All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Rays' 6-2 win over the Red Sox, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Defensively, the Red Sox haven’t been good this season and Sunday’s loss to the Rays may have truly highlighted this team’s biggest flaw.
In the sixth inning, Yandy Díaz delivered a base hit into right field that he would later score on because the Sox threw the ball around.
Manuel Margot who was on first for the Rays scored on the play after Alex Verdugo casually threw the ball into second base. With Margot running hard from the crack of the bat, Enmanuel Valdez made an off target throw to the plate in an effort to cut down the runner.
Connor Wong then threw the ball back down to second base in an effort to prevent Díaz from advancing. His throw soared into the outfield past Verdugo and Masataka Yoshida. Díaz kept on running and would score on the little league type defense from the Sox.
Alex Cora was open and honest about his team’s defensive struggles postgame.
"I don't like it, man. I've seen that play too many times over the last two years. You've got to throw the ball to the right base, got to back up. You cannot become a spectator. You've got places to go on every play in baseball,” said Cora.
Boston has made seven errors in their last six games.
TURNING POINT
Boston struggled in all facets of the game on Sunday. Offensively they had only six hits but failed to cash in with runners in scoring position, defensively they threw the ball around and walked five batters.
The fourth inning started the defensive horror show. Luke Raley singled and Isaac Paredes walked to start the frame. Taylor Walls tapped a ball in front of the plate and Wong looked to third base. Justin Turner took a step in and wasn't able to get back to the bag in time to tag Raley.
Yoshida added booted a routine single by Margot, the miscue allowed the Rays to plate two runs.
The Red Sox finished 1-for-10 at the plate with runners in scoring position while also stranding eight runners on base. Six Red Sox batters were hitless in the loss, including Rafael Devers who finished 0-for-4, he has only one hit this season against the Rays, a homer. He is 1-for-21 (.048) in six games with nine strikeouts and a .190 SLG%.
UP
Alex Verdugo had three hits (3-for-5) with two doubles and one triple all off Rays’ starter Taj Bradley. Verdugo led off the first, third and fifth innings with an extra-base hit. That tied a career high which he set back in 2020 against the Braves.
Yoshida recorded his 500th career RBI (Japan and MLB). The milestone came in the third inning when he delivered an RBI single to tie the game 1-1.
Kaleb Ort was a bright spot out of the bullpen tossing two scoreless innings and recording three strikeouts. He retired all six batters he faced and it was his first appearance with the Sox since April 25 in Baltimore.
DOWN
Tanner Houck tossed five innings giving up four hits allowing four runs and walking four batters while striking out six. Houck threw 92 pitches, 57 of them for strikes. He had 43 swings and 15 whiffs, 17 of them came against his slider.
“Definitely not my best outing. Command-wise, four walks is unacceptable. Just got to be better,” Houck said postgame.
UP NEXT
Monday: RHP Brayan Bello (3-3, 3.89) vs. LHP Shane McClanahan (8-1, 2.07 ERA)
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