The 2018 Boston Red Sox have accomplished many things through the first 131 games of the season. They hadn’t got a swept in a series. That was until Blake Snell shut them down to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-1 win over the Red Sox in game 132 at Tropicana field on Sunday afternoon.
The Rays outscored the Red Sox 24-5 in the three game weekend sweep. Tampa Bay has won eight straight and improved to 70-61. The Red Sox are now 90-42 with 30 games left in the regular season.
Snell allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight in six innings. Snell now has an ERA of 2.05 and WHIP under one. Snell is one of the top contenders for the American League Cy Young award.
Matt Duffy led the Rays offensive attack with three hits, two runs scored, and two RBI. Mookie Betts, Eduardo Nunez, and Jackie Bradley JR had the only Red Sox hits. Betts had the lone RBI.
Nathan Eovaldi (5-6) struggled in four innings on the mound for the Red Sox. Eovaldi allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits. Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel pitched well out of the bullpen while Heath Hembree and Matt Barnes struggled.
The Red Sox will look to get back on track on Tuesday night when Brian Johnson takes the mound for the Red Sox against the Miami Marlins. Jose Urena will pitch for the Marlins. Urena allowed only one run in seven innings when he faced the Red Sox early in the season.
