All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Rotation woes continue: On the same day in which the Red Sox front office failed to make a trade for a starter, the Sox got yet another subpar outing from their rotation. This time, it was Martin Perez, who was shelled for six runs over four innings, allowing three homers in the process. Perez might have been lifted an inning earlier had not Alex Cora wanted to save his bullpen after all the usage the last few games at home. Perez pitched down in the zone too much after demonstrating that he could get the Rays to swing-and-miss on elevated pitches up in the zone. He also did himself no favors by issuing a two-out walk in the first to Austin Meadows, just ahead of a two-run homer by Yandy Diaz. And worse, just as the Sox were showing some life in the fourth with two runs, cutting the Tampa Bay lead in half, he gave those two runs right back in the bottom of the inning with two solo homers. Perez has pitched past the fourth inning just once in his last four starts. It may be a temporary dip, but for now, the lone starter showing any consistency is Nathan Eovaldi.
Heart of the order slumping: With Rafael Devers getting another day as a precaution after straining his quad Wednesday night, the Sox were already down one of their big thumpers in the middle of the lineup. Making matters worse are the recent struggles by both Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts hasn't been right at the plate since jamming his wrist two weeks ago in New York. He managed an infield hit but has just five hits in his last 23 at-bats. Even that, however, is better than J.D. Martinez's performance of late. Martinez was 0-for-4 and took some horrid swings at breaking pitches way out of the strike zone. He's hitless in his last 12 at-bats and is just 4-for-34 overall. Up and down the lineup, the Sox had chances, but couldn't string much together, stranding nine baserunners on the night and scoring runs in just two innings -- none after the fifth.
TURNING POINT
It's hard to know, in retrospect, how it might have changed things given how the game unfolded, but a poor baserunning decision by Christian Vazquez proved highly costly in the fourth inning. The Sox were already down 4-0 when they put runners on first and second with one out. Vazquez singled home Xander Bogaerts, who drew a throw to the plate. But Vazquez attempted to move up to second on the throw and was instead caught in a rundown for the second out. Two more singles followed and the Sox managed another run, but who knows how big the inning could have become if they had first-and-third with one out instead of a runner on third and two out?
ONE UP
Hunter Renfroe: The outfielder's been fighting himself at the plate the last few weeks, but worked a walk and drove a double to the gap to drive in a run in addition to helping to throw out a runner at the plate.
TWO DOWN
Jarren Duran: Although he managed a single in the fourth, he also struck out three times and now has struck out 15 times in 38 at-bats.
Alex Verdugo: After a very good homestand, this was a step backward for Verdugo, who was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We've been fighting all season and we're in the same spot -- first place. So a couple of bad games, that's part of the game. It's going to happen in a season. We're fine. We just have to compete with what we have here.'' Martin Perez on the Red Sox not adding to their starting rotation at the trade deadline.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox played their ninth consecutive game without an error.
* Hunter Renfroe picked up his 12th assist, the 32nd for the Red Sox outfield.
* J.D. Martinez is now hitless in his last 12 at-bats.
* Xander Bogaerts started his 9887th game at shortstop for the Red Sox, tying Rick Burleson for second-most in franchise history.
UP NEXT
In the middle game of the series, it will be RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-5, 3.49) vs. LHP Ryan Yarbrough (6-4, 4.38)