The Boston Red Sox blew a 7-1 lead and committed four costly errors on Monday afternoon, eventually falling to the Tampa Bay Rays 11-10 in 10 innings at Fenway Park. Boston had a chance to take over the first American League Wild Card, but now with the defeat remain 1/2 game behind the New York Yankees.
The teams swapped runs in the first inning as Nelson Cruz and JD Martinez both had RBI singles. Boston (79-61) exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second on RBI doubles by Tyler Motter and Hunter Renfroe, an RBI single by Rafael Devers, a two-run double from Bobby Dalbec, and an RBI sacrifice fly by Alex Verdugo. Nelson Cruz would reach on a three-run error on a ball lost in the sun by Verdugo in the fourth and Jordan Luplow had an RBI single in the sixth for Tampa Bay to cut it to 7-6. Renfroe pushed it back to a two run lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, before Randy Arozarena made it 8-7 with an RBI hit in the seventh. Jonathan Arauz took one into the bleachers over the Red Sox bullpen in the bottom of the seventh for a solo homerun to make it 9-7, before Cruz hit a solo shot completely over the green monster in left in the eighth off Adam Ottavino. Ottavino, who hadn’t allowed a homer all season, has now allowed two in a matter of days in big spots. Garrett Whitlock tried to close out the win, but Austin Meadows led off the ninth with an inside the park homerun that bounced off the center field wall just out of the reach of Verdugo that would send it to extra innings. A Cruz RBI single in the 10th and another by pinch hitter by Brandon Lowe put the Rays up 11-9. Boston cut it to a run in the bottom half on an RBI single by Jose Iglesias, and had the bases loaded with two outs but Kevin Plawecki grounded out to shprtstop to end it.
Chris Sale started on the mound and got a no-decision allowing five runs (one earned) on 10 hits with one walk and six strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Josh Taylor, Ottavino, and Austin Davis all got a hold while Whitlock (7-3) was tagged with the loss and the blown save. Renfroe had three hits, while Motter and Devers had two each in the defeat. Colin McHugh (6-1) got the win in relief for 87-51 Tampa Bay, while Wander Franco had four hits and Cruz and Yandy Diaz had three a piece. The teams combined for 33 hits (19-14 Tampa) with 24 runners left on base (12 each). Game two of the three game series is Tuesday night at 7:10. The Red Sox go with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-7, 4.88 ERA), and the Rays start RHP Drew Rasmussen (1-1, 3.38).
