With an exhausted bullpen and James Paxton pushed again to subsequent Tuesday (10 days relaxation), Alex Cora wanted Nick Pivetta to place the Red Sox on his again in Wednesday night time’s collection finale towards the Tampa Bay Rays.
Instead, Pivetta grew to become the most recent starter to make an early exit. The 30-year-old right-hander lasted simply 4.2 innings, giving up a pair of solo dwelling runs and an RBI double earlier than Cora strode out to the mound, compelled to go to his beleaguered aid core too quickly once more.
Ultimately, their starter wasn’t the rationale why the Rays bested the Red Sox, 3-1.
Of course, Pivetta is drained, too. He’s labored each potential function this season, yanked from the rotation, slotted into the bullpen, then known as again to make sporadic begins on an as-need foundation. Brayan Bello is the one pitcher on the workers with extra innings (137) this season.
His supervisor had nothing however excessive reward for him. “Nick was outstanding,” Cora instructed reporters. “He pitched with three days rest and went out there and competed.”
“I told him on the mound, I said, ‘Thank you, bro,’ ” the Red Sox supervisor stated. “What he did today, that was, that was good to see … every time he takes the baseball, he’s been outstanding. He prepares, he wants to compete, and he’s been great.”
The Red Sox struck first for the primary time within the collection, however principally, they struck out. Other than Connor Wong’s RBI triple for a short-lived 1-0 lead within the prime of the third, Tyler Glasnow was meticulous and overpowering.
In his six-inning begin, the Rays ace held the guests to 3 hits and a stroll and racked up 14 strikeouts to match his profession excessive. Since 2000, Mike Mussina (Sept. 24, 2000) and Yu Darvish (May 5, 2013) are the one different pitchers with 14 or extra strikeouts towards the Red Sox, however Glasnow is the primary to take action in as little as six innings.
The Red Sox solely trailed by two runs when Glasnow’s night time ended, however it could as effectively have been 20. After plating that one run within the prime of the third, they went hitless within the subsequent 4 frames earlier than Ceddanne Rafaela took over for Wilyer Abreu and added a pinch-hit double to the tally, solely to be left on base.
When the Red Sox known as Rafaela up final week, Cora declared that their No. 3 prospect wouldn’t play another infield positions than shortstop. Therefore, it was stunning to see the 22-year-old Curaçao native take over at second base – a place he hadn’t performed since A-ball – within the backside of the eighth. No matter, the defensive standout dealt with the unfamiliar territory simply tremendous.
Maurcio Llovera was the opposite vivid spot on this quiet contest. The 27-year-old righty, whom the Red Sox acquired from the San Francisco Giants on the finish of July, pitched the final three innings. He held the Rays to 1 hit and one stroll, giving the Red Sox ample time to mount a comeback that by no means got here.
“Llovy was outstanding, too,” Cora stated. “Three innings, he hasn’t done that with us (before).”
By recreation’s finish, the Red Sox had struck out 17 occasions, together with twice within the ninth. Justin Turner and Adam Duvall, normally distinction makers on the plate, every struck out 4 occasions.
“We didn’t do much offensively,” Cora stated, unable to disclaim the apparent.
The Red Sox additionally discovered one more method to damage themselves defensively within the backside of the fourth when Jose Siri put a ball in play. Rafael Devers shortly scooped up the infield dribbler, however seeing he had no play at first base, he pivoted to Osleivis Basabe, who was racing towards third. Devers tossed the ball to Trevor Story, who lobbed it to Enmanuel Valdez. As the rookie closed in on Basabe, he threw the ball to Pivetta, who dropped it.
In this collection, the Red Sox threw every little thing on the partitions of the Trop, hoping sufficient would stick. Ultimately, the Rays, as depleted as they might appear with out a number of of their key gamers, nonetheless got here out on prime.
After one more irritating, shut loss, Cora tried to place his finest spin on the scenario.
“Regardless of what people think, I’m very pleased with the way we played today,” he stated.
“There was a lot of good stuff that happened here tonight,” the supervisor stated. “Showing up and grinding the best way we did, with the place we have been bullpen-wise.
“I know it sucks, and there’s no moral victories, you know? But we feel good. We’re going home now, and if we want to gain ground, we got a chance now.”
Coming dwelling is probably not such a consolation, although.
The first-place Baltimore Orioles are coming to city for the weekend.
Source: www.bostonherald.com