulys Chacin retired 10 of the first 11 hitters he faced, but the Rays flipped an offensive switch in the bottom of the fourth, belting three homers to overtake the Sox for good.
Over the last five innings, meanwhile, the Red Sox managed just three hits.
WHO: Red Sox (81-74) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (92-64)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Tropicana Field
SERIES TO DATE: Tampa Bay 2-1
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: Tampa Bay 11-7
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Jhoulyus Chacin (3-11, 5.66) vs. LHP Blake Snell (6-7, 4.19)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:29 Incredible throw from Mookie Betts in deepest right field, who guns down Avisail Garcia trying to stretch a double into a triple. One of the most impressive throws of the season.
9:23 This game has reversed itself. In the early going, the Sox were extending innings and the Rays were going down on a handful of pitches each inning. Now, it's the other way around.
8:57 What an inning. Third homer of the inning and the last tw0 have been absolutely crushed - one by Nate Lowe off Chacin and that one by Willy Adames off Bobby Poyner.
8:47 That escalated quickly. Chacin didn't allow a hit to the first 11 hitters he faced, then quickly allowed a single, single and a three-run homer to Ji-Man Choi, bringing the Rays to within a run. Could start to see some of his pitches elevated in the zone and the Rays aren't missing.
8:43 First hit off Chacin, who has been superb, allowing just one baserunner (walk) before that single by Austin Meadows and struck out five.
8:35 Extended inning as the Sox get a walk and three straight hits -- all coming after two were out -- to double their lead from 2-0 to 4-0.
8:14 Back-to-back doubles from Mitch Moreland and Jackie Bradley Jr. produces another run for the Red Sox, who lead 2-0.
7:59 For my own sanity, I'm happy to see Blake Snell leave. It took 21 minutes to get through the top of the first, despite the fact that a ball wasn't put in play. We're still in the top of the second inning, 50 minutes in with one run scored and two hits combined for both teams.
7:49 Pretty good pace to this one so far, huh?
LINEUPS
RED SOX
M. Hernandez 2B
Betts RF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Travis 1B
Bradley CF
G. Hernandez LF
Owings SS
Leon C
RAYS
Wendle 3B
Pham DH
Meadows LF
d'Arnaud C
Choi 1B
Garcia RF
B. Lowe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox snapped a two-game losing streak Sunday and need just one more win to assure themselves of a winning record...Six of the last eight games at Tropicana Field between the two teams have been decided by one run....Over their last four games, Red Sox starters - Eduardo Rodriguez, Travis Lakins, Rick Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi have combined for a 1.37 ERA....Only three rookie pitchers have made at least 50 appearances and three are part of the Red Sox staff: Marcus Walden (68), Colten Brewer (55) and Josh Taylor (51)….The last American League team to have three rookies make 50 or ore appearances was the Chicago White Sox in 2004...In Red Sox history before this season, only six rookies had ever made at least 50 appearances in a season. Robby Scott (2017) was the last and prior to that, it was Hideki Okajima (2007)...Rafael Devers has already set records for most homers (31) and extra-base hits (85) by a third baseman in franchise history. He needs one more double to tie Wade Boggs (51 in 1989) for most in a season....Christian Vazquez leads all American League catchers in extra-base hits (49) and hits (129) and tied for most doubles (26) and is second in RBI (69), tied for second in runs scored (63) and tied for fourth in homers (22)….He also leads all catchers in pickoffs (four) and is third in the A.L. in caught-stealing percentage (32.7 %)….The Sox need one more homer to tie the club mark for most in a season at 238 in 2003....This will be Jhoulys Chacin's fourth start since signing with the Red Sox at the end of August...Tommy Pham is 2-for-10 in his career against Chacin and Avisail Garcia is 2-for-3.....Sandy Leon is 6-for-13 lifetime against Blake Snell while J.D. Martinez is just 1-for-7.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- SS Xander Bogaerts is getting the night off.
- RHP Heath Hembree was taken off the IL.