Rays fall to Rick Porcello, Red Sox in 5th straight loss
BOSTON (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays can't win anywhere lately.
Matt Moore paid for a couple of bad pitches, and the Boston Red Sox sent the Rays to their fifth straight loss overall and ninth in a row on the road, 4-1 on Saturday.
Moore was hoping to work the ball inside a couple of times, but it ran over the plate and led to four runs.
That was enough to send them to another loss.
"I think that wound up giving me some trouble pretty much the whole game," Moore said. "That's kind where it gets you. If you don't get it inside, it's probably going to run back. We can live with a miss in, but that was just another mistake."
Brad Miller hit a solo homer for the Rays, who have dropped 21 of 24.
Moore (5-6) gave up four runs, two of them unearned, in six innings. He held the Red Sox scoreless on three hits over seven innings in his last start against them, at home on June 29.
Tampa Bay's defense didn't help, either. Center fielder Steven Souza Jr. dropped Mookie Betts' fly on the track, putting runners on second and third before Dustin Pedroia's two-run single.
"Souza had a long run, it looked like," manager Kevin Cash said. "Ideally you'd like that play to be made. Then they came up and got a big hit."
On a day the Red Sox learned they lost closer Craig Kimbrel with a left knee injury for likely three to six weeks, they won for the fifth time in six games.
Rick Porcello pitched seven strong innings to remain unbeaten in Fenway Park this season and Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox.
Boston looks for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday when former Rays ace David Price is scheduled to pitch.
Porcello (11-2) allowed a run on six hits, striking out five and not walking anyone. He's 8-0 in nine Fenway starts.
Koji Uehara worked the ninth for his fourth save, second in two days.
Bogaerts' two-run homer came on a fastball that ran in and completely left Fenway over the Green Monster seats to make it 2-1 in the fourth. Pedroia's single came an inning later.
Miller's drive gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first. He has three career hits against Porcello, all solo homers.
The Red Sox replaced Kimbrel quickly, acquiring Diamondbacks closer Brad Ziegler early Saturday. He's expected to be with the team Sunday.
Kimbrel tore his medial meniscus shagging balls in the outfield Friday and is scheduled for surgery Monday.
HONOREE
The 100-year-old daughter of Babe Ruth -- Julia Ruth Stevens -- tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. She turned 100 on Thursday.
FALLING
The Rays (34-53) dropped 19 games under .500 for the first time since the end of 2007.
MORE ROAD WOES
Moore fell to 0-4 with a 5.93 ERA on the road despite going at least six innings for a career-high seventh straight start.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier (fractured left hand) worked out pregame. Manager Kevin Cash said he'll likely start a rehab assignment Monday and they hope to have him in the lineup Friday.
Red Sox: Manager John Farrell said Brock Holt, who left Friday's game with a sprained left ankle, isn't likely to play Sunday, but the team hopes to have him back Friday. Farrell also said 1B Hanley Ramirez was "sore." Ramirez was out of the lineup after fouling a ball off his left shin twice in the last few days.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-4, 4.33 ERA) is set to start the series finale on Sunday. He's looking to rebound from a rough start Tuesday when he gave up a season-high seven runs.
Red Sox: Price (8-6, 4.64) looks to snap a personal two-game losing streak. The lefty lost to his former team on June 29, giving up four runs in 6 1/3 innings.
