All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Hill finishes strong: In his final outing of the season, Rich Hill allowed three runs on two homers -- though only one of the runs was earned. The Sox scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth, which took Hill off the hook for the loss. He allowed just three hits in his six innings while walking one and fanning seven, including strikeouts of five of the last seven hitters he faced. Hill was greeted warmly by his teammates as he came off the field in the sixth, surrounding him in the dugout. "That's the tough thing when you have a year like we had (on the field),'' said Hill. "This has been such a great clubhouse and close-knit group. The guys have been great to each other. That's what makes it a difficult end to the season and speaks to the character of the guys in the clubhouse.'' Hill can at least go into the off-season knowing that he finished strong and should have interest from several teams on the free agent market. In his last five starts, he had a 2.36 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP.
Devers' hot final month continues: After a hamstring injury derailed his season in August, Rafael Devers has bounced back nicely. On Monday, he had three hits and a sacrifice fly and is now up to .296 for the season. Since the start of September, he's batting .340 with a .920 OPS and 22 RBI in his last 26 games. "I didn't have any personal goals,'' said Devers. "My only goal was to make the playoffs.'' That said, Devers said he wasn't satisfied with his own season. "I'm not very happy with my season overall,'' he said. "I think I can give much more than that. I think I can improve those numbers. I don't like to get injured and that's something that happened this year. I'm not that guy. The second half wasn't the second half that I expected to have. I think I can improve those numbers a lot next year and that's something I'm going to work on for next year.''
TURNING POINT
Leading 4-3 in the ninth, reliever Matt Barnes allowed a one-out triple to center by Wander Franco, putting the potential tying run on third base. But Harold Ramirez followed by hitting a grounder to third, and when Franco took off to try to score the tying run, Rafael Devers threw home. Catcher Reese McGuire then ran Franco back and threw to shortstop Yu Chang, who chased Franco back toward home before putting the tag on him for the second out.
TWO UP
Kiké Hernandez: Getting another start at short, Hernandez fielded his position well and also contributed two hits, including the a big double in the eighth that tied the game.
Christian Arroyo: Arroyo ripped a double down the third base line into the left field corner to score two runs in the sixth and kick start the Red Sox' comeback.
TWO DOWN
Abraham Almonte: Almonte has been hot of late, but not on this night -- he was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Triston Casas: This was a rare night for the rookie first baseman, who's been getting on base at a regular clip, but was hitless in four plate appearances.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It'd be nice to come back. It'd be great to come back and compete for a championship...This is a winning organization and I know they're going to do everything to provide for that next year.'' Rich Hill.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox won their fourth straight home game and sixth in their last eight games at Fenway.
* The Sox improved to 33-16 when their starting pitcher goes six innings or more.
* Rich Hill had his third start with at least six innings and three hits or fewer allowed.
* Kiké Hernandez is hitting .316 with runners in scoring position this year.
* Rafael Devers had his 13th game with three hits or more this season.
* Matt Barnes stretched his scoreless streak to 11 straight games.
* John Schreiber has a 1.36 ERA at home this season.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Rays play the middle game of their series at 7:10 Tuesday, with RHP Nate Eovaldi (5-3, 4.05) vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs (9-4, 2.45).