The June swoon for the Boston Red Sox is complete. The Sox went from 3 games ahead in the division race to down 5 after tonight's disaster against the Tampa Bay Rays. Once again David Price (8-5, 4.74 ERA) failed to match another team's good pitching as he was average in this one. It didn't matter if Price gave up 1 run or 4 because the Sox offense were shut out by Matt Moore of the Rays. Moore held the Sox to just 3 hits and the Rays bullpen slammed the door. The Sox finished the month of June with a record of 10-16 as they were shutout by the Rays 5-0 at Tropicana Field. How many runs did the Sox score Dean Wormer?
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second inning as Hanley Ramirez grounded out to third to start. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to center and Travis Shaw took strike three to end the inning. The Rays struck first as Brandon Guyer hit a home run to Saturn in his first at-bat off the disabled list to begin the bottom of the second. Nick Franklin and Curt Casali both took strike three before Tim Beckham whiffed to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0.
Bryce Brentz began the top of the third inning by taking strike three and Christian Vazquez popped up to left. Mr. Mookie popped up to second to end the inning. The Rays pounded Price in the bottom of the third although Taylor Motter took strike three to start. Forsythe singled to center, Miller singled to left and Longoria doubled down the left field line to score Forsythe. Jennings grounded out to second but Miller scored another run. Guyer doubled into the left field corner to score Longoria to ice the game. Franklin whiffed to end the inning but the Rays were on top 4-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Pedroia grounded out to third to start. Bogaerts whiffed on a nasty changeup and Ortiz grounded into the shift to end the inning. Price got mad in the bottom of the fourth as Casali and Beckham both went down hacking. Motter took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth and Ramirez flied out to center to start. JBJ walked but Shaw took strike three. Brentz walked but JBJ was foolishly thrown out at third trying to steal to end the inning. What a dumb mistake to make when you're down 4 with 2 men on.
YERRRR OUT!
Price returned for the bottom of the fifth and got Forsythe to fly out to right to start. Miller walked but Longoria popped up to Shaw. Jennings went down hacking to end the inning.
The Sox blew their last chance to get a run in the top of the sixth when Vazquez lined a base hit up the middle to start. Mr. Mookie dropped a base hit to right but Pedroia popped up to Franklin. Bogaerts singled to left to load the bases but Ortiz popped up to third. Ramirez almost killed himself trying to hit a grand slam and ended up popping up to right to end the inning.
Moore returned for the top of the seventh and JBJ went down hacking to start. Shaw popped up to left and Brentz popped up to second to end the inning. Price was chased in the bottom of the seventh although Forsythe lined out to a running JBJ to start. Miller dropped in a base hit to center and that was it for Price. He got absolutely no help from his bats although he allowed 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Heath Hembree came in and got Longoria to fly out to center and Jennings flied out to right to end the inning.
The Rays got a scare in the top of the eighth as Erasmo Ramirez took over on the mound. Sandy Leon pinch hit for Vazquez and struck out swinging to start. Mr. Mookie flied out to center but Pedroia lined one off the boo-tocks of Ramirez for a base hit causing Eramo to go "OWWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!" Bogaerts took strike three at the knees for the hat trick to end the inning.
Marco Hernandez took over for Ramirez in the lineup but played third with Shaw moving to third to start the bottom of the eighth. Guyer took strike three before Franklin grounded out to second. Casali took strike three to end the inning.
Xavier Cedeno came in to close out the top of the ninth with Logan Morrison in for Franklin in the lineup but at first with Motter moving to left. Ortiz singled to center to start but Hernandez struck out swinging. JBJ flied out to center and Shaw grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox were shut out by Tampa 4-0.
Jackass of the Night is a tough one but I'll go with Hanley Ramirez. He was 0 for 3 including leaving the bases loaded in the top of the sixth.
The Good:
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 2.
Heath Hembree tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Marco Hernandez struck out as a pinch hitter.
Travis Shaw was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Sandy Leon struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
David Ortiz was just 1 for 4.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Bryce Brentz was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
David Price took the loss by allowing 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He was dominant after the third inning and struck out 10 batters.
Final Thoughts:
Thank god this month is over. The Sox went from up 3 games in the division to go 5.5 back after tonight's loss. They went 10-16 on the month and that's not going to cut it. The Sox still have some time to make some moves before the trade deadline and snap out of their funk, but they have hit rock bottom for sure. The Rays had lost 11 in a row going into this series and they took 2 of 3 from the Sox. Moore looked like the pitcher he was in 2013 and Price continued to struggle when facing another good pitcher. Hopefully the Sox will use their upcoming homestand to get back on track because this past month was horrible. The loss dropped the Sox to 42-36, 5.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action back home Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Steven Wright (8-5, 2.18 ERA) takes on Jhoulys Chacin of the Angels and the game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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