BOSTON — Rick Porcello bounced back nicely from his previous start, but it was all for naught.
Former Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava opened a scoreless game in the seventh inning, and it was all downhill from there.
Boston’s bullpen fell apart in the eighth and ninth innings, while Tampa Bay starter Drew Smyly and four other Rays relievers combined to shut out the Red Sox through 8 2/3 innings before going on to win 6-2.
GAME IN A WORD
Frustrating.
Rick Porcello was terrific all night, striking out eight batters and walking just one. The Rays only scored one run while he was in the game (he officially gets charged with two earned runs and three total), but the Red Sox couldn’t muster anything at the plate.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Nava broke open the scoring in the seventh inning, when his single to right just snuck under Dustin Pedroia’s glove to score Kevin Kiermaier from third. That put Tampa Bay up 1-0, and they never looked back.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello and Smyly went toe-to-toe all night.
Smyly stifled the Red Sox, scattering five hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out seven batters. Porcello allowed three runs (two earned) with a walk and eight strikeouts in 7-plus innings.
Porcello probably stayed in the game a bit too long. He finished the seventh with 108 pitches and had just given up his only run of the night. Tommy Layne was warming before the inning was over. But Porcello entered in the eighth inning, promptly giving up a double to Asdrubal Cabrera and a single to Steven Souza Jr. before being lifted.
— Layne relieved Porcello, who finished with 111 pitches, and delivered a potential double-play ball to third baseman Deven Marrero. However, he bobbled it and earned an error on the play, which allowed Cabrera to score. The run was unearned and charged to Porcello.
After a fielder’s choice and a walk, John Jaso doubled home two more runs, one of which was charged to Porcello and the other to Layne, who subsequently was lifted for Noe Ramirez.
— Ramirez struck out Mikie Mahtook (who pinch ran for Nava earlier in the game) to end the eighth. He also retired Evan Longoria to begin the top of the ninth inning before being replaced by Jean Machi.
— Machi’s outing was a disaster, despite only throwing four pitches. He gave up a solo home run to Cabrera that hit Pesky’s Pole — the 100th of Cabrera’s career.
His first pitch to the next batter, Souza, flew over his head, which prompted home plate umpire Bill Welke to eject Machi.
— Roman Mendez followed, and Souza absolutely crushed a 2-1 pitch into the Green Monster in left-center field. He then retired the side without further incident.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Mookie Betts was the only Boston batter to muster much offense. He recorded three hits, including a leadoff single in the first inning. He now has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games, which is a career high.
His single in the bottom of the ninth scored Jackie Bradley Jr., who walked just before him, but Betts was not rewarded with an RBI as Kiermaier’s throw from center field sailed into the seats. It all happened with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Betts’ three-hit effort raised his batting average to .293.
— Travis Shaw bounced back from two early strikeouts with a double in the sixth inning, but was stranded there.
— Boston went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
— Dustin Pedroia went 0-for-4, including a weak dribbler to short in the seventh inning with runners on second and third to end the inning. His oh-fer snapped a 10-game hit streak, though he did reach base via a walk in the ninth.
— Xander Bogaerts extended his hit streak to 12 games by the graces of the baseball gods. Boston’s pseudo ninth-inning rally gave the 22-year-old an extra at-bat, and he delivered with an RBI single that scored Betts.
TWEET OF THE GAME
That happened.
UP NEXT
Wade Miley (11-10, 4.34 ERA) looks to maintain what has been a terrific season versus the Rays. The left-hander owns a 1-1 record with a 2.45 ERA against Tampa Bay this season. He’s also looked great his last three turns through the rotation, notching just a 2.78 ERA. He’ll face Erasmo Ramirez (10-6, 3.70 ERA) in the final game of the season series between Boston and Tampa.
Thumbnail photo via Gregory J. Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
