As for the game, meet the new Sox, same as the old Sox. In a game right out of the Alex Cora era, the Red Sox were beaten due to bad offense and yanking a starter too early against the Tampa Bay Rays. Jake Bennett (1-1, 4.35 ERA) allowed 3 runs in the top of the second but the Sox answered against Griffin Jax in the bottom of the frame. 3 hits, a walk and a big error tied the game. The key was in the top of the sixth where Bennett was yanked with one out and one on after just 86 pitches. Greg Weissert allowed the inherited runner to score and one of his own. Ryan Watson allowed 3 runs in the final 3 innings to put the game away. The Sox did manage to scratch out a run in the eighth but had just 7 total hits in the game as the Rays won it 8-4 at Fenway Park.
Bennett got the ball in the top of the first inning and Yandy Diaz grounded out to third to start. Ryan Vilade singled in the hole at short but Junior Caminero grounded into a double play to end the inning. Jax got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Jarren Duran took strike three to start. Willson Contreras grounded out to third and Wilyer Abreu flied out to left to end the inning.
The Rays struck first in the top of the second as Jonathan Aranda grounded out to second to start. Jonny DeLuca walked, stole second and scored on the Ben Williamson single to right. Nick Fortes singled to left and Cedric Mullins caught Contreras asleep with a bunt single to score Williamson. Mullins stole second, Taylor Walls walked and Diaz hit a sac fly to center to score Fortes. Vilade popped up ton second to end the inning with the Rays up 3-0.
The Sox fought back in the bottom of the second as it looked like Trevor Story grounded out to third to start. Sox manager Chad Tracy challenged that Story was safe and sure enough, replays showed he was. Story stole second and Masataka Yoshida walked. Ceddanne Rafaela hit a routine grounder to third and Caminero booted it to score Story. Marcelo Mayer beat out a double play ball and Walls threw a grounder by Connor Wong away for an error to score Yoshida. Caleb Durbin got a base hit to right to score Mayer to tie the game but Duran grounded into a double play to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Caminero grounded out to second to start the top of the third before Aranda grounded out to second. DeLuca grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Contreras grounded out to third to start the bottom of the third but Abreu got a base hit to left. Abreu stole second but Story struck out swinging. Yoshida grounded out to second to end the inning.
Williamson grounded out to second to start the top of the fourth and Fortes flied out to right. Mullins popped up to third to end the inning. Rafaela grounded out to third to start the bottom of the fourth and Mayer lined out to left. Wong struck out swinging to end the inning.
Walls grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth but Diaz got a base hit to left. Vilade grounded into a double play to end the inning. Hunter Bigge came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Durbin grounded out to short to start. Duran grounded out to second and Contreras struck out swinging to end the inning.
Caminero led off the top of the sixth by beating out a grounder to third but Aranda was frozen for strike three. That was it for Bennett after 86 pitches as he allowed 4 runs in just 5 1/3 innings. Greg Weissert came in and naturally Deluca got a base hit to right. As usual Williamson walked to load the bases and Chandler Simpson pinch hit for Fortes. As if anyone had any doubt, Simpson got a base hit to center to score Caminero and DeLuca to put the Rays up for good. Sox manager Chad Tracy made a gold medal sprint to the mound and took a swing at Weissert before chasing him into the dugout. Tyler Samaniego came in to clean up the mess and Mullins hit one up the elevator shaft. Walls flied out to left to end the inning with the Rays up 5-3.
Jake deserved better
Usually when the Sox fall behind the game's over and the bottom of the sixth was no different. Hunter Feduccia took over behind the plate and Abreu flied out to center. Story popped up to second and Yoshida grounded out to second to end the inning.
Ryan Watson came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Diaz took strike three. Feduccia flied out to center but Caminero walked. Aranda forced Caminero at second to end the inning. Kevin Kelly came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Rafaela flied out to center to start. Mayer grounded out to second but Wong got a base hit off the glove of Caminero. Durbin flied out to right to end the inning.
The Rays poured it on in the top of the eighth when DeLuca flied out to left to start. Williamson dropped down a bunt to third and Simpson tripled to right to score him. Mullins hit one up the elevator shaft and Walls struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rays ahead 6-3.
Simpson with a triple
Garrett Cleavinger came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Duran doubled to center to start. Contreras got a base hit to left to move Duran to third but Willson was thrown out at second on the throw. Abreu hit a sac fly to left to score Duran to cut the lead but Story struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 6-4.
Caminero jacks one
Abreu drives in a run
Diaz hit a ground rule double to right to start the top of the ninth and Fedducia dropped down a bunt to move him to third. Richie Palacios pinch ran for Diaz but Caminero hit a home run all the way to Hammerfall to ice the game. Aranda grounded out to second but DeLuca got a base hit to left. Williamson forced DeLuca at second to end the inning with the Rays up 8-4.
Cole Sulser came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Yoshida grounded out to first to start. Rafaela struck out swinging and Mayer grounded out to second to end the game. The Rays had won it 8-4.
Rays win
Jackass of The Night is Greg Weissert. He allowed the go-ahead run to score and one of his own without getting a single out.
Throw that glove, Jackass
The Good:
Wilyer Abreu was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a stolen base.
Connor Wong was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Caleb Durbin was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Tyler Samaniego got the final two outs of the sixth inning.
The Bad:
Jake Bennett took the loss by allowing 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings off 6 hits and 2 walks.
Ryan Watson allowed 3 runs in 3 innings.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Willson Contreras was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Trevor Story was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but stole a base and scored 2 runs.
Masataka Yoshida was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Marcelo Mayer was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Alex Cora got fired three weeks ago but his fingerprints are still here. Chad Tracy yanking Bennett in the sixth inning was out of the Cora playbook and how's a rookie supposed to pitch out of trouble if you don't let him? Weissert himself took accountability by saying after the game "I'm pitching like shit." Its good to see someone hold himself to a higher standard but at the same time, he'll be on the DFA list if he doesn't turn things around. The offense is still not up to snuff but if the bullpen didn't cough up the lead, they might have won this one. Can't win them all, and they aren't winning many games lately even with the managerial & coaching changes. The loss dropped the Sox to 16-22, 10 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night against the Rays when Connelly Early (2-2) takes on Jesse Scholtens of Tampa. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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