The Red Sox were Stoned at that embarrassment of a ball field Down in Tampa Bay last night 5-0. Unable to push a single runner across home after out-hitting the Rays 9-6 , Where the Red Sox fell short was failing to take advantage of those 9 hits. Going just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Boston left eight men on base in game one.
Opportunities Lost
The Sox best chance to get on the board came in the eighth, when they loaded the bases with one out and Rafael Devers and Hunter Renfroe due up. However, Devers, who is obviously hurting, whiffed at three 90 plus mph fastballs and Renfroe popped out in foul ground against reliever JP Feyereisen, leaving the Red Sox grabbing their asses for what felt like the three hundredth time this season with the bases jacked.
#RedSox can’t cash in on bases loaded, one out situation in the 8th. Just not their night. — Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) October 8, 2021
After the game Red Sox Manager Alex Cora talked about not taking advantage of those opportunities
“We had traffic out there. We just didn’t cash in,” Cora said. “Bobby [Dalbec] hit a few missiles with men on. Obviously in the eighth, we loaded the bases. There were some good at-bats in the middle of the game. Grinding at-bats. Others were kind of empty. Overall, we did a pretty good job — hitting line drives and staying in the middle of the field.”
Bobby D almost had a night
Bobby Dalbec had three hard-hit balls in Thursday’s game, but all three seemed to find their way straight to Rays fielders. With runners on first and second and no outs in the second, Dalbec’s hard-hit ball resulted in a 4-6-3 double play. Again in the 4th with runners at first and second, Dalbec hit a line drive right at Rays third baseman Yandy Diaz, who barely had to move his glove to make the play. In his best plate appearance a seven-pitch at-bat in the 7th, Dalbec hit a shot to right that was caught at the warning track, A frustrating 0’fer on -3 hard-hit balls for the game.
Bobby Dalbec's Three Outs Today: 105.3 MPH, .580 xBA 104.3 MPH, .640 xBA 98.4 MPH, .370 xBA Nelson Cruz Homerun: 105 MPH, .430 xBA — HVT (@redsoxandstuff) October 8, 2021
Christian Arroyo. went 2-for-3 hitting out of the nine hole. With singles in the 5th and 8th innings helped set the table for top of the order. but it didn’t pay dividends, Arroyo liked the team’s ability to get hits. He believes the difference in the game was the Rays’ ability to get extra-base hits.
Boston didn’t walk in the contest – or get a single extra base hit on the night.
“I think looking back, we left eight on base or something like that. Obviously in situations like this, you’ve got to score runners,” Arroyo said. “As an offense, I thought we did a good job of getting our knocks. But you’ve got to have that blow. Arozarena hit a homer. Nelson Cruz hit a homer. They started off the first inning with a couple knocks, RBIs, and stuff. We just didn’t have that gut-punching blow with runners in scoring position to get that stuff going. It’s baseball.”
Cora seemed optimistic in his team’s offense going into game 2. Reminding reporters J.D. Martinez, who missed Game 1 and the Wild Card Game due to an ankle injury, has “a strong possibility” of returning to the lineup Friday, He also has his ace, Chris Sale, taking the mound on for game two of this five game set.
Alex Cora: "We're good, I loved the at-bats [in Game 1]… we got Chris [Sale] and he's ready to go." Chin up Red Sox fans, it's officially 'Sale day' 🙌 pic.twitter.com/oco0TL1EvN — NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) October 8, 2021
“We’re good. I loved the at-bats today,” Cora said. “Like I said, we put some pressure on them. They made some plays. We hit some balls hard. But we’ve got Chris and he’s ready to go. Our bullpen is rested. We’re OK.”
In a five game series it’s important to get a split when your on the short end of the five. Lets hope the sox do a better job of working counts and driving in runs tonight.
As always you can follow / give me grief on Twitter @Tmurph207