As for the game, another unmitigated disaster. The Tampa Bay Rays put a cigarette out on the heads of the Boston Red Sox. Their red hot second half surge continued as they pounded out another 14 hits and 12 runs against Red Sox pitching. Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 5.15 ERA) continued his season of regression by getting tagged for six runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Michael Feliz and Brad Peacock got rocked for six runs as well as the Rays teed off on Sox pitching. Drew Rasmussen held the Sox to just 1 run through five innings although the Sox rallied for six runs at the end off David Hess. The final score looked a little better but the Sox got blown out by Tampa 12-7 at Fenway Park.
Rodriguez got the ball in the top of the first as Randy Arozarena struck out swinging to start. Wander Franco grounded out to short and Nelson Cruz grounded out to second to end the inning. Rasmussen got the ball in the bottom of the first and the returning Kike Hernandez took strike three to start. Kyle Schwarber grounded out to short and JD Martinez flied out to right to end the inning.
The Rays jumped on E-Rod in the top of the second as Yandy Diaz popped up to first in foul territory to start. Jordan Luplow doubled to center and Manny Margot doubled to center to score him. Joey Wendle singled to right and Mike Zunino tripled into the right field corner to ice the game already. Zunino got picked off third and Kevin Kiermaier struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rays up 3-0.
The Sox did fight back in the bottom of the second as Rafael Devers singled to center to start. Hunter Renfroe doubled to left but Alex Verdugo took strike three. Christian Vazquez grounded out to second but Devers scored to cut the lead. Jose Iglesias flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.
The Rays struck again in the top of the third as Arozarena doubled to left to start. Franco lined out to short but Cruz hit a home run all the way to Alabama to increase the lead. Diaz grounded out to third but Luplow beat out a roller to short. Margo grounded out to second to end the inning with the Rays up 5-1.
Jonathan Arauz grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third before Hernandez grounded out to third. Schwarber and Martinez stroked back to back base hits to right but Devers grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Rays were relentless in the top of the fourth as Wendle struck out swinging to start. Zunino then hit a home run all the way to Detroit to increase the lead. Kiermaier flied out to left and Sox manager Alex Cora had seen enough of Rodriguez. E-Rod got pounded for 6 runs off 8 hits in just 3 2/3 innings. Michael Feliz came in and Arozarena flied out to center to end the inning with the Rays up 6-1.
Bye bye Rodriguez
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Renfroe grounded out to second to start. Verdugo singled to center but Vazquez flied out to left. Iglesias popped up to left to end the inning.
The Rays scored again in the top of the fifth as Franco grounded out to short to start. Cruz hit his second home run of the night into the Charles River and Diaz struck out swinging. Luplow struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rays up 7-1.
The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Arauz pounded a ground rule double into the right field stands to start. Hernandez flied out to center but Schwarber moved Arauz to third with a grounder to second. Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning.
Margot struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth before Wendle flied out to left. Zunino then swatted his second home run of the night to make the rest of the crowd leave. Kiermaier lined out to short to end the inning with the Rays up 8-1.
Another home run
Louis Head came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Devers grounded out to short to start. Renfroe struck out swinging but Verdugo singled to center. Vazquez popped up to first to end the inning.
Brad Peacock came in to crap his pants in the top of the seventh as Arozarena doubled to center to start. Franco walked and Cruz doubled off off the Monster to score Arozarena. Diaz lined out to short and Luplow hit a home run all the way into the Gulf of Mexico to increase the lead. Margot grounded out to third and Wendle took strike three to end the inning with the Rays up 12-1.
Iglesias popped up to first to start the bottom of the seventh before Arauz grounded back to the mound. Hernandez popped up to Margot to end the inning.
Bobby Dalbec came in for Devers and Danny Santana came in for Renfroe to start the top of the eighth. Zunino grounded out to second, Kiermaier struck out swinging and Arozarena grounded out to second to end the inning. Suddenly the Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Schwarber blooped a base hit to right to start. Travis Shaw pinch hit for Martinez and struck out swinging but Dalbec crushed his 19th home run of the season to cut the lead. Santana then cracked his 5th home run of the season for back to back jacks. Verdugo flied out to right but Vazquez got a base hit to right. Iglesias singled to left and Arauz singled to center to score Vazquez. Hernandez grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 12-5
Santana goes back to back
Franco flied out to center to start the top of the ninth but Cruz singled to right. Diaz struck out swinging and Luplow grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the ninth as Schwarber walked to start. Shaw struck out swinging again but Dalbec cracked his second home run off Hess to cut the lead. Santana flied out to right but Verdugo singled to right. Alex took second on defensive indifference but Vazquez grounded out to second to end the game. The Rays had won it 12-7.
Hess closes it out for Tampa
Jackass E-Rod
Danny Santana was 1 for 2 with a home run.
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 5.
Jackass of The Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. His horrible start set the tone and helped put the game out of reach early. He allowed 6 runs in just 3 2/3 innings.
The Good:
Kyle Schwarber was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3.
Rafael Devers was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Bobby Dalbec was 2 for 2 with 2 home runs and four total rbis.
Hunter Renfroe was 1 for 3.
Danny Santana was 1 for 2 with a home run.
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 5.
Jonathan Arauz was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
The Bad:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
Travis Shaw was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Michael Feliz allowed 2 runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Brad Peacock allowed 4 runs in 3 innings.
The Ugly:
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored a run.
Jose Iglesias was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
So much for winning the AL East this season. The Rays emphatically stomped out the Sox and they would need a hell of an effort to get back in the race. Its not going to happen because Alex Cora burnt the bullpen out and the Sox haven't recovered since early July. Now the Sox need to go on a run just to even make the playoffs, which is no guarantee at this point. There's still 21 games left in the season and anything can happen, but things don't look good right now. The Sox bats responded today but the pitching was awful. Its been awful against the Rays this whole series and there's still another game still to play. Hopefully the pitching can come around before its too late. The loss dropped the Sox to 79-62, a full 10 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to avoid the sweep against the Rays tomorrow when Nathan Eovaldi takes on Shane McClanahan of Tampa. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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