Through two games at Fenway Park, it certainly appears that poor defense is contagious. The Rays and Red Sox started this series on opposite ends of the defensive spectrum. The Rays were arguably the best defensive team in baseball and the Red Sox were the worst. Through two games, they both look like bottom-tier defensive teams. The defense from both teams has been far from routine and has too often looked downright bad.
Unfortunately for the Rays tonight, a rare first inning mishap in the outfield led to two early runs and eventually a two-run defeat.
Ryan Pepiot got the start for the Rays opposite Lucas Giolito. For Pepiot, he was making his 14th start of the season. Across the previous 13, the Rays had played to a 5-8 record despite consistently strong efforts from the righty.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Rafael Devers lofted a ball softly out to right-center field. It was catchable all the way but landed in between the center fielder Mangum and right fielder Josh Lowe. Neither were more than five feet from the ball. Pepiot bounced back with his second strikeout of the inning, but then surrendered a two-out double to Narvaez setting up second and third for MLB’s #1 prospect, Roman Anthony. The 21-year-old quickly lined a ball down the line in left for his first career hit. both runners scored and the Red Sox took an early 2-0 lead.
That lead would be enough as the Rays bats were held to just three hits. Sure, there was some poor luck at play and near misses by Brandon Lowe, Morel, and Aranda, but at the end of the day they were held to just three hits and one run. That one run came in the fifth inning after a two-out line drive up the middle off the bat of Yandy Diaz could not be corralled by the second baseman Campbell. Caballero scored on the hit and at the time, the lead was cut to 2-1.
Despite exhaustive work in the first few frames for Pepiot was able to settle in and provide the Rays with some length after it seemed he might only go four innings. He pitched into the sixth and with two outs surrendered a solo blast to Trevor Story that cleared the Green Monster. After a career high 108 pitches over 5.2 innings of work, Pepiot’s night was done. His surrendered three runs on five hits, walked a pair, and struck out nine. He took the loss moving his record on the year to 3-6.
Despite an up-and-down start to his season, Giolito was solid for the Red Sox and delivered some much needed length going six strong innings, allowing just one unearned run. He walked three and struck out four. He left with his second win of the year and lowered his ERA on the season to 5.45.
Giolito was able to keep the Rays hitters off balance all night. Garrett Whitlock followed and tossed a pair of shutout innings and punched out three Rays batters in the process. Weissert worked an uneventful ninth inning and earned the save, his first of the year.
It was an unfortunate night for Pepiot. His line doesn’t do his work justice and again the Rays failed to provide run support. Again the Rays seemed to stray slight away from their brand of baseball and this time it cost them. Last night, they were able to sneak out of Fenway with a win. Tonight, they were not as lucky. Hopefully tomorrow the defense returns to form and the bats can get to Walker Buehler, who has been abysmal his last few times out.
