All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox’ 8-1 loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox bats dry up
Less than 24 hours after the Red Sox’ bats uncorked an offensive barrage against the Rays, that same potent proficiency at the plate was nowhere to be found on Thursday afternoon at Fenway Park.
The Sox, who crossed the plate 20 times on Wednesday off of 19 hits, failed to do much of anything against Drew Rasmussen and what was five total Rays pitchers on Thursday — mustering just one run and two hits in what was a frustrating 8-1 loss to Tampa.
Most of the good tidings accumulated from Wednesday’s slugfest managed to dissipate in short order — with the only other hit besides Rafael Devers’ RBI double coming off of the bat of catcher Kevin Plawecki.
Kyle Schwarber’s arrival can’t come soon enough, but with more players like Marwin Gonzalez (0-for-3, 2 Ks) and Franchy Cordero (0-for-3, 3 Ks) struggling at the plate — it’s clear that the Sox need more than just one newcomer pulling his weight if this team wants to snap out of this extended slump.
Bullpen continues to struggle:
A third time through the order doomed what was a promising start for Tanner Houck on the mound — although even a great outing from the righty wouldn’t have mattered much on a night where the Sox couldn’t do much of anything at the plate.
Boston’s scoring woes might snag most of the headlines from a loss like this, but a concerning trend continued with the Sox bullpen laboring again. Hansel Robles balked in a run with the bases loaded, while Austin Davis and Yacksel Rios were also knocked around for four total runs.
TURNING POINT
The contest might have been knotted up at 1-1 entering the sixth inning, but Boston had to like where it was at that point in the contest — especially with Houck cruising on the mound.
But things went south during Houck’s third time through the Rays order, with Brandon Lowe leading things off with a single that made its way out to center. Next up to the plate was Wander Franco, who closed out an 11-pitch battle by smacking a sinker into left-center in what was eventually ruled a two-run homer.
With Boston’s offense in a rut, that was all that the Rays would need on Thursday night to clinch their road series against the Sox.
TWO UP
Rafael Devers: One of the few bright spots in the Sox lineup on Thursday, Devers drove on Boston’s lone run in the bottom of the fourth by lacing an RBI double into the triangle — bringing in Kiké Hernandez all the way from first. Devers currently leads all MLBers in hits (41), RBI (64) and extra-base hits (20) with runners in scoring position.
Kike Hernandez: Again, it’s not like the Sox were the ‘27 Yankees out there at the plate, but Hernandez at least managed to consistently get on base from the leadoff spot — walking three times in his four at-bats.
THREE DOWN
Bottom of the order: Let’s be frank — pretty much EVERYONE in Boston's lineup labored on Thursday. But the bottom of the order failed to generate much of anything at the plate, with both Marwin Gonzalez and Franchy Cordero both going a combined 0-for-6 and fanning five times.
Hansel Robles: It continues to be a struggle for Robles since getting dealt to Boston back on July 30. While he did not relinquish a run during his inning of work, he did walk three batters in total and was called for a brutal balk with the bases loaded — bringing in Nelson Cruz from third. In Robles’ five appearances with the Sox this season, he has surrendered five earned runs and walked four. Not ideal.
Austin Davis: Another reliever that Boston picked up at the deadline in Davis also struggled on Thursday — giving up one hit, walking one and getting tagged for two runs in just 0.1 innings of work. Granted, it was Rios that surrendered the big blow off of a Mike Zunino three-run shot — but a night like Thursday further validates that Boston’s bullpen is in a rough spot these days.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
“Just part of baseball. … As a team, it wasn’t great after Franco hit that home run.” - Alex Cora on Boston’s offense drying up after scoring 20 runs on Wednesday.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
Boston’s starters have a 2.81 ERA over their last six starts with a 39-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
With his RBI double in the fourth, Devers surpassed Tony Conigliaro and took third place in franchise history for the most extra-base hits before the age of 25. Devers now sits at 247 XBH, with only Ted Williams (314) and Bobby Doerr (260) ahead of him.
In Wander Franco’s nine career games against the Red Sox, the 20-year-old shortstop is batting .323 with two home runs, two doubles, two triples and 11 RBI. Against the rest of baseball, the rookie is batting .218 with 10 RBI over 29 games.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox will continue their homestand on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Orioles. Nick Pivetta (8-5, 4.34) will get the start in the opener, with TBA set for the O’s.