Not even David Ortiz could help the Boston Red Sox overcome missed opportunities in the final game of a long trip away from Fenway Park.
Advertisement
Former Razorback Andrew Benintendi looked to have his Major League Baseball career rolling in his rookie season but a knee injury suffered Wednesday night has landed the left fielder on the 15-day disabled list.
Benintendi, who was called up August 2, has hit.324 with an.850 OPS, a.365 on-base percentage and a.485 slugging percentage in his first 21 games with the Red Sox.
However Porcello hung a ball to Evan Longoria and he hit a solo home run to tie the game. The Red Sox have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an AL-best 8.1 strikeouts per road game, making them one of the top five teams in the league.
It was painful to anyone watching, as even the Rays looked nearly embarrassed for having made the tag to get Benintendi out before throwing it to first base to complete the double play.
While the Rays can’t seem to win one-run games, after Tuesday’s win, the Red Sox are 6-2 in their last eight games won by two runs or less.
Ortiz, 40, hit the first pitch he saw from Matt Andriese in the first inning for a two-run homer.
Benintendi is hitting.324 with 10 RBI and a home run in 21 games with the Red Sox. Ortiz plans to retire at the end of the season. Benintendi tried running back to second base and keep out of any double play.
Benintendi told reporters he’s having an MRI on his injured knee on Thursday. In his lone start vs. the Rays in 2014, Pomeranz pitched five scoreless innings, giving up only three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a 3-0 Oakland win. He has faced Boston twice this season, both at Fenway Park, allowing nine earned runs in nine innings spread across two starts. Manager John Farrell lifted him for reliever Matt Barnes, who got the next three outs, but Boston’s offense couldn’t rally.
LHP Drew Pomeranz will make his eighth start for the Red Sox on Thursday against Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi, who is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break.
Advertisement
Rays: RHP Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will make his final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Durham and hopes to have his first major league appearance in nearly two years during a series September 2-4 against Toronto.
