The Tampa Bay Rays broke their losing streak big time against the Boston Red Sox. Old friend Rich Hill held the Sox bats to just 3 hits and a run in 5 innings. The Rays bullpen allowed just 3 hits and no runs the final four frames as the Sox offense was put to sleep. Meanwhile Garrett Richards (4-5, 4.74 ERA) continued to regress as he got pounded for 5 runs off 3 hits and 4 walks in just 1 2/3 innings. The bullpen fought valiantly but Matt Andriese got rocked for 3 runs to put the game out of reach. It all added up to an 8-2 Rays win over the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
The Sox wasted no time tagging Hill in the top of the first inning although Danny Santana led off by taking strike three. Alex Verdugo walked but JD Martinez flied out to right. A wild pitch moved Verdugo to second and Alex scored on the base hit to right by Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts took second on the throw home and Devers was plunked, but Bogaerts was foolishly thrown out trying to steal third to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
The Rays blasted Richards in the bottom of the first as Brandon Lowe grounded out to second to start. Ji-Man Choi grounded out to first but Wander Franco walked and Austin Meadows hit a home run all the way to Cambodia to put the Rays on top. Randy Arozarena walked but Joey Wendle grounded out to short to end the inning with the Rays up 2-1.
Hunter Renfroe tried to start a rally with a base hit to left to open the top of the second but Christian Vazquez flied out to right. Kike Hernandez flied out to left but Bobby Dalbec walked. Santana struck out swinging to end the inning. The Rays finished off Richards in the bottom of the second as Manny Margot hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Brett Phillips walked and stole second before Mike Zunino hit a home run all the way to Helsinki, Finland to ice the game. Lowe doubled to right and took third on a grounder to second by Choi before Franco hit a routine grounder to second. Hernandez then threw the ball in the air, did a backflip and caught the ball in his hat for an error to score Lowe. Meadows walked and Arozarena was plunked to chase Richards. Richards has reverted back to his April self big time by allowing 5 runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Brandon Workman came in and Wendle grounded into a force to end the inning with the Rays up 5-1.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the third as Verdugo struck out swinging to start. Martinez singled to right and Bogaerts walked, but Devers flied out to center. Renfroe struck out swinging to end the inning. Margot flied out to center to start the bottom of the third and Phillips grounded out to second. Zunino and Lowe drew back to back walks then advance on a balk by Workman. Choi grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Vazquez flied out to center to start. Hernandez lined out to left and Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning. Yacksel Rios came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth and struck out Franco swinging to start. Somehow Rios struck out Meadows swinging and Arozarena grounded out to second to end the inning.
Santana flied out to center to start the top of the fifth before Verdugo also flied out to center. Martinez and Bogaerts drew back to back walks but Devers flied out to right to end the inning with Rich Hill now at 97 pitches. Wendle grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fifth before Margot grounded back to the mound. Phillips walked but Zunino popped up to third to end the inning.
Andrew Kittredge came in for the top of the sixth and Renfroe struck out swinging to start. Vazquez grounded out to short but Hernandez doubled to left. Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning. Josh Taylor came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Lowe struck out swinging to start. Choi struck out swinging but Franco walked. Meadows singled to right to move Franco to third but Arozarena lined out to left to end the inning.
Old buddy Jeffrey Springs came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Santana struck out swinging to start. Verdugo walked but Martinez struck out swinging. Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning. Matt Andriese came in to crap his pants in the bottom of the seventh. Wendle was plunked to start before Margot singled to left. Phillips and Zunino both struck out swinging but Lowe hit a home run all the way to Mongolia to ice the game. Choi struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rays up 8-1.
The Sox somehow scored in the top of the eighth as Devers doubled to left to chase Springs. Ryan Thompson came in and Renfroe grounded out to short. Vazquez dropped a base hit to left to score Devers but Hernandez struck out swinging. Dalbec struck out swinging again to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-2.
Vazquez drives in a run
Franco lined out to second to start the bottom of the eighth but Meadows walked. Arozarena took strike three and Wendle struck out swinging to end the inning.
Diego Castillo came in to close out the top of the ninth and Santana flied out to right to start. Verdugo took strike three and Martinez popped up to first to end the game. The Rays had won it 8-2.
Jackass of the Night is Garrett Richards. He was shelled for 5 runs in just 1 2/3 innings.
Jackass Richards
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, an rbi and a run scored.
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.
Brandon Workman tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Yacksel Rios pitched two scoreless innings.
Josh Taylor pitched a scoreless inning.
The Bad:
Danny Santana was 0 for 5 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
Matt Andriese allowed 3 runs in 2 innings.
The Ugly:
Alex Verdugo was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked twice and scored a run.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.
Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Kike Hernandez was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Final Thoughts:
If the loss wasn't bad enough, after the game Richards admitted that he can't get a grip on the ball now that illegal substances have been abolished. Tyler Glasnow admitted that he hurt himself because he can't get a grip and if Richards is next, the Sox are in for a $10 million dollar headache. Also, the Sox have the statistically worst leadoff hitter production in baseball. Verdugo doesn't want to hit leadoff but anyone else they plug in there can't get it done. Danny Santana hasn't hit a home run since his second game with the team and is hitting .123 overall. If he can't get it done anymore then they may as well either bring back Michael Chavis or Franchy Cordero. Jarren Duran hit his 13th home run for Worcester last night so Sox brass has some options. They need to do something fast because the Sox are right there in contention and can't afford to make mistakes while playing the Rays or the New York Yankees coming up. If Richards can't pitch anymore, we may be seeing Tanner Houck again since he's recovered from his injury. The loss dropped the Sox to 44-30, 1/2 game ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to take the rubber game of the series tomorrow night when Nick Pivetta (6-3, 4.36 ERA) takes on Michael Wacha of the Rays. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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