Final: Red Sox 6, Rays 3

In what could well have been his final game with the Red Sox, J.D. Martinez hit two homers and knocked in four runs, helping the Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the final game of the 2022 regular season. The win was the third in a row for the Red Sox, who finished 78-84.

The game also featured Xander Bogaerts being removed from the game in the top of the seventh, with an emotional wave to the crowd and hugs with teammates. Bogaerts is eligible to opt out of his current deal and become a free agent like Martinez.

The Sox had 10 hits for the afternoon and used six pitchers.

WHO: Red Sox (77-84) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (86-75)
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: BOS 2-0
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: TB 12-6
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (10-12, 4.56) vs. LHP Josh Fleming (2-4, 6.23)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Pham LF
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo RF
Martinez DH
Hernandez CF
Hosmer 1B
Arroyo 2B
McGuire C

RAYS

Margot CF
Arozarena RF
Choi 1B
Ramirez DH
Paredes 2B
Peralta LF
Pinto C
Walls SS
Aranda 3B

WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have won each of the first 2 games this series following a 3-game losing streak. The Red Sox 5-3 in their last 8 games...They are 9-7-1 in their last 17 series (beginning 8/11). ...The Red Sox defeated the Rays last night, 6-0...The game was called due to inclement weather with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning. It was the Red Sox’ 2nd time having a game called due to inclement weather in 10 days...They suffered a 2-0 loss at NYY in a rain-shortened game on 9/25. Nathan Eovaldi was credited with the shutout after limiting the Rays to 2 hits over 5.0 IP (2 BB, 4 SO). Christian Arroyo gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the 2nd inning...Xander Bogaerts extended the club’s lead to 5-0 with a grand slam in the 5th. ....The Sox have won each of their last 5 home games, tied for their longest home winning streak of the season...They also won 5 consecutive home games from 5/18-22 and 6/19-7/4. The Sox last won at least 6 consecutive home games in September 2021, winning 6 straight from 9/8-22. The Sox are 7-2 in their last 9 games at Fenway Park and 13-5 in their last 18. With their win on Monday, the Sox clinched a winning record at home this season (42-38). .... The Red Sox are 6-12 against the Rays this season, 5-3 at Fenway Park and 1-9 at Tropicana Field. 8 of the teams’ 18 matchups have been decided by 1 run...The Red Sox are 3-5 in those games. Boston’s 12 losses against Tampa Bay are tied for their most against the club in a season (also 2011 and ‘19).  ME: Red Sox starting pitchers have thrown an AL-leading 5 complete games this season, 2nd most in the majors behind the Marlins’ 6.    The Sox’ 5 complete games are their most since 2017 (5). 3 of the 5 were 9.0-inning efforts: Nick Pivetta on 5/18 vs. HOU, Nathan Eovaldi on 5/28-G1 vs. BAL, and Michael Wacha on 6/6 at LAA. Eovaldi (last night vs. TB, 5.0 IP) and Brayan Bello (9/25 at NYY, 6.0 IP) were each credited with a complete game during games shortened due to inclement weather. Eovaldi is 1 of 2 AL pitchers with multiple complete games this season, joining HOU’s Framber Valdez (3). ...The Red Sox are 33-16 (.673) when their starting pitcher tosses at least 6.0 innings...They have won 10 of the last 13 such games and 13 of the last 19. Red Sox starting pitchers tossed at least 6.0 innings just 3 times through the end of April before doing so 46 times through the remainder of the season. ....Xander Bogaerts’ grand slam last night was the 7th of his career and his 2nd of the season (also 8/31 at MIN). Bogaerts’ 7 grand slams are the most by a shortstop in Red Sox franchise history. : Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers have made 580 starts as a SS/3B combo, 2nd most in Red Sox franchise history...The only SS/3B combo to make more starts together in franchise history is Freddy Parent and Jimmy Collins, who started 697 games as a duo from 1901-07 (source: Elias Sports Bureau). Bogaerts ranks among the AL’s top 10 in AVG (3rd, .305), OBP (6th, .376), hits (8th, 169), 2B (T-10th, 38), multi-hit games (T-7th, 48) and fWAR (7th, 6.0). Bogaerts set franchise records for career games played and starts at shortstop this season, surpassing marks set by Everett Scott from 1914-21.    Devers ranks among the AL’s top 10 in SLG (4th, .522), OPS (4th, .880), 2B (4th, 42), XBH (T-3rd, 70), and total bases (7th, 288). Devers has recorded 25+ HR and 40+ 2B for the 2nd season (2019), joining David Ortiz (5), Ted Williams (3), Mookie Betts (3), and Nomar Garciaparra (2) as the only Red Sox player to do so in multiple seasons. : Beginning 8/25, the Red Sox lead the majors in AVG (.268) and OBP (tied, .341) and rank 2nd in OPS (.763) and 5th in SLG (.422). Overall, the Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (352) and are tied for the AL lead in XBH (517)...They rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.257), 3rd in OBP (.321) and hits (1,417), and 4th in SLG (.409), OPS (.730), runs (729), and total bases (2,252).  The Sox lead MLB in 2B for the 4th time in the last 5 seasons (2018-19, ‘21-22)...4 Sox hitters rank among the AL’s top 10 in 2B ....This season could be the 4th in which 3 Sox hitters each record 40+ 2B, and the 2nd with 4.