Mookie Betts led the game off with a lucky single before Rafael Devers flied out to right. Betts swiped second but JD Martinez looked at strike three right down the middle. Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning. Velazquez got the ball in the bottom of the first and cruised. Dernard Span lined out to left, Kevin Kiermaier flied out to center and Carlos Gomez grounded out to short to end the inning.
The miserable Sox offense did nothing in the top of the second as Mitch Moreland grounded out into the shift to start. Christian Vazquez lined out to right but Jackie Bradley Jr somehow singled and stole second. Blake Swihart miraculously walked but Brock Holt lined out to left to end the inning. Two innings in a row they cant do anything with guys on base. The Rays wasted no time taking the lead when Brad Miller launched a 900 foot home run off the first pitch of the inning. Matt Duffy singled to center but Joey Wendle popped up to third. Wilson Ramos singled but Mallex Smith flied out to left. Adeiny Hechavarria grounded into a force to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0
Betts was plunked leading off the top of the third but Devers whiffed. Martinez erased Betts with a force and Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. Velazquez turned up the heat in the bottom of the third, striking out Span, Kiermaier and Gomez in short order.
The putrid Sox offense almost went quietly in the top of the fourth. Moreland grounded out to third and Vazquez lined out to second. JBJ hit a rountine grounder to first but Faria dropped the throw, allowing Jackie to reach first. Swihart sliced a single to left but Holt grounded out to first to end the inning. Velazquez returned for the bottom of the fourth and got Miller to fly out to center to start. Duffy flied out to left but Wendle singled. Ramos walked but Smith lined out to center to end the inning.
The Sox finally broke through in the top of the fifth. Betts stroked a single and Devers drew a walk to start. Martinez got his first rbi of the season with a single to left to score Betts and chase Faria. Jose Alvarado came in and Bogaerts whiffed. That was it for the rally as Moreland flied out to center and Vazquez grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox once again blew another 1st and 2nd no out situation but did tie it up 1-1
Velazquez came back for the bottom of the fifth and Hechavarria lined out to second to start on the first pitch. Span popped up to third and Kiermaier struck out to end the inning.
The miserable Sox offense somehow scored in the top of the 6th inning as JBJ singled up the middle to start. Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled Alvarado for rookie Yonny Chirinos making his ML debut. Swihart whiffed badly but Holt walked. Betts was plunked to load the bases. Devers singled to left to score JBJ but Holt was foolishly thrown out at the plate. Martinez lined out to left to end the inning but the Sox led 2-1.
Could Velazquez pitch with the lead in the bottom of the sixth? Gomez grounded out to third and Miller whiffed, but Duffy singled. Once again Sox manager Alex Cora came out with the quick hook and that was it for Hector. 5 2/3 innings for Hector and just 1 run allowed is pretty good for a spot starter . Of course Marcus Walden almost had to ruin it in his major league debut by giving up a double to Wendle. Marcus did manage to get Ramos to fly out to right to end the inning to preserve Hector's win.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the seventh as Bogaerts grounded out to third to start. Moreland also grounded out to third but Vazquez got hit with a pitch. JBJ flied out to left to end the inning. Another embarrassing offensive output by the Sox. Cora decided to leave Walden in for the bottom of the seventh and got Smith on a lashed liner to Bogaerts. Walden himself nearly ate a line drive by Hechavarria bit caught it last second. Span grounded out to first to end the inning. Impressive debut by Walden.
The awful offense continued in the top of the eighth as Swihart flied out to left, Holt popped up to center and Betts grounded out to third to end the inning. Tje Sox had just 6 hits and 2 runs against the Rays fifth starter and a rookie. Sox manager Alex Cora made a strange decision to bring in Bobby Poyner for the bottom of the eighth but he only lasted one batter, getting Kiermaier to fly out to left on the first pitch. Matt Barnes replaced Bobby and whiffed Gomez, but walked Miller. Barnes froze Duffy for strike three to end the inning.
The Sox completed their horrid offensive day in the top of the ninth as Devers hit a 400 foot out to dead center to start. Martinez once again watched strike three go by and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning. 9 innings, 6 hits and 2 runs total.....pathetic. Red Sox fans collectively gasped as Joe Kelly of all people was brought in to close it out in the bottom of the ninth. Andrew Benintendi took over in left for Martinez and somehow Kelly got Wendle to pop up to third. Miraculously Kelly froze Ramos on a 97 mph fastball on the outside corner for strike three but Smith lashed a single to right. One strike away from victory, Hechavarria singled Smith to third. Span ran the count to 3-2 and Kelly threw a changeup in the dirt....SWUNG ON AND MISSED THE GAME IS OVER! Span gifted the Red Sox the game and Boston wins it 2-1.
Hero of the Night is Rafael Devers. His rbi single in the top of the sixth was the difference in the game.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 3 with a run scored, stolen base and two hit by pitches.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch, walk, stolen base and run scored.
Blake Swihart was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Hector Velazquez got the win with 5 2/3 innings of 1 run ball.
Marcus Walden tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his ML debut.
Bobby Poyner retired the only man he faced.
Matt Barnes got the final two outs of the eighth inning.
Joe Kelly got the save with a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
JD Martinez was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch.
Brock Holt was 0 for 3 but walked.
Honorable Mention:
Andrew Benintendi played left field in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Final Thoughts:
Holy smokes this offense is offensive. Nothing has changed since last year and if the Sox have problems with teams like the Rays, how are they going to beat the Houston Astros or New York Yankees? Its nice to see the pitching carry them but its against a bonafide Durham Bulls all-star team. How's the pitching going to hold up against the Astros and Yankees as well? Its good to see guys like Barnes take care of business the past few games but it would be even better if Cora let his starters go past 6. I know he doesn't want his guys throwing 160 pitches but still, quick hooks burn bullpens. A win is a win so no sense squawking too much about it. Tomorrow night the Sox travel to Miami to play National League rules with the Marlins. Brian Johnson makes his season debut opposite Richards. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Marlins Park.
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