The good news was the Boston Celtics eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of their second round NBA playoff series but the bad news was the Boston Red Sox once again failed to score more than four runs in a defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays. Taj Bradley held the punchless Sox to just 2 runs in 5 innings while the Rays bullpen surrendered just 1 run the rest of the way. The Sox were leading 2-1 when Tanner Houck (3-5, 2.17 ERA) was yanked in the sixth inning only for Greg Weissert and yet another fielding error gave the Rays a three run lead. Rafael Devers hit a home run to cut the lead but the Sox offense failed to generate any baserunners in the final two innings. The Sox have now gone 10 days without scoring more than four runs in regulation as the Rays won the game 4-3 at Fenway Park.
Houck got the ball in the top of the first and Yandy Diaz took strike three to start. Josh Lowe grounded out to second and Randy Arozarena struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first against Bradley as Jarren Duran doubled to center to start. Duran moved to third on the Wilyer Abreu fly ball to center and scored on the Connor Wong sac fly to center. Rafael Devers struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Jonathan Aranda grounded out to first to start the top of the second and Isaac Parades flied out to center. Richie Palacios was hit with a pitch but Jose Caballero struck out swinging to end the inning. Tyler O'Neill led off the bottom of the second by watching strike three go by then Dominic Smith went down hacking. Garrett Cooper lined out to second to end the inning.
The Rays almost struck back in the top of the third as Ben Rortvedt walked to start and Jose Siri got a base hit to center. Diaz grounded into a double play and Lowe grounded out to short to end the inning. David Hamilton grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third and Ceddane Rafaela did the same. Duran flied out to center to end the inning.
Arozarena flied out to right to start the top of the fourth but Aranda walked. Parades got a base hit down the third base line and Garrett Cooper booted a grounder by Palacios for an error that scored Parades. Caballero struck out swinging and Rortvedt grounded out to second to end the inning but the game was tied 1-1.
The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Abreu launched his fourth home run of the year to put the Sox back on top. Wong got a seeing eye single into left but Devers grounded into a double play. O'Neill took strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.
Siri took strike three to start the top of the fifth but Diaz drew a walk. Lowe got a base hit to left but Arozarena lined out to center. Aranda lined out to second to end the inning. Smith lined out to Bradley to start the bottom of the fifth before Cooper struck out swinging. Hamilton got a base hit in the hole at short, Rafaela walked and Duran was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Naturally Abreu struck out swinging to end the inning.
Houck came back for the top of the sixth and froze Parades for strike three to start. Palacios got a base hit to center and Calaberro got base hit to left, but Rortvedt struck out swinging. Sox manager Alex Cora finally had enough of Houck as Tanner struggled big time allowing 5 hits and 3 walks in 5 2/3 innings. Greg Weissert came in and Siri immediately gave up a base hit to Siri that scored Palacios to tie the game. The Rays pulled off a double steal when Wong threw another ball away for an error and Diaz hit the kill shot with a base hit to left to clear the bases. Lowe struck out swinging but the Rays were up for good 4-2
The Sox did get one back in the bottom of the sixth against Phil Maton although Wong popped up to second to start. Devers clobbered his fifth home run of the season but O'Neill struck out swinging. Smith got a base hit to right and Cooper got a base hit to center, hut Hamilton grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox down 4-3.
Cam Booser came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Arozarena struck out swinging to start. Aranda took strike three and Parades went down hacking to end the inning. Shawn Armstrong came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh Rafaela lined out to center to start. Duran doubled off the Monster but Abreu struck out swinging. Wong flied out to right to end the inning.
Palacios grounded out to short to begin the top of the eighth and Caballero struck out swinging. Rortvedt lined out to center to end the inning. Jonny DeLuca took over for Aranda and Pete Fairbanks came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Devers grounded out to second, O'Neill went down hacking and Smith struck out swinging to end the inning.
Chase Anderson came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Siri flied out to center to start. Diaz grounded out to short and Lowe lined out to center to end the inning. Kevin Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Cooper struck out swinging to start. Hamilton took strike three and Rafaela grounded out to second to end the game. The Rays had won it 4-3.
Jackass of The Night is Greg Weissert. He inherited a 2-1 lead and turned it into 4-3 in no time flat
Jackass Weissert
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.
Cam Booser tossed two scoreless innings.
Chase Anderson pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Tyler O'Neill was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Wilyer Abreu was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a home run.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error but the one hit was a home run.
Dominic Smith was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Garrett Cooper was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeout and an error.
David Hamilton was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 3 but walked.
Tanner Houck took the loss as he was charged with 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings but only 1 run was earned due to errors. He allowed 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out seven.
Final Thoughts:
What more can be said about this rancid Red Sox offense that hasn't already been said? Its been 10 days since they scored more than four runs in regulation and failing with the bases loaded was a microcosm of this run of ineptitude. They do enough to get men on base but once they're on, nobody can drive them in. Sure they can hit solo home runs but when there's men on base, they just swing at air. Can't even blame Cora for this one because Houck went further than he's ever gone in terms of pitch count and Wong threw the ball away on the double steal attempt with Weissert on the mound. Weissert was in the game because all the other relievers had to pitch in the 12 inning marathon last night. What can be done to fix the offense? For starters, Niko Kavadas is hitting .310 with 9 homers and 25 rbis in Worcester but the concern is none of the home runs came on pitches above 92 mph and he's a lousy first baseman. At this point its worth a try because Cooper is hitting .235 and he made a crucial error tonight while Dominic Smith is hitting .167. We all know Bobby Dalbec can't get it done so may as well go with Kavadas. This year is starting to remind us of 2017, 2014 and 1992 where the offense was tragic compared to the pitching. Hopefully the Sox can get their act together before they fall further behind in the standings. The loss drops the Sox to 22-21, 6.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to tie up the series tomorrow night against the Rays when Cooper Criswell (2-1, 2.10 ERA) takes on Zack Littell of Tampa. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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