GAME #35, TAMPA BAY RAYS AT BOSTON RED SOX

[Bear]

RAYS V RED SOX

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017, 7PM AT FENWAY PARK

TV:  NESN, FOX SPORTS SUN

TAMPA, (17-20)..............................................................................BOSTON, (18-16)

TAMPA:

ALEX COBB, RHP, 2-3, 3.56ERA, 26K

Cobb allowed two runs on four hits and six walks in eight innings against the
Blue Jays on Sunday, but came away with the loss.  He's 1-1 with a 1.29ERA
over his last two starts.  In five career starts at Fenway Park, Cobb is 3-1 with a
3.14ERA.

BOSTON:

RICK PORCELLO, RHP, 2-4, 3.95ERA, 45K

Porcello is starting to pitch like he did last year.  The righty has a
1.69ERA in his last four starts.  Limiting his opponents to a .217 average,
he is 10-5 with a 3.53ERA lifetime against the Rays.

Boston pauses Interleague Play to host Rays

Ian Browne

The Red Sox will take a break between visits to National League Central opponents when they welcome a much more familiar foe -- the Rays -- for a three-game series that starts on Friday night at Fenway Park.

For Tampa Bay, it is the start of a six-game road trip against two of the most talented teams in the American League -- the Red Sox and Indians.

Friday night's matchup features two righties who have pitched well of late.
For Boston, Rick Porcello has recently displayed the same form he had last season when he won the AL Cy Young Award, posting a 1.69 ERA over his past four starts.

The Rays send Alex Cobb to the mound, and he has allowed just two earned runs over 14 innings in his past two outings.
"I'm going to be facing a good ballclub in a tough park," Cobb said. "As long as I feel like I'm taking care of what I need to do on the mound, and getting the ball on the ground and not in the air so much, it'll be a recipe for a successful outing. And hopefully, I'll be able to work deep into the game."

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS GAME

• In the middle of an eight-game stretch in which the Red Sox played three at Milwaukee and have two in St. Louis next week, these are the three games manager John Farrell can use the designated hitter. The hope is that Hanley Ramirez will be healthy enough to return to the lineup after sustaining a spasm in his upper right trap on Wednesday night.

• While the Red Sox don't visit Tropicana Field until July 6, this will be the second trip to Boston for the Rays. The Red Sox took three out of four from April 14-17, but all three victories were by three runs or fewer.

• Logan Morrison is a .417 career hitter against Porcello, with three doubles, a homer and five RBIs. Mitch Moreland has a double, a homer and three RBIs in 13 at-bats against Cobb.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170511229640318/boston-pauses-interleague-play-to-host-rays/?game_pk=490638

[ipot]

This looks like a low-scoring duel on paper.  Will Kimbrel be available after 20 pitches yesterday?

[Bill-806]

This looks like a low-scoring duel on paper.  Will Kimbrel be available after 20 pitches yesterday?

Kimbrel needs the night off before his arm falls off !!!  Go SOX home at the FENS !!

[Rob from Mass]

Tonight would be perfect timing for a Sox power filled game.No farting around .Simply bomb the wall and get a laugher.The pen needs a couple days off.

[elktonnick]

Amen to that

[Bear]

Game 35: Red Sox vs. Rays

Here are today’s lineups:

RED SOX (18-16)
   
Betts RF   TBA
Pedroia 2B   
Bogaerts SS   
Benintendi LF   
Young DH   
Moreland 1B   
Rutledge 3B   
Leon C   
Bradley Jr. CF
   
Pitching: RHP Rick Porcello (2-4, 3.95).   

[SeaBeachFred]

Just as long as we don't have to stomach and endure the Meatball in a hold situation where we know he sucks big time in that capacity.

[ipot]

XB ruins Cobb's no hitter in the 1st  8)

[markj]

Rutledge screwing up twice so far. Not the best 3B.

[Schloicka]

Error and passed ball cost runs. 2-0 TB.

[markj]

This game went south in a hurry.

[SeaBeachFred]

You see it as well as I do....THIS IS A REALLY SHITTY TEAM and it is going nowhere this season.  They don't hit consistently, the pitching is hot and cold, there is no leadership whatsoever either on the field or in the clubhouse, the manager is the worst in baseball, they make errors, run into stupid plays, their fundamentals are non-existent and anyone who still thinks this team can turn it around with a major change at the top is out of their collective gords.  WE STINK..PERIOD!!!!!

[markj]

Rays' Keystone Kops fielding has let the Sox get back into the game. Now 5-4 Rays.

[elktonnick]

The Sox may yet win this game, but this doesn't diminish the fact that this is an ill conceived team  The sox may have some very good ball players who hit for high averages but no one who really terrifies an opposing team.  Why is Bogaerts batting third?  He may hit for a high average but he has no consistent power.  What other team has a homerless hitter batting third? This line up has four lead off hitters and three guys who should be batting 9th when Rutledge plays.

[markj]

Well TB let them back in it, but even with those gifts, the Sox couldn't close it out.