Sloppy base-running and missed scoring chances doom Rays Friday night.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – On the day the Rays learned Chris Archer was heading to the All Star game, his teammate Jake Odorizzi continued to struggle on the hill. The offense couldn’t keep up with the Boston bats Friday night, either.
The Rays were in prime position to jump on Pomeranz early. After Wilson Ramos walked to lead off the bottom of the second, returning Brad Miller doubled into left field. With two in scoring position and no outs, the worst case scenario happened. Trevor Plouffe struck out for the first out. Mallex Smith then put down a beauty of a bunt but Ramos was caught half way between third and home and tagged out. Brad Miller was then caught in a rundown between second and third and also caught to end the inning on an ugly note.
If you didn’t believe in baseball gods before Friday night – you should now.
The “gods” are real.
Tzu-Wei Lin singled to lead off the third. Two batters later, Mookie Betts would drive him home with an RBI double to center field. Dustin Pedroia quickly followed with a two-run bomb into the left field seats to put Boston up 4-0. The home run by Pedroia would be the 13th-consecutive game Jake Odorizzi gave up a home run, continuing his club record.
Red Sox starter, Drew Pomranz, needed just nine pitches for his shut down inning.
Jackie Bradley Jr. led off the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run off Odorizzi to extend the Boston lead to 5-0.
The Rays would finally get to Pomranz in the fourth. After a one-out walk to Logan Morrison, Ramos doubled him home for his fourth RBI in two games. Miller followed with an RBI single and the Red Sox lead was quickly just three, 5-2.
After walking home the sixth run of the game, Odorizzi’s night would be over with one out in the fifth inning. Chase Whitley would allow a fielder’s choice RBI to Christian Vazquez but get the Rays out of the inning. Boston would have their five-run lead back, 7-2.
With the Red Sox bullpen finally in the game, Steven Souza Jr led off the bottom of the seventh with his career-tying 17th home run of the season. Corey Dickerson followed up with a double and an Evan Longoria single would put runners on the corners with no outs. Ramos grounded into a double play to end the threat and inning after a Morrison strikeout.
Another look at No. 17 for @SouzaJr. pic.twitter.com/TmFlHcRsLB
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 8, 2017
The Sox weren’t done.
Rookie Adam Kolarek gave up a solo home run to Hanley Ramirez in the top of the ninth. That ended the shutout for the bullpen on the evening.
Craig Kimbrel would strike out the side in the bottom of the ninth. Ball game over. Rays drop game two 8-3.
NEXT UP:
- The Rays send Alex Cobb (6-6, 4.01) out Saturday to face Rick Porcello (4-10, 5.01) in game three.
