Taj Bradley got the ball in the top of the first inning and Alex Verdugo walked to start. Rafael Devers struck out swinging and Justin Turner hit into a double play to end the inning. The Rays wasted no time getting to Sale in the bottom of the first although Diaz grounded out to short to start. Unfortunately the next ball by Wander Franco was hit to Dalbec and he booted this one. Franco swiped second, Isaac Parades walked and Randy Arozarena hit a home run all the way to Jupiter to ice the game just like that. Harold Ramirez singled to right but Manny Margot flied out to right. Taylor Walls walked but Christian Bethancourt took strike three to end the inning with the Rays up 3-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the second as Triston Casas popped up to third to start. Raimel Tapia took strike three and Bobby Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning. Sale struck out Vidal Brujan swinging to open the bottom of the second before Diaz popped up to first. Franco doubled to left but Parades struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Reese McGuire took strike three to start. Yu Chang grounded out to third and Kike Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning. Arozarena went down hacking to start the bottom of the third before Ramirez grounded out to short. Margot took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox got one back in the top of the fourth as Verdugo doubled to right to begin. Devers struck out swinging but Turner got a base hit to left to score Verdugo. Casas struck out swinging and Tapia flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.
Could Sale hold the fort in the bottom of the fourth? NO! Walls doubled to center, Bethancourt moved him to third on a base hit to left and Casas fell asleep by failing to cover first on a bunt to Sale by Brujan to load the bases. Diaz hit a sac fly to deep center to score Walls and Franco ended matters with a double to center to clear the bases. Parades struck out swinging and Arozarena grounded out to short to end the inning with the Rays ahead 6-1. That was it for Sale who was complete batting practice again, allowing 6 runs in just 4 innings. How Bloom was the only one in the world that didn't see he was finished in 2021 is beyond anyone's guess.
The Sox rallied in the top of the fifth as Dalbec flied out to left to start. McGuire got a base hit to right but Chang struck out swinging. Hernandez broke his 0 for 28 slump with a double to right to score McGuire. Verdugo aided the cause with a base hit to center to score Hernandez to cut the lead in half. Devers lined out to center to end the inning but the Sox were down 6-3.
Zack Kelly came in for Sale in the bottom of the fifth and something was wrong immediately when he walked Ramirez to begin. Margot struck out swinging and Walls forced Ramirez at second, but Bethancourt doubled home Walls. Brujan singled to center to score Bethancourt and Kelly fell to the ground in agony after hitting Ramirez with a pitch. He started crying and clutching his shoulder as he had to be helped off the field. After the Sox lost Duvall for pretty much the season just four days ago, losing Kelly for the season as well is just insult to injury. Ryan Brasier came in to pitch and Franco flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 8-3.
Jalen "Twin" Beeks came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Turner pounded a ground rule double into the centerfield bleachers to start. Turner moved to third on the Casas grounder to short and scored on the Tapia grounder to third. Dalbec struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 8-4.
Parades got a base hit to left to start the bottom of the sixth before Arozarena took strike three. Ramirez flied out to right and Margot popped up to second to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the top of the seventh against Ryan Thompson as McGuire got a base hit to center to begin. Chang lined out to center but Hermamdez blooped a double to center. Verdugo flied out to left and Rays manager Kevin Cash sent in Colin Poche to pitch to Devers. The move backfired as Devers pounded his fifth home run of the season to pull the Sox within a run. Turner grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox were back in it down 8-7.
Sox aren't dead yet
John Schreiber came in to hold the fort in the bottom of the seventh as Walls struck out swinging to start. Bethancourt walked and Josh Lowe ran for him while Brandon Lowe pinch hit for Brujan. Josh Lowe moved to second on the grounder to first by Brandon and Diaz struck out swinging to end the inning.
Francisco Mejia came in for Ramirez and Jason Adams came in to pitch the top of the eighth. Casas struck out swinging, Tapia struck out swinging and Dalbec grounded out to first to end the inning. The Rays got a big run in the bottom of the eighth against Chris Martin as Franco doubled AGAIN to left to start. Franco moved to third on a grounder to first by Parades and scored on the sac fly to right by Arozarena. Mejia struck out swinging to end the inning but it was 9-7 Rays.
Pete Fairbanks came in to pitch the top of the ninth but the Sox got the tying run to the plate when McGuire got a base hit to right to start. Connor Wong pinch ran for McGuire then everything fell apart as Chang foolishly bunted Wong to second even though they were down TWO runs and Hernandez flied out to right. Verdugo grounded out to second to end the game . The Rays had won it 9-7.
Jackass of the Night is Chris Sale. He allowed 6 runs in just 4 innings to put the Sox in a hole they ultimately couldn't climb out of.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Justin Turner was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.
Reese McGuire was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Kike Hernandez was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Ryan Brasier tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
John Schreiber tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bad:
Triston Casas was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and an error.
Yu Chang was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Zack Kelly allowed 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning.
Chris Martin allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but the one hit was a 3 run home run.
Raimel Tapia was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Honorable Mention:
Connor Wong ran for McGuire in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
The season is only 12 games in and already patience is wearing thin. The injuries are piling up, its painfully obvious Corey Kluber and Chris Sale don't have it anymore, the offense is horrendous and they have a hole in middle relief due to the injuries. The Rays are outplaying them in every aspect of the game and its embarrassing to watch. We could be seeing the end of Chaim Bloom early if the Sox get off to a similar start to last year when they went 11-22 into the beginning of May. You can't blame Bloom for injuries but good lord is this roster construction bad. Worst part is Worcester isn't exactly loaded with talent this year apart from a few guys that aren't ready yet. You could bring up a guy with experience such as Greg Allen or Daniel Palka but a team like the Red Sox who just 5 years ago fielded an 108 win team full of All-Stars shouldn't be dumpster diving like the Kansas City Royals for talent. Its all going downhill fast but maybe its a blessing in disguise. The more losses that pile up could mean the end of Bloom (and Cora) in Boston sooner rather than later. The Sox look to avoid a sweep tomorrow afternoon when Corey Kluber (0-2) takes on old buddy Jeffrey Springs of the Rays. The game begins at 1:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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