All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Eovaldi falters: Nathan Eovaldi had what was arguably his worst start since the first week of May. He was given a 3-0 head start when the Sox scored three runs in the top of the first, but Eovaldi quickly gave two of them right back in the bottom of the inning. After the Rays nicked him for an unearned run in the third, they scored twice more in the fourth. The Sox came back to tie the game 5-5, but once more, Eovaldi couldn't keep it there, allowing a run in the bottom of the sixth. The Sox never caught up again. "It's very frustrating for me, especially given how big this game was for us tonight,'' said Eovaldi. "I felt like I didn't have very good command of my fastball.'' The outing marked the third in a row in which the Red Sox starter gave up six or more runs. To put that in perspective, that hasn't happened since the first three games of the 2019 season.
Sale moves forward: Never has the thought of Chris Sale coming to the rescue had more appeal than now. Sale did his part with his fourth rehab appearance, this one in Worcester. He threw five innings, allowed a run on five hits and struck out seven while throwing 81 pitches, 51 for strikes. This was the first start that Sale came out for a fifth inning, so just getting the extra up-and-downs was beneficial as he builds endurance and arm strength. His fastball didn't have the same life it's hard in recent rehab stints, as he mostly sat 93-94 mph, but he threw his slider well and got some swing-and-miss on it. "I finally put in my first real day of work in two years,'' joked Sale. "It felt good. Today felt normal.'' Next up: a road start in Scranton, which could be his last box to check before rejoining his teammates in Boston. Given how the rotation is performing, that can't come fast enough.
Schwarber eager to learn: Newcomer Kyle Schwarber joined the Red Sox Saturday and is ready to tackle first base, a position he's never played before. First, Schwarber has to get healthy, as he's missed almost a month with right hamstring pull. But Schwarber hinted that might be closer to going on a rehab stint of his own fairly soon. As for the position, he welcomes the challenge. "For me, I view myself as a pretty good athlete,'' he said. "I just want to go out there and make sure I have the basics down and as I keep progressing, keep learning things. I'm going to do everything I possibly can that, if I'm going in there to first base, there's not going to be a beat missed.'' Schwarber pointed out that, as a catcher in college and in the minor leagues, he had never played the outfield before coming up to the big leagues with the Cubs, but learned to do it in a short period of time.
TURNING POINT
In a back-and-forth game with several lead changes, there were a number of potential turning points, but two stick out. In both the sixth and seventh innings, the Red Sox loaded the bases against Tampa Bay relievers and both times got ahead in the count. But after Christian Vazquez was up 3-and-0, he fanned. In the seventh, it was Hunter Renfroe's turn. Renfroe was ahead 2-and-0 in the count, but also ended up striking out, leaving three runners on base.
ONE UP
Josh Taylor: Of the three relievers the Red Sox called on, the lefty was the only who pitched effectively, facing four batters and striking out three.
ONE DOWN:
Adam Ottavino: The veteran righty is in the middle of a rough stretch. He was charged with three runs on two hits while recording just two outs.
Jonathan Arauz: After a fine game at third base Friday night, Arauz took a big step backward, going hitless in three trips and worse, committing two errors in the third inning, leading to an unearned run.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Tomorrow, hopefully we get a really good start. I know there's two months left, but we need a win tomorrow.'' Xander Bogaerts.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* After winning the first four head-to-head meetings with the Rays this season, the Red Sox have now lost the last four.
* Xander Bogaerts played his 1,000th game at shortstop, becoming the 70th player in MLB history to achieve that with the same franchise.
* The three-game losing streak for the Red Sox is their longest since June 2.
* The homer for Bobby Dalbec was his first in more than a month.
UP NEXT
In the final game of the series, at 7:07 p.m., the Red Sox will send Nick Pivetta (8-4, 4.51) to the mound, opposed by LHP Shane McClanahan (4-4, 3.93)