FINAL: Rays 5, Red Sox 0 - Boston shut out by Tampa as 2023 home slate comes to a close

The Rays shut out the Red Sox, 5-0, in the 2023 finale at Fenway Park. Tampa also swept the two-game set against Boston and took the season series, 11-2. The Rays held the Sox to just three hits, thanks to a solid five-inning outing from Tyler Glasnow, who struck out nine and allowed two hits. In his last outing of the season, Brayan Bello gave up five earned runs on nine hits (two homers) and two walks over six innings. Josh Lowe led the way for Tampa, opening the scoring with a solo homer in the first as part of a 3-for-3 outing with an RBI, a walk and three runs. Isaac Paredes was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer. 

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WHO: Red Sox (76-81) vs. Rays (96-62)
WHEN: 6:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 1-0, Rays. Tampa leads season, 10-2
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (12-10, 4.11) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (9-7, 3.68)
TV/RADIO: NESN, ESPN+, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

1. Ceddanne Rafaela CF
2. Wilyer Abreu LF
3. Justin Turner 1B
4. Alex Verdugo RF
5. Trevor Story SS
6. Masataka Yoshida DH
7. Bobby Dalbec 3B
8. Enmanuel Valdez 2B
9. Connor Wong C

SP Brayan Bello

RAYS

1. Jonathan Aranda 2B
2. Junior Caminero 3B
3. Randy Arozarena LF
4. Josh Lowe RF
5. Isaac Paredes 1B
6. Harold Ramirez DH
7. Taylor Walls SS
8. Manuel Margot CF
9. Christian Bethancourt

SP Tyler Glasnow

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox fell 9-7 to the depleted Rays on Tuesday after Tampa tagged Tanner Houck for seven runs in three innings. Boston rallied admirably, led by Enmanuel Valdez's four-RBI as he came a triple shy of the cycle. 

The Sox have lost 11 of 14 and 20 of 27, falling five games below .500, a season-worst. They have five games remaining in the season. Boston will begin its season-ending four-game set in Baltimore on Thursday against the Orioles.

The Rays are 2.5 games back of the O's for first in the AL East, and the Red Sox are 4.0 games back of the Yankees in last.

Glasnow has faced Boston twice this season, giving up just two earned runs across 11.1 innings. He dominated the Sox last time he faced them, striking out 14 and giving up one run (earned) on three hits (one home run) and one walk over 6.0 innings. In 10 career games against Boston, he is 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA. 

In his last outing, a 6-2 loss against the Blue Jays on Friday, Glasnow gave up four runs (earned) on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings. He has an 8.22 ERA over his last three starts.

Bello is coming off the worst start of his career as his day game struggles continue. He gave up eight runs (earned) on eight hits (two home runs) and two walks in 3.0 innings of a 15-5 loss at Texas. 

He has given up six runs (earned) across 12.0 innings in two starts against the Rays this season. He last faced them in a 7-3 win at Tampa on Sept. 4, giving up three earned runs on five hits and two walks with seven K's in 6.0 innings. Bello will make his fifth career start against Tampa, previously going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA over 20.0 innings. 

On NESN pregame, Sam Kennedy confirmed the organization intends to have Alex Cora manage in 2024, saying, "Nonissue from where I sit. He's under contract for next year and so, he's our manager and he's going to be here."