All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 8-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Sloppy fourth inning proves costly: The Rays scored two runs in the fourth inning as they battled out from a 4-1 hole, and they had the Sox to thank. First, Jose Peraza, on the outfield grass and shifted around on Yoshi Tsutsugo, bobbled a grounder hit right to him, allowing the leadoff man to reach base. Two batters later, the Rays had runners at first and second with no out and Colten Brewer proved indecisive for a few seconds on a comebacker, costing the Sox a chance at a double play. Two batters after that, Austin Meadows belted a ball to the warning track that Jackie Bradley Jr. believed was going to reach the left-center wall. Instead, the ball landed on the dirt in front of the wall. "I know mistakes are made,'' said Ron Roenicke. "You have to forget about them and move on.''
Arauz gets his first hit -- and second and third: Jonathan Arauz got the start at third base, searching for his first major league hit. When Tampa Bay outfielder Kevin Kiermaier made a diving catch on the warning track to rob of him of extra bases in the second inning, it seemed the rookie's hitless stretch may go on forever. But next time up, Arauz rapped a solid liner to center. He also singled to left in the seventh before delivering a bases-loaded two-run single in the eighth. "It felt great,'' said Arauz. "Three hits is good to have, but I wish we could have gotten the win instead.'' If the three hits weren't enough, he made a brilliant backhand stop in the sixth to save a run, gloving a hot shot from Joey Wendle and gunning a strong throw across the infield for the final out of the inning.
Bench options were limited: The Red Sox played the game short-handed because of a few nagging injuries. Third baseman Rafael Devers was unavailable after twisting his ankle on the first base bag Sunday afternoon. Devers got some treatment before the game and Roenicke was hopeful that he might be able to use him off the bench, but that proved not to be the case. In need of a lefty bat to hit for Jose Peraza in the eighth, he had to go with the slumping Andrew Benintendi instead. First baseman Mitch Moreland, who won Sunday's game with a walk-off homer, couldn't go because of a sore left knee. There was an obvious spot for him in the ninth with the potential tying run on first and two outs and righty Andrew Kittredge on the mound. Instead, the Sox stayed with Michael Chavis, who fanned for the final out. "(Moreland) came in, and his (left) knee was bugging him,'' said Roenicke. "I think he's planning on being OK for tomorrow. He's going to come in and check with the medical crew and hopefully, he's available then.''
TURNING POINT
Trailing 4-3, the Red Sox had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth and Xander Bogaerts at the plate, and seemed poised to re-take the lead. But a hard-hit groundball to shortstop Joey Wendle proved to be the start of a big double play for the Rays and the end of a threat for the Red Sox.
TWO UP
J.D. Martinez: Martinez broke out with his first homer of the year in the third inning before adding two singles later in the game. It was Martinez's first three-hit game since the season opener more two weeks ago and gave the Sox hope that an important run producer is ready to contribute. Roenicke liked what he saw of Martinez's swing in BP and was glad it carried over to the game.
Kevin Plawecki: The backup catcher got a rare start and made the most of his chance with a three-hit night, knocking in two runs and scoring another.
ONE DOWN
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Bradley was 0-for-3 at the plate before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth, but also had a difficult time in the field, botching a ball by Austin Meadows that appeared catchable and resulted in two runs scoring.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We can't keep pitching the same guys all the time, every time we have a close game because that seems to be what we're playing.'' -- Ron Roenicke on staying with reliever Jeffrey Springs for 51 pitches.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Alex Verdugo recorded his third outfield assist of the season.
- Kevin Plawecki has hit safely in each of his four starts this year.
- After an 0-for-25 stretch, Michael Chavis is 7-for-20.
- J.D. Martinez matched a season-high with three hits.