Tampa Bay could not finish off a series win over their division rivals, as Eduardo Rodriguez and Garrett Richards combined to throw a five-hit shutout, blanking the Tampa Bay ays 4-0 Thursday at Tropicana Field.
Boston tallied for two-out runs in each of the first two innings off Rays starter Shane McClanahan after the leadoff hitter was able to reach safely to begin the inning. In the first, Hunter Renfroe singled, then moved to second on a base hit by Rafael Devers, and scored on a base hit by Bobby Dalbec. And in the second, Danny Santana drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jack Lopez, and scored on a base hit by Renfroe.
Meanwhile, Rays bats just could not figure out the Red Sox starter, who did not allow a hit until the third and had faced the minimum through four.
Boston jumped on McClanahan for two more runs in the fifth after Jonathan Arauz walked to lead off and Kyle Schwarber singled with one out, as J.D. Martinez and Dalbec each drove in a run with a base hit.
Rodriguez allowed just four runs in six innings of work, and Richards worked the final three innings to earn the save, his second of the year.
Wander Franco did extend his on-base streak to 33 consecutive games with a walk in the seventh inning, but he would be removed from the game due to a headache, and manager Kevin Cash said after the game that the 20-year-old shortstop would be monitored for concussion symptoms.
Tampa Bay will welcome the Minnesota Twins to St. Petersburg for a three-game series beginning Friday night, as Michael Wacha (2-4, 5.70 ERA) will get the start, taking on Randy Dobnak (1-6, 7.83 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
