What began as a pitchers’ duel quickly turned into a back-and-forth, extra-inning affair.
After six shutout innings from Rick Porcello, the Tampa Bay Rays posted three seventh-inning runs off three Red Sox relievers to take a late lead. But Mitch Moreland, who had provided Boston’s only production entering the ninth inning, pushed the game to extras with his second two-run shot of the night.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the Rays bent but didn’t break, walking off with the 5-4 win in the 11th inning to keep pace in the American League wild card race.
Charlie Morton was solid for Tampa Bay, allowing just two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.
With the loss, the Red Sox slipped to 80-73, while the Rays improved to 91-63.
Here’s how it all went down:
GAME IN A WORD
Wild.
This one had a little bit of everything.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello was stellar Friday night, tossing six shutout innings, allowing just three hits with six strikeouts and no walks on 87 pitches.
Friday was the first time the right-hander has gone six innings since Aug. 16, when he defeated the Baltimore Orioles 9-1. His most start against the Rays undoubtedly was Porcello’s best showing in months, even though he’d end up with a no-decision.
— After beginning the seventh with a strikeout, Darwinzon Hernandez loaded the bases with a single and back-to-back walks. Alex Cora gave the lefty the hook amid the jam.
— Marcus Walden came on and induced a ground ball, resulting in an out, but also giving Tampa its first run of the night.
Willy Adames roped a double down the right-field line to tie the game at two later in the inning, quickly ending Walden’s night.
— Josh Taylor entered as Boston’s third pitcher of the seventh frame. Before getting Joey Wendle to pop out, Taylor served up a wild pitch, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
— Andrew Cashner walked Austin Meadows to begin the eighth. Two batters later, Ji-Man Choi laced a double down the right-field line to drive in the Rays’ fourth run of the night. The righty escaped the inning without further damage.
— The ninth inning was handed over to Ryan Brasier, who’d work around a two-out single for a scoreless frame.
— Bobby Poyner tossed a 1-2-3 10th inning with two strikeouts.
— Trevor Kelley issued two two-out walks in the 11th, which set up Adames’ walk-off single, sending the Rays home with the win.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Brock Holt mustered Boston’s first extra-base hit of the night in the seventh inning with a double down the left-field line. It wouldn’t take long for the Sox to cash in, as Moreland stepped to the dish in the next at-bat and smoked a two-run shot to dead center field.
The homer, Moreland’s 16th of the season, gave Boston a 2-0 lead.
— Gorkys Hernandez tripled to lead off the ninth inning, setting up for some deja vu.
Moreland stepped in and smacked his second two-run bomb to tie the game at four in the ninth.
— Moreland (2-for-5) and Xander Bogaerts (2-for-5) were the only Red Sox batters with multi-hit nights.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Friday’s seventh inning hurt Boston quite a bit.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox continue their four-game set at Tropicana Field on Saturday. First pitch for Game 2 is set for 6:10 p.m. ET.
