In a mirror image of last week's game, Diego Castillo got the "start" for Tampa's bullpen and he froze Mr. Mookie Betts to begin the game. Andrew Benintendi whiffed and Steve Pearce popped up weakly to first base to end the inning....here we go again. Velazquez took the mound in the bottom of the first and Joey Wendle popped up to third to start. Matt Duffy was blown away for strike three before Jake Bauers whiffed on a high fastball to end the inning.
Castillo returned for the top of the second inning and JD Martinez whiffed on a 91 mph cutter to start. Xander Bogaerts blooped a single to center but Ian Kinsler whiffed. Eduardo Nunez lashed a single to right to send Bogaerts to third and chase Castillo from the game. Last week's star Jalen "Twin" Beeks was summoned to put out the fire and he did by getting Blake Swihart to pop up to left to end the inning. At least the Sox hit the ball hard in that inning. The Rays iced the game in the bottom of the second as Ji-Man Choi doubled to right to start. Willy Adames walked but Velazquez whiffed Kevin Kiermaier on a slider in the dirt. The Rays executed a double steal when Swihart fumbled a pitch and Choi scored on a grounder to third by Gomez. Brandon Lowe walked and JBJ missed a diving catch for a 2 run double by Michael Perez. Wendle flied out to right to end the inning but the Rays were up for good 3-0.
The Sox fought back in the top of the third as Jackie Bradley Jr whiffed badly before Mr. Mookie walked. Benintendi whiffed but Pearce beat out an infield single to third. Martinez hit a swinging bunt single to third to load the bases and Bogaerts lashed a single to left to score Betts and Pearce. Kinsler popped up to short to end the inning but the Sox were down 3-2.
Just as soon as the Sox got back in it, the Rays put it away in the bottom of the third. Duffy singled but was thrown out at second trying to steal by the alert Swihart. Bauers whiffed and the floodgates opened. Choi blooped a single to right then Adams hit a roller up the middle for a hit. Kiermaier hit a perfect double play ball to Pearce....UNDER HIS GLOVE! Choi scored and the Rays pounced. Gomez singled home Adames, Lowe singled home Kiermaier and swiped second. Perez singled home Lowe and that was it for Velazquez. He had absolutely nothing and allowed 8 runs in just 2 2/3 innings.
Drew Pomeranz came in and got Wendle to fly out to center to end the inning with the Rays ahead 8-2.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Nunez flied out to right to start. Swihart whiffed and JBJ lined out to left to end the inning. The carnage continued in the bottom of the fourth as Duffy popped up to second to start. Bauers grounded out to second but Choi walked and Adames smashed a 670,000 foot home run to wrap up the scoring for Tampa. Kiermaier flied out to left to end the inning but it was 10-2 Rays.
The Sox had one chance to get back in the game but they blew it in the top of the fifth. Mr. Mookie flied out to center but Benintendi and Pearce stroked back to back singles. Martinez singled home Benintendi and now the Sox needed a bomb to get back into it. Instead Bogaerts banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox hopelessly out of it 10-3.
Pomeranz somehow pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth inning as Gomez whiffed to start. Lowe walked but Perez flied out to center. Wendle grounded into a force to end the inning.
Kinsler singled to open the top of the sixth but Nunez lined out to short. Swihart erased Kinsler with a force as JBJ whiffed to end the inning. Pomeranz returned for the bottom of the sixth and Duffy grounded out to short, Bauers hit one up the elevator shaft and Choi popped up to short to end the inning.
Beeks returned for the top of the seventh and Mr. Mookie walked to start. Benintendi banged into a double play but Pearce walked. Martinez grounded out to third to end the inning. 5 1'3 innings of 3 run ball by Beeks to earn his second win against the Sox in a week.
Adames whiffed to begin the bottom of the seventh before Kiermaier grounded out to short. Gomez grounded out to short to end the inning.
Hunter Wood replaced Beeks in the top of the eighth inning and Bogaerts greeted him with a single. Kinsler singled but Nunez whiffed. Swihart singled to load the bases but JBJ flied out to left and the slumping Mr. Mookie grounded out to end the inning. The Sox had 12 hits in the game but were all singles. Joe Kelly took over for the bottom of the eighth and Lowe singled to start. Perez popped up to first but Wendle singled. Duffy beat out a double play ball but Bauers whiffed to end the inning.
Wood returned for the top of the ninth and Benintendi grounded out to second to start. Pearce whiffed but Martinez singled. Bogaerts looked at strike three to end the game. The Rays had won it 10-3.
The Good:
Steve Pearce was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
JD Martinez was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
Xander Bogaerts was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
Ian Kinsler was 2 for 4.
Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4.
Blake Swihart was just 1 for 4.
Drew Pomeranz allowed 2 runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
That game was the definition of a blowout. The Rays pounded everything Velazquez threw at them and looked every bit like the team that won 5 games in a row going in. The Rays have a habit of going on these hot streaks and the road for the Sox doesn't get easier as they run into the Rays' two best pitchers in the next two games. Hopefully they can pitch better and swing the bats well or else the Rays may end up sweeping them. The loss dropped the Sox to 90-40, 8.5 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow as "Slick" Rick Porcello (15-6) takes on possible AL Rookie of the Year Ryan Yarbrough at 6:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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