The Tampa Bay third baseman hit his 30th career home run – his third in the last week – against Boston to snap a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning, and the Rays came from behind to stun the Red Sox 4-3 in the second game of a three-game series. In June of 2015, Pedroia tore his right hamstring and was lost until September; by that time, the Red Sox were dead and buried in the playoff race.
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This time followed by a save from the Boston bats.
On Wednesday, almost every facet of the team struggled as the Red Sox handed the Rays a 8-6 loss to win the series and hand the Rays another losing month.
Wright, one of the pleasant surprises that have helped the Red Sox back into contention after another last-place finish, is 13-6 with a 3.18 ERA – 9-2, 3.62 in his last 14 starts.
Hanley Ramirez hit a homer in the fifth for Boston’s first run and added an RBI single in the sixth when Boston scored twice to take a 3-1 lead.
Bogaerts doubled during Boston’s two-run sixth inning that briefly put the Red Sox up 3-1.
So desperate was Farrell to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth, the 54-year-old skipper directed Sandy Leon, who is hitting.350 this season, to drop down a sacrifice bunt after Hanley Ramirez drew a leadoff walk to start the eighth inning with the score tied 6-6.
“Definitely the not hustling”, Cash said.
Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes’ walk-off home run was great, but his bat flip was even better.
Despite the bullpen stumbling to a 25th-ranked 4.70 ERA for the month of August, the Red Sox completed the month with a 17-13 record. If the wild card game took place at Camden Yards, it’s a place where Porcello gave up five runs over six innings earlier this year, and is only 1-4 with a 5.53 ERA in his career. The blast was his 19th this season.
Moncada signed with Boston for $31.5 million in February 2015 in a deal that cost the Red Sox $63 million due to a tax penalty on global amateur free agents.
The Rays made it 4-1 on Kiermaier’s single in the fourth, but they could have had another if Tim Beckham hadn’t slowed up along the third base line on the way home. “We have six guys, all with the reason to be starters”, Cash said. “That’s required of us and probably the easiest part to do in baseball”.
Kimbrel pitched a flawless ninth for his 24th save. “Just missing. Got behind in the count”. One out later, Brad Miller hit a shot off the glove of Pedroia for an RBI single.Pomeranz settled down and the Red Sox were doing nothing against Odorizzi, who faced the minimum 12 batters through four innings. TB starter Jake Odorizzi allowed all three runs on five hits and a pair of BB over six frames. “And then he dialed it up pretty good”. He threw 29 pitches Monday night and was brought back in Tuesday – with one social media report stating Brad Ziegler was sick and unavailable.
Red Sox: Manager John Farrell said RHP Koji Uehara (strained chest muscle) had another strong bullpen session.
Wright makes his second start since coming back from a shoulder injury suffered diving back into second base as a pinch runner in Los Angeles, gave up five runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out one, against the Kansas City Royals in his return last Friday night.
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Red Sox: Off Thursday, at Oakland on Friday with David Price (13-9) against Andrew Triggs (1-1).
