Rays 4, Red Sox 7: Price, Offense Come Up Short As Sox Extend Series Lead

The Red Sox can do no wrong and the Rays can do no run thus far in this series. That can happen over any two game span for either side. Unfortunately for the Rays it's not going in their favor.

David Price didn't pitch poorly, despite his final line. Don't get me wrong, he didn't pitch great by any means, but there were a lot of bloop hits and hits aided by the Green Monster that cost the Rays. Jacoby Ellsbury lead off the game with a broken bat bloop single to right field and eventually scored on a sac fly. David Ross lead off the third inning with a 310 ft double that was totally enabled by the Green Monster. That was followed by a bloop double just behind third base by Ellsbury, who once again got jammed but was able to find space. An error by Ben Zobrist while trying to turn a double play allowed Boston a baserunner they shouldn't have had, which came back to hurt the team when Stephen Drew hit another fly ball off the Monster scoring the run. Two balls that are outs at any other park in baseball instead score two runs.

Price would allow another run in the fifth before retiring the next seven batters he faced. David Ortiz would hit his second home run of the night to lead off the eighth, ending Price's night.

His gameplan was obvious from the start, pound lefties inside with fastballs and stay away from the inside against righties. He threw his curveball just twice, which was the same strategy he employed against the Rangers on Monday. The Red Sox happen to have better hitters than the Rangers and were able to time his fastballs pretty well. If there's one saving grace it's that he saved the bullpen by pitching seven innings. Jake McGee finished out the game.

The Rays had plenty of chances to get back into the game on offense but couldn't get the big hit they needed. They'd hit into inning ending double plays in the seventh and eighth with the tying run at the plate. On the night they were 2-8 with runners in scoring position. James Loney had the biggest hit of the night in the fifth when he doubled home two runs. Zobrist and Myers had the worst nights at the plate, going a combined 1-8 with eight men left on base.

As he did Wednesday night in Cleveland, Alex Cobb holds the Rays' season in his hands. His offspeed repertoire will hopefully be what the Rays need to calm the Sox's bats.