Rays 0, Red Sox 4: Shutout for the series split

After winning the first two games, the Rays will try and bounce back from losing last night’s game in an attempt to win the four-game series against the Red Sox. Shane McClanahan is on the mound for the Rays against Eduardo Rodriguez.

McClanahan’s first inning saw him allow the game’s first run after Hunter Renfroe hit a leadoff single and was brought home by a Bobby Dalbec RBI single.

McClanahan’s second inning saw him allow the game’s second run after Hunter Renfroe hit an RBI single to make it 2-0.

Eduardo Rodriguez worked two hitless innings for the Red Sox before Mike Zunino was finally able to get a hit across for the Rays, leading off in the bottom of the third. Jordan Luplow grounded into a double play to erase that opportunity for the offense.

McClanahan’s third and fourth innings were much better, getting a double play and not allowing any further runs. That would not continue in the fifth inning.

Jonathan Arauz drew a leadoff walk for Boston and moved up to second on a Kyle Schwarber single. JD Martinez singled to plate Arauz and Bobby Dalbec singled after that to score Schwarber, making it 4-0 Red Sox. McClanahan struck out Christian Vazquez to get out of the fifth.

Two more Rays hitters were struck out in the bottom of the fifth, and in the top of the sixth, Adam Conley entered to replace McClanahan after a less-than-ideal start. Despite allowing four runs on eight hits with two walks, McClanahan struck out eight and threw 88 pitches over five innings of work.

Conley did his job, not allowing any runs despite two walks and a hit, but he did strike out two in his 1.2 innings of work. Shawn Armstrong relieved Conley in the top of the seventh and struck out Bobby Dalbec.

Wander Franco extended his on-base streak to 33 games in the bottom of the seventh, but was quickly removed from the game with a headache.

Armstrong stayed in to strike out another batter in a scoreless eighth before making way to JP Feyereisen, who pitched a hitless top of the ninth.

Joey Wendle started the bottom of the ninth with a single, but after Yandy Didz struck out, Manuel Margot grounded into a fielder’s choice with Joey Wendle out at second. Brandon Lowe flew out to end this one, Rays losing 4-0.

It was far from a pretty game to watch, as the offense couldn’t bring home a run and McClanahan had a start he would like to improve from, but the bullpen did well to keep the game within reach. The Rays stay at home and begin a new, three-game series with the Minnesota Twins tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm. Michael Wacha will face Randy Dobnak in a battle between struggling starting pitchers.