BSJ Game Report: Rays 1, Red Sox 0 - One mistake costs Sox as Rays win 10th straight

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

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Pivetta strong in second start: Last season, Nick Pivetta was routinely roughed up by AL East opponents, with a 1-8 mark and a 6.72 ERA. It didn't matter who the opponent was, if it came from inside the Sox' division, Pivetta struggled mightily. But that wasn't the case Monday night as Pivetta delivered five shutout innings against the Rays. He allowed three hits and two walks in five innings while fanning six. He worked over the winter on tightening up his curveball and focused on commanding his fastball better, and it's evident after two starts that he's improved in both areas. Pivetta also vowed to go deeper into games, and was seemingly in position to give the Sox six last night, but a long fifth inning drove his pitch count up and he was lifted after that.

One pitch costs Sox: Reliever Chris Martin hadn't allowed a run over five innings and five games before Monday. But that first one was a big one. Entering a 0-0 game in the eight, Martin got Yandy Diaz on a popup to second for the first out, but in a long, drawn-out at-bat with Brandon Lowe, ultimately lost the battle. Martin tried to challenge Lowe with a fastball up in the zone and paid dearly for it when Lowe clubbed it out to the seats in right for what turned out to be the only run of the game. It was the first lost suffered by a Red Sox reliever this season.

Offense continues to run hot and cold: The Red Sox came into the game with 59 runs scored, second-most in Major League Baseball. But as Monday night demonstrated, that figure can be a little misleading because the offense has, despite the run total, been hot and cold. Yes, there have been six games in which the Red Sox have scored six or more runs, including four in which they've scored nine or more. But the defeat Monday, while the first shutout of the season, marked the third time in 10 games that the Sox have scored one or no runs in a game. A little more consistency would go a long way.

TURNING POINT

The Red Sox didn't so much as have a baserunner in scoring position until the eighth, when a pinch-single by Bobby Dalbec and two walks filled the bases in what was then a scoreless game. The Red Sox had the guy they would want up in that situation, Rafael Devers, but matched against Rays reliever Colin Poche, Devers took a called third strike for the third time in the game, stranding three. 

TWO UP 

Josh Winckowski: Winckowski, shifted to the bullpen this year, continues to be one of the team's bright lights in the first two weeks. A day after giving the Sox a scoreless inning in Detroit, he pitched two shutout frames Monday.

Rob Refsnyder: Held without a hit in three plate appearances, Refsnyder nevertheless made all the plays in his start in CF, including a stunning, sliding catch on the warning track to take away extra bases from Tampa Bay's Randy Arozarena.

TWO DOWN

Justin Turner: The Red Sox have to start getting more from their No. 3 hitter and DH. Turner was 0-for-4 Monday night and is now hitless in his last 15 at-bats.

Kiké Hernandez: Hernandez didn't have any misplays at shortstop, but moved into the leadoff spot for the night, he also didn't have a hit, going 0-for-3 with a walk. He's hitting just .097 for the season and is without a hit in his last 22 at-bats.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"Obviously, from an offensive standpoint, you'd like to push those runs across whenever you get an opportunity and keep it moving. It's frustrating. But we have to build off the positives from the defense and pitching side and offensively, find the approach and get back after it tomorrow.'' Christian Arroyo.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* Brandon Lowe has 33 career RBI in 45 games against the Red Sox.

* For the first time in his major league career, Rafael Devers was called out on strikes three times.

* The game was played in just 2:06, easily the shortest Red Sox game of the season.

* The defeat was the 10th in a row at Tropicana Field for the Red Sox.

* Monday night was the first time the Red Sox allowed a run in the eighth inning this season.

UP NEXT

The series continues Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m. and will feature the first start of the season for RHP Garrett Whitlock. He'll be opposed by LHP Shane McClanahan (2-0, 1.50).