Red Sox Wrap: Boston’s Offense Goes Out Quietly In Loss To Rays

BOSTON -- The Red Sox dropped the first of their final three games of 2024 to the Rays, 2-1, at Fenway Park on Friday night.

With the loss, Boston dropped to 80-80 while Tampa Bay improved to 79-81.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Red Sox manager Alex Cora simplified the team's objective coming into its final three games of the season: play hard until the very end.

Nick Pivetta, in what could be the right-hander's final start in a Boston uniform before entering free agency this offseason, took note of Cora's wishes and delivered. Pivetta surrendered just two runs in a quality outing, walking off Fenway Park's mound and receiving a much-deserved round of applause from Boston's most loyal in attendance.

The offense, however, couldn't scrap across enough runs to support Pivetta.

Boston collected just three hits before plating home its first run of the night, tallying zero while Pivetta stood on the bump. Tampa Bay's Taj Bradley matched Pivetta's energy and outdueled the right-hander by holding the Red Sox scoreless across six innings of work before handing the remaining three off to the bullpen.

Aside from a crowd-uplifting one-run rally in the seventh inning, Boston's bats didn't have much to show for, regardless of who Tampa Bay pitched. The Red Sox went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, committed their American League-leading 113th error of the season and struck out nine times as the first five hitters of the lineup went a combined 2-for-19 with seven strikeouts.

With one down, the Red Sox have two left to go before the official end of 2024.

STARS OF THE GAME
-- Pivetta provided the Red Sox faithful with a final on-brand performance before closing the door on 2024 once and for all, giving Boston 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball while surrendering four hits and one walk, recording six strikeouts.

-- Bradley was elite for Tampa Bay, pitching six shutout innings while allowing just three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts tallied. The 23-year-old hurler improved his ERA to 4.11 to conclude his 2024 campaign with the Rays.

-- Red Sox slugger Triston Casas was responsible for recording the club's only extra-base hits (a double) of the night, finishing the contest 1-for-4 at the plate.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox and Rays will play their second-to-final game of the season on Saturday evening. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET, and You can catch the game, plus a full hour of pregame coverage, live on NESN.