BSJ Game Report: Rays 8, Red Sox 4 - Sox drop eighth in nine games at The Trop

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES   

Hill hit around: In two previous starts against the Tampa Bay Rays this season, veteran Rich Hill did not allow a run over the course of 11 innings. Included in that stretch was a masterful outing late last month when he tossed seven scoreless frames, allowed just three hits and struck out 11. But he had very different results Tuesday, rocked for three runs in the first and two more in the third. The Rays jumped on his fastball early for some hard contact, including a three-run shot by Randy Arozarena just three batters into the game. He faced the minimum number of hitters in the second began to mix in his cutter more to go with his curveball, but in the third, the top of the order hammered the hard stuff again and it didn't help that three of the Rays' hits that inning were of the infield variety, including two slow rollers to third on which Rafael Devers had no play.

Casas connects for No. 1: On Sunday, Triston Casas made his debut and it didn't take him long to collect his first major league hit, a single to shortstop. On Tuesday, Casas recorded another milestone, cranking a full-count fastball deep into the right field seats for a two-run homer that put the Sox -- temporarily at least -- back in the game. What followed, over the next few innings, was a laborious negotiation with a fan in the bleachers, who asked for an autographed ball and two signed bats from the team, all the while milking his newfound fame in a NESN on-camera interview. The fan didn't even who hit the homer, but it's doubtful that Casas will forget the circumstances of his first major league homer.

Nagging injuries plague Sox: After sitting out the last two games, it appeared as though J.D. Martinez (back spasms) was set to return, listed as the team's DH and No. 5 hitter in the lineup announced late Tuesday afternoon. But less than an hour before gametime, Martinez felt the back stiffen up and was scratched in favor of Christian Arroyo. Later, in the sixth inning, Xander Bogaerts could be seen grimacing as he tried to beat out a double play at first and came out of the game, also bothered by back spasms. After the game, Alex Cora said Bogaerts would be rested in the series finale while Martinez is expected to return to play.

TURNING POINT

Trailing 5-2 after five innings, the Red Sox were nominally still in the game. But after Eduard Bazardo retired the Rays in order in the fifth and got the first out in the sixth, he yielded consecutive solo shots to Christian Bethancourt and Yu Chang, as the Rays took a 7-2 and effectively put the game out of reach for the Sox. From the time Casas homered in the second until Tommy Pham homered in the eighth, the Sox managed just two hits, both singles.

TWO UP

Alex Verdugo: The outfielder keeps piling up the hits, with singles in both the sixth and eighth innings. Since Aug. 5, he leads the American League in hits with 43.

Reese McGuire: The catcher continues to find ways to get on base. Batting from the ninth position, he had a single and a walk in his three plate appearances.

TWO DOWN

Rafael Devers: Last weekend, it appeared as though Devers was starting to heat up at the plate. But the third baseman was 0-for-4 Tuesday with two strikeouts.

Eduard Bazardo: Bazardo was hit around for some hard contact and failed to keep the game within reach as he took over for Hill, allowing two solo homers to consecutive batters in the sixth.

QUOTE OF NOTE 

"Good at-bat. Three-and-two fastball, and he covered a pitch up in the zone. You see the quality of the at-bats. He knows the strike zone, deep counts, staying away from certain areas. This is who he is and he's going to keep learning.'' Alex Cora on Triston Casas' first homer.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* The announced attendance of 8,064 was the smallest crowd the Red Sox have played in front of since June 8, 1999 in Montreal (7,233)

* Xander Bogaerts saw his nine-game streak of multiple-hit games come to an end as he 0-for-3.

* The Red Sox dropped 9.5 games behind the wild card race, their biggest deficit of the season.

* The five earned runs allowed by starter Rich Hill were the most he'd allowed in a start since he gave up six runs on May 30 vs. Baltimore.

* Trevor Story saw his five-game hitting streak snapped.

UP NEXT

The two teams complete the series Wednesday night at 6:40 p.m., with the Red Sox sending RHP Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.37) vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs (7-4, 2.62)