Red Sox fall out of first place in AL East

It’s too late for the Red Sox to make any additions but they sure look like they could use some.

Sox’ trade target Anthony Rizzo slapped his second homer in as many games for the New York Yankees while the Sox’ lineup was badly in need of an impact left-handed hitter on Saturday night.

Twice the Sox’ right-handed hitters failed to drive in a run with the bases loaded as the Sox got smoked by the Rays, 9-5, at Tropicana Field.

With the bases full and the game tied, 5-5, in the sixth inning, Christian Vazquez and Bobby Dalbec struck out in back-to-back plate appearances to end the inning without a run.

The very next inning, the Sox put runners on second and third with two outs when the Rays decided to intentionally walk Xander Bogaerts to load the bases again. With two outs and a right-handed pitcher, Matt Wisler, on the mound, the Rays went to work against Hunter Renfroe, a right-handed hitter who has been significantly worse against righties than lefties.

Renfroe struck out as the Sox stranded three without scoring a run in two consecutive innings.

It was particularly notable considering the Sox were clearly in need of an difference-making left-handed hitter at the trade deadline. And while they were reportedly aggressive in their pursuit of Rizzo, the Yankees pulled the rug out from under the Sox and landed the first baseman.

Instead, the Sox got the left-handed hitting Kyle Schwarber, who is out at least another two weeks with a hamstring injury and will try to learn first base upon his return.

His bat was badly needed Saturday, particularly in the seventh inning. If Schwarber was protecting Bogaerts instead of Renfroe, the Rays almost certainly would’ve pitched to the Sox’ shortstop instead of putting him on first base.

A few other takeaways: 

1. The Red Sox rotation is in a bad place.

Nathan Eovaldi was smoked for six runs, five earned, as he allowed two homers in a game for the first time all year. His night ended in frustration with the umpire after just 5 1/3 innings, but he had only himself to blame for the homers on a pair of juicy pitches he left dangling over the plate.

Sox starting pitchers have allowed six runs in three consecutive games. They finished July with a 4.74 ERA. The rotation had a 5.32 ERA in June, a 4.45 ERA in May and a 3.94 ERA in March/April.

2. This team needs to get more from second base.

Jonathan Arauz was called up from the minors to replace Michael Chavis, who was traded to the Pirates for left-handed pitcher Austin Davis, and Arauz made a mess of it in this one.

Starting at second base, Arauz made a pair of routine grounders look difficult as he botched a pair of easy plays in the third inning that led to a Rays’ run.

The Sox have been reluctant to start Jarren Duran against left-handed pitching, instead moving Kiké Hernandez from second to center field against lefties and opening the door for Arauz’s start on Saturday.

Davis, in his Red Sox debut, struggled to get outs in the eighth inning, when the Sox’ bullpen allowed three more runs.

3. Rafael Devers had the play of the game with a bunt single to beat the shift in the seventh inning.

After Hernandez singled, Devers fell behind 0-1, then dropped a hard-hit bunt single down the third-base line. Rays’ lefty Jeffrey Springs hurt his knee trying to chase it down and had to leave the game.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3le985v