The Boston Red Sox lose 6-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. Read the game story.
BATTER OF THE GAME - Daniel Nava
How fitting, right? The guy the Sox designated for assignment because he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn for them this season comes through for the bad guys with an RBI single in the seventh inning. Nava isn't hitting a whole lot better in Tampa Bay - this was just his third RBI for them since joining - but he got it done in this moment against his former team. The Sox ended up scoring a couple in the ninth, so Nava won't get credit for the game-winning run, but it still put the Rays ahead until the game was out of reach. You won't find anybody in the Sox organization or in the league that has a bad thing to say about Nava.
STARTER'S REPORT - Nice little pitcher's duel on this night as Rick Porcello and Drew Smyly both had strong outings for the most part. Porcello's big mistake was coming back out for the eighth inning, down 1-0, having already thrown 108 pitches. He proceeded to allow a double and a single and was removed from the game. That's when Tommy Layne came in and gave up all the runs - two of which were put on Porcello's tab. Porcello allowed 11 hits in total, but hadn't allowed a run until the seventh inning. He struck out eight.
Drew Smyly pitched into the seventh inning before leaving with a couple men on base. Unlike the Sox relievers, the Rays got the job done, preserving Smyly's strong start. He went 6 1/3 allowing five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
Boston Red Sox
BIG PLAY - The biggest play(s) had to be the last three outs of the 7th inning for the Red Sox. They put the first two runners on in Blake Swihart and Deven Marrero before Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, and Dustin Pedroia all got out. Bradley's fly ball to left field was just a few feet short of the Monster, which would have driven in the tying run at the time. Pedroia grounded out to end the inning and strand two runners in scoring position.
WHAT I LIKED - Xander Bogaerts needed a hit to extend his hitting streak, and thanks to a little run in the ninth inning, he got his chance - and cashed in on it. Bogaerts singled in Mookie Betts from third base to give him a hit in 12 straight games, a new career high. The 22-year-old is really something special to watch at the plate.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE - Tommy Layne isn't the worst reliever in the Red Sox bullpen, but he's part of an inept group that rarely can get through a game cleanly. Rick Porcello shouldn't have came out for the eighth inning, but you can't fault him for wanting to with the way this bullpen performs. And Layne couldn't bail Porcello out, either, allowing both inherited runners to score plus another run.
WHAT'S NEXT - The Red Sox and Rays wrap up their season series Thursday night when Wade Miley (11-10, 4.34 ERA) takes on Erasmo Ramirez (10-6, 3.70 ERA). Miley is 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA in six career starts against the Rays, including a 1-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in four starts this season.