ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – The Red Sox fittingly finished up their season series with the Rays with a 7-4 loss at the Trop Monday night.
The Rays took the season series 12-7, meaning the Sox dropped to 12-26 against the Yankees and the Rays in 2019.
Boston jumped out to an early 4-0 lead but couldn’t hold on. The Rays pushed six men across home plate in the fourth inning by homering three times. Ji-Man Choi and Brandon Lowe took Sox starter Jhoulys Chacin deep before Willy Adames’ two-run shot off Bobby Poyner put Tampa ahead for good.
Mookie Betts delivered one of the defensive highlights of the season, gunning Avisail Garcia down at third base with a 305-foot rocket from right field.
Testing Mookie?
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 24, 2019
We don't recommend it. pic.twitter.com/bqlEo7P25V
J.D. Martinez drove in a run, his 100th RBI of the season. Jackie Bradley Jr., Rafael Devers, and Marco Hernandez also picked up RBIs.
With the win, the Rays moved a half game ahead of Cleveland for the second Wild Card spot in the American League.
The Red Sox now head to Texas where they will open up a series with the Rangers Tuesday night. Eduardo Rodriguez will take the ball looking for his 19th win of the season.