G16: Rays 8, Red Sox 7

Rays    - 010 211 210 - 8 16  0
Red Sox - 301 001 020 - 7 12  1

The Red Sox led 4-1, trailed 4-5 (briefly), before tying the game at 5-5, then trailed 5-8 before closing the gap and losing by one run. Boston is 6-10 and back in the AL East basement.

In the seventh, the Rays snapped that 5-5 tie when Boston reliever Jeffrey Springs gave up hits to the first three Rays: Yoshi Tsutsugo and (former Red Sox farmhand) Manuel Margot both singled and scored on Kevin Kiermaier's double to left. Margot's double brought in another Rays run in the eighth.

In the home half of the eighth, the Red Sox rallied with two outs. Kevin Plawecki singled to right and went to second on a wild pitch before Andrew Benintendi walked. Jose Alvarado came in to pitch for Tampa Bay and Christian Vázquez hit for Jackie Bradley. Alvarado walked Váz, loading the bases. Jonathan Araúz singled to center, scoring two runs. Kevin Pillar ended the inning by grounding into a force play.

In the last of the ninth, Alvarado got the first out before handing the ball to Andrew Kittredge. J.D. Martinez (who hit his first home run of the season in the opening inning, driving in his first run since Opening Day) singled to left. But the Red Sox could not advance him. Xander Bogaerts lined to right and Michael Chavis struck out.

Martinez, Araúz, and Plawecki each went 3-for-4. ... For the Rays, Margot reached base five times: 4-for-4, with a walk.

The game lasted 264 minutes (4:24). It was the longest nine-inning game since . . . last September 21 . . . which was also 4:24. There was a game on September 8, 2019 that lasted 4:29.

The three longest nine-inning games in MLB history were played by the Red Sox and Yankees. Unfortunately, New York won all three.

4:45 (285 minutes) - Yankees 14, Red Sox 11 (August 18, 2006 (G2))
4:43 (283 minutes) - Yankees 8, Red Sox 7 (September 14, 2007)
4:42 (282 minutes) - Yankees 17, Red Sox 13 (June 29, 2019)

Ryan Yarbrough / Ryan Brasier

Pillar, RF
Verdugo, LF
Martinez, DH
Bogaerts, SS
Chavis, 1B
Plawecki, C
Peraza, 2B
Bradley, CF
Araúz, 3B

After 109 relief appearances (101 of them with Boston), Ryan Brasier will make his first career start.

The Red Sox scored five runs in five innings against Ryan Yarbrough last Wednesday (August 5).

Pitcher Brian Johnson was released.

The Cardinals reported three additional positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 last weekend, including outfielder Lane Thomas, bringing the team's total to 10 players and seven staffers. The Cardinals' three-game series this week against the Pirates has been postponed.

The Cardinals have not played a game in nearly two weeks (July 29). More than half of the 30 teams have played at least 16 games, while the Cardinals have played only five.