G50: Rays 6, Red Sox 3

Red Sox - 000 000 102 - 3  7  2
Rays    - 230 100 00x - 6 12  1

Rick Porcello threw 63 pitches in the first two innings. He faced 14 batters, giving up five hits, two walk, one HBP, and five runs. Although the Red Sox made some noise late in the game, they never got closer than having the potential tying run on deck in the ninth.

The first four Rays reached base in the first inning on a double, walk, single, and FC/E2. One run scored on the error and a sac fly made it 2-0. Porcello went to a 3-1 or 3-2 count on four of the first five batters. He got off lightly when Mallex Smith grounded into an inning-ending, 1-2-3 double play.

In the second, Wilson Ramos's two-run single and another error put Tampa Bay up 5-0. (No Boston batter had reached base at that point.) Porcello's line: 3.2-8-6-2-2, 92.

Blake Snell (6-3-0-2-8, 101) retired 12 of his first 13 batters and the Red Sox scored only after he left the game.

When Mitch Moreland homered off Matt Andriese with one out in the ninth, Boston still trailed by four runs. Xander Bogaerts struck out, but Eduardo Nunez singled to left and took second on indifference. Rafael Devers doubled to right and Nunez scored. Alex Colome came in and, on two pitches, retired Sandy Leon on a grounder to first.

The Red Sox host Atlanta at Fenway Park tomorrow night and Dustin Pedroia is expected to be in the starting lineup.

Rick Porcello / Blake Snell

Betts, RF
Ramirez, DH
Martinez, LF
Moreland, 1B
Bogaerts, SS
Nunez, 2B
Devers, 3B
Leon, C
Bradley, CF

This is the sixth season in which the Red Sox have won at least 34 of their first 49 games (1946, 1978, 1986, 2002, 2007).

Mookie "Mooke" Betts:

Leads MLB in home runs (16), average (.364), slugging (.763), OPS (1.203), runs scored (49), doubles (19), extra-base hits (36), and total bases (132).

Is second in MLB in on-base (.440) and tied for 2nd in hits (63).

His .763 slugging percentage is .104 higher than the #2 hitter (J.D. Martinez, .659). The only players ever to slug .763 or higher over a full season are Babe Ruth (4 times), Barry Bonds (3 times), and Lou Gehrig.

His 1.203 OPS leads all MLB batters by .140 (Martinez is #2 at 1.063).

Is among only 7 hitters since 1940 with 36+ extra-base hits through 49 team games: Edgar Martinez (40 in 1996), Hank Aaron (37 in 1959), David Ortiz (37 in 2016), Willie Mays (36 in 1958), Jeffrey Leonard (36 in 1987), and Magglio Ordonez (36 in 2007).

Leads the AL in average vs RHP, .356.

Leads the AL in average with two outs, .447.

Leads the AL in average in May, .386.

Is batting .390 vs. LHP and .364 with two strikes.

He and Mike Trout are the only players with 10+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases this season.

Has scored at least one run in 10 of his last 13 games.