An 8-2 loss on Wednesday snapped the Boston Red Sox’s six-game win streak. It was the fourth-consecutive time that Boston lost a game after failing to score more than three runs.
Perhaps the 90-minute rain delay prior to the start of Wednesday’s contest killed the Red Sox’s torrid momentum. During their six-game win streak, they’ve put up at least 10 hits and six runs. For as long as their offense gets it going, it’s hard to stop them from lighting up the scoreboard.
While getting their offensive groove back is no guarantee, the Sox can still take comfort from the fact that ace Chris Sale (11-3, 2.61 ERA) set to start Thursday’s four-game series opener against the Rays. Sale’s 166 strikeouts for the season is best in the majors and he’s won 10 of his last 11 starts that led to a decision for him.
The Red Sox also shouldn’t be rattled as much from their recent loss, even if they’re entering their seventh of 10 games on the road prior to the All-Star break. They’ve won eight of their last 12 meetings against the Rays played in Tropicana Field.
Failing to complete a two-game road sweep themselves are the Tampa Bay Rays, who fell to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, 7-3.
The Rays got all of their offensive production only from the first four players on the batting order, with the remaining five hitters going a combined 0-for-16 with four strikeouts. Logan Morrison, who bats at the clean-up spot and had two hits on Wednesday for his fourth multi-hit outing in 10 games, needs more help from those that succeed him at the plate.
Morrison, the man with the fourth-most homers in the AL, may find the help he seeks not from his fellow batters, but rather his team’s next starting pitcher. Jacob Faria (3-0, 2.23 ERA) has been quite a revelation this season as the first pitcher to string together five-consecutive quality starts in his big league debut. Faria’s main strength is his ability to contain lefties, having allowed just seven hits in 30 at-bats against such hitters. In turn, a third of Boston’ batting order consisting of southpaws Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mitch Moreland are bound to struggle.
Then again, the Rays rarely capitalize on having home-field advantage. They lost two-straight and are 4-4 in their last eight homestands.
