August 11, 2020

G17: Rays 8, Red Sox 2

Rays    - 101 000 600 - 8  9  0
Red Sox - 010 000 010 - 2  9  0
The Rays jumped on Austin Brice and Robert Stock for six runs in the top of the seventh to extend their 2-1 lead, winning easily in a Tuesday night rout.

Martín Pérez (5.2-3-2-2-5, 94) gave up a home run to the first batter of the game (Mike Brosseau). But what seemed like a bad omen was not. Pérez pitched fairly well and left after five innings with the Red Sox trailing by one run.

Boston had tied the game at 1-1 in the second with two outs. Christian Vázquez doubled and scored on Michael Chavis's single. But the Rays quickly re-established their one-run lead as Yandy Díaz singled in Brosseau, who had doubled.

The Red Sox left two men on in the second and stranded a runner at third in the third. One Tampa Bay double play ended the home fourth and another twin-killing wiped out a leadoff walk in the seventh.

Brice relieved Pérez and recorded the third out in the sixth. He also struck out the first batter in the seventh, but the next five Rays reached base. Willy Adames singled to center. Manuel Margot doubled to left for one run. Mike Zunino walked. Brandon Lowe pinch-hit for Brosseau and his ground-rule double to right scored Margot. Díaz reached on an infield hit and Zunino scored.

Stock came in and walked Austin Meadows, loading the bases. Pinch-hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo fouled out to Vazquez for the second out. A passed ball brought in the Rays' sixth run and Hunter Renfroe's double drove in the final two tallies. Ji-Man Choi, who began the inning by striking out, ended the inning by striking out.

The Red Sox made a little noise in the eighth. Jonathan Araúz singled and Andrew Benintendi was hit by a pitch. Alex Verdugo grounded to shortstop and the Rays tagged out Benintendi, 6-5-4 (a run scored). J.D. Martinez flied to center and Xander Bogaerts struck out. In the ninth, Chavis tripled with two outs, but Bradley fanned to end the game.

The Red Sox are 6-11 (.353) and are on pace to finish 21-39.

Boston has had only six seasons (out of 119) with a winning percentage below .373 (which is super-shitty, but is also 20 points higher than where the team is right now): 1906, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, and 1932. Those years ranged from .279 (1932, when the Red Sox went 43-111 and finished 64 GB!) to .338.

43 games to go.
Andrew Kittredge / Martín Pérez
Benintendi, LF
Verdugo, RF
Martinez, DH
Bogaerts, SS
Moreland, 1B
Vázquez, C
Chavis, 2B
Bradley, CF
Araúz, 3B
Martín Pérez pitched five shutout innings against the Rays last Wednesday.

Andrew Kittredge got the save in last night's game, throwing 16 pitches.

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