Final: Rays 9, Red Sox 7 - Losing skid hits three

What began as a night that might quickly get out of hand instead got more interesting in the later innings.

Interesting, but it ended in another defeat.

The Red Sox fell behind to the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 and clawed back to get within a run in the seventh inning. They got no, closer, however, and lost 9-7, their third straight setback and 12th in a row at Tropicana Field. The Rays, meanwhile, improved to 12-0.

Chris Sale was boxed around for six runs over the first four innings.

The Sox offense broke out after scoring just two runs in the first two games, buoyed by a three-run homer from Rafael Devers in the seventh. But the Rays never gave up the lead.

WHO: Red Sox (5-6) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (11-0)
WHEN: 6:40 p.m.
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
SERIES TO DATE: TB 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Chris Sale (1-0, 11.25) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (0-0, 0.00)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Verdugo RF
Devers 3B
Turner DH
Casas 1B
Tapia LF
Dalbec SS
McGuire C
Chang 2B
Hernandez CF

RAYS

Diaz DH
Franco SS
Parades 1B
Arozarena LF
Ramirez DH
Margot CF
Walls 3B
Bethancourt C
Brujan 2B