All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Rays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Kluber hits the wall in fifth: After allowing a run in the bottom of the first on a solo homer to the first Rays hitter he faced, it appeared as if Corey Kluber was getting on a roll as he retired 12 of the next 13 hitters to come to the plate. When he went out to start the fifth inning, he had allowed just two base hits and had fanned six without issuing a walk. But then Kluber seemed to hit a wall, allowing three of the next four hitters to reach base as the Rays pulled to within a run. This was consistent what happened in each of his first two starts, when Kluber seemed to tire in the mid-innings. He was an out away from getting through the fifth and qualifying for his first win in a Red Sox uniform, but was lifted. The inning -- and the game -- soon unraveled on the Sox.
Offense quieted after hot start: The Red Sox managed a run in the first inning to take their first lead of the series, but after another run in the fourth and one more in the fifth, the lineup was shut down by Tampa Bay. The Sox might have felt fortunate that starter Jeffrey Springs left the game in the top of the fourth with an arm injury, but they failed to capitalize in his absence. In fact, after increasing their lead to 3-1 in the fifth, the Red Sox were without a hit in their final 14 plate appearances. The only baserunner they managed in that span was a leadoff walk by Yu Chang to open the top of the seventh. The Sox didn't come close to having a baserunner in scoring position over the final four innings -- much less score another run.
SECOND GUESS: When Alex Cora came out to remove Corey Kluber in the fifth inning, Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe was due next. Cora opted to make the change and get the left-on-left matchup with southpaw reliever Richard Bleier, but that move backfired when Lowe drove a run-scoring single through the middle of the field to tie the game. Even though Kluber seemed to be running out of gas, Lowe was 0-for-5 lifetime against Kluber, with all five at-bats ending in strikeouts. Might Cora have fared better had he trusted Kluber for one more hitter?
TURNING POINT
The Rays' big inning -- the fifth -- was already well underway and they had erased a two-run Red Sox lead to take a 5-3 lead. With the bases loaded, Tampa sent up pinch-hitter Manuel Margot to hit for Luke Raley. On the very first pitch, Margot dropped down a bunt toward third that Red Sox reliever Richard Bleier fielded cleanly, but soon discovered that he didn't have a play, either at home or at first. In frustration, Bleier tossed the ball up in the air as the Rays took a 6-3 lead, but that play stood as the most frustrating aspect of what would become a seven-run inning on the part of Tampa Bay.
TWO UP
Kutter Crawford: Recalled just days after being optioned back to Worcester, Crawford came on in relief and helped save the bullpen with three innings of one-run ball, during which he allowed just two hits.
Justin Turner: The veteran continues to show that he's broken out of an early-season slump with two more hits, giving him a total of five in the last three games.
TWO DOWN
Richard Bleier: More than a few of the balls put in play against him in the fateful fifth were not hit hard, but the lefty still allowed five straight Tampa Bay hitters to reach base against him.
Reese McGuire: After enjoying some success in recent days -- five hits in the span of six at-bats -- McGuire suddenly went cold and had a long day at the plate Thursday, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I've got to worry about my team. We know that (the Rays) were good, but we lost four in a row. It doesn't matter if it's the Rays, or New York or Kansas City. You just have to go home now and be ready for tomorrow.'' Alex Cora.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Red Sox starters have compiled a 6,71 ERA so far, ranking them 28th in all of baseball
* In their ongoing 13-game losing streak at Tropicana Field, the Red Sox have been outscored by 34 runs.
* The Red Sox have yet to have a starting pitcher throw a single pitch past the fifth inning in 13 games.
* The Sox are off to a 2-4 start against teams in the A.L. East.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox return for the start of a seven-game homestand. They'll host the Los Angeles Angels Friday at 7:10 p.m. with RHP Tanner Houck (2-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-0, 1.64).