BOSTON — The Red Sox’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays was a sight to see.
The Red Sox put up five runs in the first inning Thursday, but their ace, David Price, was chased from the game after giving up six runs in the fourth.
Boston responded. And over the course of more than four hours, both the Red Sox and Rays beat each other up with runs and hits. But Tampa Bay ultimately prevailed 12-8.
GAME IN A WORD
Struggle.
Although it was highly entertaining, this was not a good game for either team. Both the Red Sox and Rays generated a lot of offense at the expense of the pitching and defense.
Tampa finished with 12 runs on 15 hits with three errors. Boston finished with eight runs on 15 hits with one error. Both teams also left 12 runners on base.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Dustin Pedroia flied out to end the game.
The Red Sox had runners on the corners with two outs when the second baseman came to the plate, but they couldn’t keep a rally going.
ON THE BUMP
— This was not the start the Red Sox wanted from Price. After a quality outing against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway on April 16, the left-hander got beat up by the team that drafted him in 2007.
Price ended his rough day having given up eight earned runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out five and surrendered two home runs over 3 2/3 innings.
— Matt Barnes relieved Price in the fourth, and he allowed one of Price’s baserunners to score on a Steven Souza Jr. single before striking out Rays shortstop Tim Beckham.
Barnes came out of the fifth and sixth innings clean. He allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings.
— William Cuevas made his major league debut in the seventh inning, and the frame was scoreless despite him allowing a hit and a walk. Cuevas stayed on in the eighth, though, and he gave up an RBI double to Souza.
Cuevas allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over 2 1/3 innings overall.
— Noe Ramirez finished the ninth inning for Cuevas, and he further doomed the Red Sox, giving up two runs of his own after allowing Cuevas’ runner to score.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Mookie Betts went 2-for-6 out of the leadoff spot with two runs, two RBIs and his second two-run home run in as many days.
— Pedroia also swung the bat well, going 3-for-6 with a run and two RBIs.
— Xander Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with a run and a walk behind Pedroia.
— David Ortiz (1-for-4) and Hanley Ramirez (1-for-5) each had one hit and one run. Ramirez added an RBI and Ortiz walked in the eighth.
— Travis Shaw went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run, and Brock Holt went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Josh Rutledge pinch-hit for Holt in the ninth and doubled.
— Christian Vazquez (0-for-3) didn’t have a hit, but he walked twice and scored a run.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Chris Young pinch-hit for Bradley in the ninth and walked.
TWEET OF THE DAY
If you’re worried about Price, you might be able to take solace in the fact he’s not the only ace who’s struggling.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox head to Houston to face the Astros for three games. Knuckleballer Steven Wright will go up against Astros right-hander Collin McHugh in Friday night’s 8:10 p.m. ET game.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
