The Tampa Bay Rays lead for first place in the American League East shrunk by half a game following a 4-2 loss to the division-rival Boston Red Sox on Sept. 18 at Tropicana Field. Rays starting pitcher Ian Seymour allowed a season-high seven hits, giving up four runs through five innings.
After the first inning, it was clear that the game appeared to be a back-and-forth affair.
The game’s first home run was off the bat of Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, who struck Seymour’s third pitch of the game 438 feet down the middle. Rays third baseman Junior Caminero responded the ensuing frame, hitting an RBI groundout to score Yandy Diaz to make it 1-1.
The Rays did not reach home again until an RBI groundout from first baseman Jonathan Aranda to score outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. in the ninth.
Ever since Caminero’s walk-off home run to open the Athletics series with a 3-1 win on Sept. 15, the Rays have not gone yard once.
Staring down a three-game home run drought for the third time this season, Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez may have been the worst pitcher Tampa Bay could have faced.
Suarez’s nine homers allowed through 143.1 total innings ties pitchers Chris Sale (ATL), and Walbert Urena (LAA) for the fewest home runs allowed through as many innings. Rays manager Kevin Cash noted before the game that the Rays wouldn’t face Suárez until the teams’ 10th matchup of the season.
“I think it’s pretty unique that as much as we’ve played [Boston], we have not seen Ranger Suarez yet,” Cash said.
While Suarez held the Rays’ sluggers to just three hits while pitching five strikeouts over 5.2 innings, Boston’s lineup got to work.
Anthony scored again in the second, smacking a single that brought home third baseman Kalen Durbin and shortstop Trevor Story. One inning later, Red Sox hitter Jahmai Jones sent a Seymour changeup 414 feet the other way for Boston’s fourth run.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, the Rays were one base-hit away from getting back in the game. Red Sox reliever Wyatt Olds had other ideas, fanning Rays outfielder Jake Fraley on a full count to finish the frame.
The Rays attempted a final push in the ninth sparked by several wild pitches from Red Sox reliever Erik Miller that set up Aranda’s RBI groundout and loaded the bases for Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson.
Three innings after Fraley’s sixth-inning strikeout, a Rays batter once more faced loaded bases with a full count and two outs. Simpson also could not get on base, grounding out at second to end the game.
Not all ended poorly for Simpson, who stole his career-high 45th base in the sixth. Simpson is now just one shy of tying Washington Nationals second baseman Nasim Nunez for the major league lead.
The Rays will attempt to even the series on Sept. 19 at 4:10 p.m. EST.