As for the game, this was by far the worst and most frustrating loss of the season for the Sox. Nick Pivetta was in the middle of a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays when he was pulled by Sox manager Alex Cora for "throwing too many pitches". The problem was the Rays had held the Sox to just 4 hits the whole game. In the bottom of the ninth, Matt Barnes (3-2, 2.90 ERA) got the first two outs when a whirlwind of ineptitude followed. Manny Margot got a base hit and Christian Vazquez airmailed the throw to second on a stolen base attempt, moving Margot to third. Barnes then threw a pitch 100 feet over the head of Vazquez and Margot scored to win the game. The Sox lost the no-hitter, the game and first place with a 1-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Michael Chavis made his return from Worcester against Wacha in the top of the first and struck out swinging to start. Alex Verdugo walked but JD Martinez went down hacking. Xander Bogaerts took strike three to end the inning. Pivetta got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Brandon Lowe struck out swinging to begin. Wander Franco struck out swinging and Randy Arozarena went down hacking to end the inning.
Rafael Devers walked to start the top of the second before Hunter Renfroe lined out to right. Kike Hernandez and Christian Vazquez both struck out swinging to end the inning. Austin Meadows flied out to center to start the bottom of the second before Yandy Diaz grounded out to short. Ji-Man Choi popped up to third to end the inning.
Bobby Dalbec struck out swinging to start the top of the third before Chavis grounded out to first. Verdugo flied out to center to end the inning. Joey Wendle struck out swinging to begin the bottom of the third before Francisco Mejia grounded out to first. Kevin Kiermaier flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Martinez popped up to first to start. Bogaerts popped up to second and Devers popped up to short to end the inning. Lowe walked to start the bottom of the fourth but Franco took strike three. Arozarena flied out to right and Lowe was doubled off first to end the inning.
Renfroe flied out to right to start the top of the fifth before Hernandez grounded out to short. Vazquez got the first hit of the game with a base hit to left then took off for second. The throw by Mejia went away and Vazquez made it to third on the error. Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning. Meadows flied out to center to start the bottom of the fifth but Diaz walked. Choi then rhit a rocket to right but Renfroe made a great jumping catch. Wendle struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox gave Pivetta no help in the top of the sixth with Drew Rasmussen now on the mound. Chavis and Verdugo both struck out swinging but Martinez singled to right. Bogaerts walked but Devers grounded out to second to end the inning. Mejia grounded out to second to start the bottom of the sixth and Kiermaier struck out swinging, but Lowe was plunked. Franco struck out swinging to end the inning and Pivetta had thrown 6 no-hit innings with nothing to show for it.
The Sox failed to score for Nick in the top of the seventh against Ryan Thompson even though Renfroe doubled to center to start. Naturally Hernandez lined out to third but Vazquez singled to center. Renfroe tried to score but was thrown out at home. Vazquez took second on the throw home but Marwin Gonzalez pinch hit for Dalbec. Rays manager Kevin Cash countered by bringing in Matt Wisler to pitch and Vazquez got picked off to end the inning. Two outs on the bases in the same inning.
Pivetta got Arozarena to fly out to center to start the bottom of the seventh but Chavis booted a grounder by Meadows for an error. Meadows moved to second on a grounder to short by Diaz when all of a sudden Sox manager Alex Cora bounded out of the dugout. Shockingly Cora took Pivetta out while he was throwing a no hitter and all of Boston was furious. Josh Taylor came in to pitch and Manny Margot pinch hit for Choi. Margo was intentionally walked and Wendle flied out to left to end the inning. How do you take out a pitcher throwing a no-hitter?
The Sox failed to pick up Pivetta in the top of the eighth as Gonzalez struck out swinging to start. Chavis walked but Verdugo flied out to right and Martinez grounded out to short to end the inning. Darwinzon Hernandez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Mejia struck out swinging to start. Kiermaier broke up the no-no with a double to left and Lowe walked to chase Hernandez. Adam Ottavino came in to get Franco to force Lowe at second, but Franco swiped second. Arozarena hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
JP Feyereisen came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Bogaerts popped up to third to start. Devers walked but Renfroe flied out to center. Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning. Forget what would happen next, the bottom line was the Sox were held to just 6 hits last night and 4 tonight...some offense. Matt Barnes came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and things looked good when Meadows popped up to first to start. Diaz flied out to center and everything fell apart. Margot ripped a base hit to left then took off for second. Vazquez turned and threw the ball over the third basemen's head for an error to allow Margot to reach third. Wendle was intentionally walked and took second on defensive indifference. Barnes then threw a pitch all the way out of Tropicana Field to allow Margot to score the winning run. The Rays jumped back into first place with a walkoff 1-0 victory.
Jackass of the Night is Matt Barnes. He had two outs and the bases empty and blew the game.
The Good:
Rafael Devers walked twice in four plate appearances.
Nick Pivetta threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings.
Josh Taylor retired the only man he faced.
Adam Ottavino got the final two outs of the eighth inning.
The Bad:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Marwin Gonzalez struck out in his only plate appearance.
The Ugly:
Michael Chavis was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts and an error but walked.
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 4 but got an outfield assist.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 3 but committed an error and got picked off for a crucial out.
Darwinzon Hernandez retired only 1 of the 3 guys he faced.
Final Thoughts:
This was the worst loss of the season by far considering all that was involved. The Sox allowed just 2 hits and a run in 9 innings, zero hits through seven, and still loss. The offense totally evaporated against Michael Wacha and the Rays bullpen and now changes HAVE to be made. Cora can't continue to pull starters early or else he may be out of a job sooner than later. Pulling Pivetta in the middle of a no-hitter is absolutely ridiculous and it doesn't matter how many he pitches he throws, you leave him in until he gives up a hit. Cora's explanation was Taylor was ready...SO WHAT? Taylor has been having a great bounceback season but this was a no-hitter, not a normal shutout. On top of that, how the hell does Matt Barnes have two outs and the bases empty and blow it? The Sox desperately need a leadoff hitter and Jarren Durran could be the answer after the All-Star break in a few weeks. The Sox need to pick up the starting pitching and the offense if they want to be within striking distance moving forward. Chris Sale isn't coming back until August so they have to survive another month and change to get to that point. It doesn't get any easier because the New York Yankees are next on the docket. Now that umpires are checking pitchers for cheating, the homer or nothing Yankees are starting to hit homers again. The loss dropped the Sox to 44-31, 1/2 game behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox now come home to take on the Yankees in their first series at Fenway Park this year. Tomorrow night Martin Perez (5-4, 4.32 ERA) takes on Domingo German of New York at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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