Final: Red Sox 4, Rays 0

The Red Sox pieced together a bullpen game, and got themselves a shutout. Three pitchers -- led by Kutter Crawford, who contributed 5.1 innings -- combined to limit the Tampa Bay Rays to just two hits in a 4-0 victory.

The Sox got a homer from Trevor Story and scored two other runs thanks to misplays by the Rays infield.

WHO: Red Sox (44-35) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (43-36)
WHEN: 1:35 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: TB 2-1
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Austin Davis (1-1, 2.45) vs. LHP Jalen Beeks (1-1, 2.70)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Duran Cf
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Vazquez C
Verdugo LF
Story 2B
Cordero RF
Arroyo SS
Dalbec 1B

RAYS

Diaz 3B
Franco SS
Choi 1B
Ramirez DH
Parades 2B
Lowe RF
Arozarena LF
Mejia C
Phillips 

WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox are 2-4 in their last 6 games, on the heels of a 7-game win streak from 6/19-26. The Sox have lost their last 2 series (at TOR, at CHC), after winning each of their previous 7...They are 11- 3-2 in their last 16 series. The Sox rank 3rd in the AL in winning percentage (.557) and run differential (+59)....The Red Sox earned a 4-2, 11-inning win at CHC yesterday...The Sox have won each of their last 4 extra-inning games, after losing each of their first 6 of 2022. ...The Red Sox are closing the season’s 1st half with a stretch of 17 consecutive days with a game (1-2 so far), matching their longest streak of the season...They will also open the 2nd half with a stretch of 17 consecutive days with a game from 7/22-8/7. ....The Red Sox have won each of their last 4 home games and are 8-2 in their last 10 (began the season 12-14 at home)...Their longest home win streak of the season is 5 games (5/18-22). 28 of the Red Sox’ next 29 home games are against teams that entered today with a winning record (all except 8/11 vs. BAL).  ..The Red Sox are playing at home on July 4 for the first time since 2016...They have won each of their last 7 games played on Independence Day, outscoring opponents by a 49-15 margin in that time. The Sox are tied with the Dodgers for MLB’s longest active win streak on July 4...It is 1 shy of the Sox’ franchise record (8 straight from 1901-04 and 1936- 39, including doubleheaders) (source: Elias).  ..Beginning today, each of the Red Sox’ next 27 games will be against a team that entered today with a winning record (NYY-7, TB-7, CLE-4, HOU-3, MIL-3, TOR-3). The Sox are 9-5 in their last 14 games vs. teams that currently have a winning record: ATL (1-1), HOU (2-1), STL (2-1), CLE (3-0), and TOR (1-2)...Overall, their 15- 16 (.484) record vs. winning teams ranks 7th in MLB.  ...Beginning today, each of the Red Sox’ next 17 games will be against AL East teams (3 vs. TB, 4 vs. NYY, 4 at TB, 3 at NYY, 3 vs. TOR). The Sox are 0-7-0 in series against AL East opponents, compared to 12-3-3 against all other teams. 32 of the Sox’ remaining 83 games (38.6%) are against the Rays and Yankees (16 vs. each).... The Red Sox are hosting the Rays for the first time this season...These teams will end their regular seasons with a 3-game series in Boston from 10/3-5. The Sox are 0-5-1 in their last 6 series against the Rays at either venue (6-13 in games in that time). In 14 of the last 16 meetings between these teams at Fenway Park, the Sox and Rays have combined to score at least 10 runs...They combined to score 19+ runs in 3 of the last 5 meetings at Fenway... The Red Sox have won each of their last 9 games in which their opponent starts a LHP (13-4 in 2022)...That is their longest such streak since the 2013 Sox won 10 straight games against left-handed starters from 8/21-9/14. The Sox own the AL's highest OBP against LHP (.346). J.D. Martinez (.508) and Xander Bogaerts (.463) rank 1st and 2nd in the AL in OBP against LHP...Martinez also owns the AL’s highest AVG vs. LHP (.396). ...The Red Sox snapped a 2-game losing streak yesterday at CHC...They have not lost more than 2 consecutive games since dropping 5 straight from 5/4-8. Since 5/10, the Sox have lost back-to-back games only 3 times (5/30-31, 6/27-28, 7/1-2)...In that same time, they have had 3 winning streaks of 6+ games. ...16 of the Red Sox’ last 25 games have been decided by 1 or 2 runs, including each of the last 5...They are 11-5 in those 16 games, after beginning the season 8-15. .. The Red Sox were 10-19 after getting swept at home by the White Sox from 5/6-8...Since 5/10, they are 34-16 (.680) and lead the majors in AVG (.279), OBP (.350), OPS (.808), and runs scored per game (5.6). The Red Sox could become the 1st team in the Wild Card era (since 2012) to lose as many as 19 of their first 30 games and still make the Postseason. ... The Red Sox have won 14 of their last 15 games in which their starting pitcher has thrown at least 6.0 innings (19-2 in their last 21). Since 5/31, Sox starters lead the majors in ERA (2.83; 53 ER/168.2 IP) and wins (tied, 16). ..Seven Red Sox pitchers are on the Injured List: Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes, and Josh Taylor. Sale threw 52 pitches in 4.0 innings for Double-A Portland on Thursday (1 R, 4 H, 7 SO, 0 BB)...He is scheduled to pitch Wednesday for Triple-A Worcester. ...The Red Sox lead the AL in AVG (.260) and doubles (184)...They rank 2nd in OBP (.325) and XBH (264), 3rd in runs (374), and 4th in OPS (.738). The Red Sox have scored 5+ runs in a game 40 times, tied for most in the majors...They are 28-4 in such games since 5/10, after starting the season 4-4. ...:The Red Sox are 26-for-30 (86.7%) in stolen base attempts in their last 46 games (beginning 5/14), after going 4-for-9 (44.4%) in their first 32 games. Overall, the Sox are 30-for-39 (76.9%) in stolen base attempts...In 2021, they ranked 29th in the majors (last in AL) in both steals (40) and stolen base % (65.6). ...The Red Sox rank T-9th in MLB in defensive runs saved (24), after ranking 18th in 2021 (4)... Trevor Story (7) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (5) lead the Sox in DRS. 

NOTES: 

* The Red Sox optioned RHP Connor Seabold to Worcester and recalled RHP Kutter Crawford, but Crawford won't start today's game. Instead, the Sox will turn to an opener in the person of LHP Austin Davis, who could potentially give the Red Sox as many as three innings. These moves were made necessary by the "heavy arm'' experienced by scheduled starter Michael Wacha. Crawford could serve as the bulk reliever, providing multiple innings after Davis.

* Wacha will be examined today as a precaution, but believe it's just the result of a "dead arm.'' 

* Wednesday's starter is TBD, but Cora said RHP Brayan Bello, at Worcester, is one option. Cora ruled out another bullpen game and said Chris Sale, set to pitch Wednesday in Worcester, is not under consideration to pitch at Fenway instead, noting he needs "one more...maybe two,'' rehab starts.

* Rich Hill is set to be examined after being placed on the IL with a knee sprain.

* Garrett Whitlock and Nathan Eovaldi will both throw up-and-downs Tuesday before the Red Sox determine what's next for them. It's possible Whitlock could soon go on a brief rehab assignment later in the week before being activated by the end of the homestand.

* Xander Bogaerts is out of the lineup, sore from a lacerated thigh which required seven stitches Sunday in Chicago. Cora hoped that Bogaerts would feel well enough to play Tuesday.