the joy of sox: G28: Rays 5, Red Sox 2

April 28, 2019

G28: Rays 5, Red Sox 2

Rays    - 220 000 001 - 5  5  0
Red Sox - 000 010 110 - 2  7  2

Chris Sale (7-4-4-3-8, 111) stumbled out of the gate on Sunday, allowing four runs (two earned). On April 18, the Red Sox were 8.5 GB. They promptly swept three games from the Rays, cutting Tampa Bay's lead over them to 5.0 games, but the deficit has now ballooned back up to 7.5 games.

Boston dropped to 11-17. The 2018 Red Sox lost their 17th game on May 27.

Yandy Diaz began the game with a double to left and Daniel Robinson hit a one-out, two-run homer to left-center. Diaz did more damage in the second inning. After a walk and an error by Rafael Devers, Diaz tripled to right, giving the Rays a 4-0 lead. The Red Sox infield helped Sale by turning double plays in the third and fourth innings.

Boston made a dent in the Rays' lead in the sixth when Christian Vazquez hit an infield single and Mookie Betts doubled to left. Mitch Moreland's sacrifice fly to center scored Vaz. With Betts on third and two outs, Tyler Glasnow (6.2-6-2-1-9, 102) struck out Xander Bogaerts.

Michael Chavis hit his third home run of the season with one down in the seventh. It was not a cheap shot, traveling 441 feet to dead center. Jackie Bradley doubled with two outs, but Emilio Pagan retired Vazquez on a fly to center.

Jose Alvarado set the Red Sox down in order on three flyouts in the eighth: Andrew Benintendi to right, Betts to left, and Moreland to center. Tampa Bay tacked on an addition (unearned) run in the ninth, which only served as padding. Facing Diego Castillo, Bogaerts whiffed, Devers singled to center, Chavis fouled to first, and Steve Pearce grounded out third-to-first.

Rehab: Dustin Pedroia will start a rehab assignment with Portland (AA) on Thursday. Eduardo Núñez starts his rehab assignment with Pawtucket tomorrow. He'll join Brock Holt, who is currently rehabbing a scratched right cornea. Brian Johnson (left elbow inflammation) threw a bullpen session this morning and is scheduled to throw again on Wednesday.