G143: Rays 4, Red Sox 1

Rays    - 000 021 100 - 4  9  1
Red Sox - 010 000 000 - 1  5  1

I was unable to watch (or even follow along with) this one, but I clearly did not miss much.

The Red Sox took an early lead on Alex Cobb (5-4-1-3-5, 93) when Mitch Moreland walked, took second on Rafael Devers's groundout, and scored on Christian Vazquez's single to right-center. Vazquez ended up advancing to third on an error and Brock Holt walked and stole second. But there would be no more runs because Sam Travis flied into a double play to right as Vazquez was gunned down at the plate.

After that, the offense dried up. Jackie Bradley singled to start the third but was stranded at second as Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts both struck out. In the sixth, after Benintendi singled and Betts walked, Cobb was relieved by lefty Dan Jennings. Moreland ground an 0-1 pitch into a 6U-3 double play and Devers ended the inning with a grounder to second. Boston would have only one baserunner over the final three innings, a two-out single by Travis in the seventh.

Rick Porcello (5-5-2-3-4, 95) escaped a 1st-and-2nd/1 out jam in the fourth, but the Rays got to him in the fifth. Brad Miller doubled and scored on Wilson Ramos's single, tying the game at 1-1. With one out, Kevin Kiermaier singled. Evan Longoria's two-out single brought in Ramos - who homered in his next at-bat, off Brandon Workman in the sixth. Robby Scott gave up a dong to Lucas Duda in the seventh.

The Red Sox have an off-day tomorrow before the Oakland A's come to Fenway for three games.

MFY Watch: The Yankees beat the Rangers 16-7, cutting the Red Sox's lead in the East to 3.5 games.

Alex Cobb / Rick Porcello

Bogaerts, SS
Benintendi, LF
Betts, RF
Moreland, DH
Devers, 3B
Vazquez, C
Holt, 2B
Travis, 1B
Bradley, CF

It's been a tough season for Rick Porcello. After winning the 2016 American League Cy Young award, he has posted a 4.67 ERA over 29 starts. He has allowed more hits than any other AL pitcher and he leads the majors with 35 home runs allowed (10 more than his previous high, in 2015). Porcello's WHIP of 1.401 is his highest since 2012.

Opponents vs Porcello:

        AVG   OBP   SLG   OBP    TB
2016   .230  .268  .367  .635   308
2017   .290  .327  .503  .831   373

MFY Watch: The Yankees are 4.5 GB in the East - the Red Sox's magic number is 17 - but lead all teams in contention for the two wild card spots. ... MFY/TEX.