Red Sox Wrap: Boston’s Bats Put To Rest To Finish Series Vs. Rays

The Boston Red Sox endured a rough 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night at Tropicana Field to wrap up their division-rival series.

With the loss, the Red Sox dropped to 76-77 while the Rays improved to 75-78.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston received everything it needed from Bryan Bello on the mound, but pitching wasn't the problem to conclude the club's final trip to Tampa Bay in 2024. And a gem of an outing turned into a squandered opportunity to escape a critical rubber match with a handy victory.

Instead, the Red Sox were hand-delivered a costly reminder that going 1-for-28 with 11 strikeouts isn't the ideal offensive output required from a lineup on any night, especially in a mid-September contest with postseason hopes hanging by a thread. Boston's only base knock, a single from Nick Sogard in the third inning, left the Red Sox to get no-hit across the remaining six innings while also recording an error to equate the hit total. Boston drew zero walks and left just one runner on base.

Granted, the Rays, too, didn't put on an offensive clinic, however, it didn't take much to overcome a dead-silent performance from the Red Sox.

Before Boston took the field in Tampa Bay, some encouraging news came from the American League wild-card race with the Minnesota Twins losing to the Cleveland Guardians, 3-2, giving the Red Sox a chance to climb up within three games of the final playoff spot. Instead, with nine games remaining in the regular season, Boston dropped to four games back of the desperation race.

The Red Sox next head back to Fenway Park to wrap up the 2024 season, dealt a sour taste at the worst possible time.

STARS OF THE GAME
-- Bello shone on the mound, pitching 5 2/3 innings while allowing just one run off five hits and two walks while striking out seven Tampa Bay hitters. Boston's right-hander threw 101 pitches and endured loss No. 8 of the campaign (14-8) despite logging a quality performance.

-- Tampa Bay's Zach Littell was dynamite, tossing seven innings of shutout ball while surrendering just a single base hit and striking out seven batters.

-- Brandon Lowe got the Rays on the scoreboard in the third inning with a sacrifice fly. The Rays second baseman finished 1-for-3 with one of the most critical at-bats of the night.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will return to Fenway Park to host the Minnesota Twins. First pitch on Friday night is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, and you can catch the game, plus a full 90 minutes of pregame coverage, live on NESN.