All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
A day for goodbyes: From saying goodbye to broadcaster Dennis Eckersley in the booth to saluting shortstop Xander Bogaerts when he was removed from the game in the top of the seventh, it was an emotion-filled day at Fenway. The Red Sox played a video tribute to Eckersley in the fifth inning and tearful Eckersley wept as he saluted the crowd and thanked them for the outpouring of support and gratitude. Red Sox fans hope that Bogaerts isn't leaving, but that remains a possibility as he has an opt-out in his contract. "You would hope not,'' said Bogaerts of the prospect of having played his final game in a Red Sox uniform. "This is all I know. I'm very thankful for everyone that has helped me be the player that I am today. I'm very thankful to the front office and ownership. But this is the business part of it. I've never (really) been in this situation before, so we'll see what happens. I really tried to not think about it too much. It was nice to just tip the cap to the fans. Obviously, throughout my years here, they've been really supportive more times than not.''
Big day for JD: In what may well have been his final game in a Red Sox uniform, J.D. Martinez made it count. He belted a three-run homer into the Red Sox bullpen for just his fourth homer of the year hit to the right of center field. Then, in the fourth inning, he hit a solo homer to left, for his 18th career multi-homer game. In all, Martinez knocked in four of the six Red Sox runs on the afternoon. Martinez was approaching the batter's box in the eighth inning when he was pulled back for a pinch-hitter, an opportunity for fans to acknowledge him on the final day of the season. "You blink an eye, and five years comes and goes,'' said Martinez. "A lot of great memories here. Boston didn't disappoint. Five years ago when I came here, I knew that this was an amazing organization and they surpassed my expectations. It's been first class since I've been here. The fans are unbelievable. It's been fun.'' Martinez sounded philosophical about his future. "It's a business,'' he said. "I get it. I'm the first one to understand it. So whatever happens in the future, happens''
McGee claimed on waivers: Right down to the absolute last day of the season, Chaim Bloom was at work on the team's roster. The Sox claimed righthanded pitcher Easton McGee from the Rays. McGee made his major league debut over the weekend for the Rays before being designated for assignment. McGee, 24, was chosen in the fourth round of the 2016 draft and spent most of this season at Triple-A Durham. His overall numbers left something to be desired -- 6-9 with a 5.43 ERA -- but he had a 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio and in a recent poll of managers by Baseball America, was voted as having the best control of any pitcher in the International League. The move gives the Red Sox 40 players on their 40-man roster.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox led 4-2 after four innings following the second homer of the afternoon from Martinez, but when the Sox went to the bullpen in the top of the fifth, the Rays looked ready to climb back into the game. Eduard Bazardo came in and issued a leadoff walk to Randy Arozarena. But Bazardo then picked off Arozarena at first, which was an especially good thing since Ji-Man Choi followed with a double to right. But Bazardo dug in and got two groundouts to strand the baserunner and preserve the lead.
TWO UP
Christian Arroyo: As he's done for the entire second half, Arroyo kept hitting right to the end, going 2-for-4 with a couple of singles. He had four RBI in the season-ending series.
Matt Barnes: Slowly but surely over the final two months, Barnes became an effective late-inning relief again. He picked up his eighth save in Game No. 162, tying two others for the team lead in that category.
TWO DOWN
Nick Pivetta: Pivetta needed 103 pitches to get 12 outs over four innings and finished the season with an ERA of 6.61 ERA against AL East teams.
Kiké Hernandez: Hernandez was 0-for-4 with three groundouts (including a double play) and a strikeout.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I was kind of joking around before the game. I was like, 'I need some (Albert) Pujols magic right now.' Last game of the year, end with a bang. So I guess the baseball gods heard me.'' -- J.D. Martinez.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The sweep of the Rays was the seventh sweep by the Red Sox this season and fifth at home.
* The Sox were 8-2 in their final 10 games at Fenway and finished with six wins in a row.
* Matt Barnes had his 12th straight scoreless appearance, tying the longest such streak of his career.
* Over his final 13 games of the season, Triston Casas had a .490 OBP and knocked in eight runs.
* J.D. Martinez hit four homers over his final nine games after hitting just four in his previous 78 games.
* Xander Bogaerts collected his 49th multi-hit game of the season.
UP NEXT
Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers in the second week of February.