All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 5-4 loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Eovaldi returns to the mound: For the first time since Aug. 20, Nathan Eovaldi made a start for the Red Sox. It didn't begin well, with Rays leadoff hitter Austin Meadows working the count full before homering deep to right to put Eovaldi in a quick hole. But Eovaldi, who admitted to being a little hyper in the first, settled down after that. He allowed just two more hits over his three innings of work, and finished strong, retiring six of the last seven he faced, including three by strikeout. Eovaldi, having thrown 40 pitches, wanted to go back out for another inning, but the team wanted to limit him in his first appearance in more than three weeks. The trick next year, of course, will be trying to keep Eovaldi healthy for the entire season, something he's seldom been able to achieve -- much to his own frustration.
Sox run wild: You know it's a funky night when the Red Sox rack up six stolen bases -- two shy of the franchise record first set more than 100 years ago and the most for the team in a single game since 2010. The Sox noted before the game that Tyler Glasnow, all 6-foot-8, has a long delivery and doesn't get rid of the ball quickly. Duly noted. Alex Verdugo, who led off the game with an infield single, promptly stole second. Xander Bogaerts drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, then proceeded to steal second and third. Later that inning, Jackie Bradley Jr. swiped second. Michael Chavis and Bradley, again, stole bags in the fifth and seventh, respectively. Ron Roenicke expressed some disappointment after the game that the Sox haven't run more in 2020. "I've been wanting to run and I don't know why we're a little hesitant this year,'' he said. "We don't have any true 50-bases a year guys, but we have some guys who can run and I think we need to take advantage of some guys who have higher leg kicks when we can.''
Arroyo belts first homer: Christian Arroyo, who's been getting a long look at second base in the last week or so, hit the ball hard in his first couple of trips to the plate, but really connected in the seventh for a two-run homer down the line in left. The homer tied the game -- however briefly -- for the Sox. Arroyo said before the game that he'd been working with hitting coaches Tim Hyers and Pete Fatse and that they had detected a few things on video that needed to be corrected. "They've seen some things that I've done in the past that have maybe gotten in my way a little bit,''' he said. "So we're working through those things and trying to get to that next level, to where I can prove my ability and maybe prove my worth at the big league level.''
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox were trailing 4-2 in the top of the fifth, with Michael Chavis on second having reached on a strikeout-wild pitch, then stolen second with one out. Alex Verdugo hit a popup to the left side and Chavis, forgetting how many were out, broke for third. By the time he got there and third base coach Carlos Febles motioned him back to second, it was too late -- Chavis was doubled-up at second, with Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts due next.
ONE UP
Michael Chavis: Other his baserunning gaffe, Chavis had a nice night with a solo homer, a stolen base and a fabulous play at first, stabbing a smash and robbing Nate Lowe of extra bases.
ONE DOWN
Marcus Walden: When a team storms back to tie a game after being two runs down, they need a shutdown inning from their pitcher. Walden didn't provide that, however, handing the Rays back the lead after just three batters.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I don't know what my limit's going to be for my next outing, but I felt really good today, especially after that first (inning). I was able to get settle in and get some quick outs.'' Nathan Eovaldi.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- J.D. Martinez was 0-for-4 and is now hitless in his last 21 at-bats.
- Rafael Devers extended his hitting streak to six games.
- Kevin Plawecki has 12 RBI this season and six have come against Tampa Bay.