Red Sox Miss Key Chances as Rays Steal Crucial 5–3 Win
BOSTON — Fenway Park held its breath with every crack of the bat, but the Red Sox never found the knockout blow. Boston stranded 12 runners in a 5–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night, a defeat that tightened the American League wild card race and left the Red Sox searching for answers as October looms.
The game began with promise. Rafael Devers ripped a run-scoring double in the first inning, and Boston worked deep counts against Rays starter Aaron Civale. Yet each rally fizzled. Bases loaded in the third? A sharp groundout. Two men on in the fifth? A double-play ball. By the time the final out settled into Randy Arozarena’s glove, the Red Sox had gone 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
“We had plenty of chances,” manager Alex Cora said. “We just didn’t cash in, and that’s the difference at this time of year.”
Tampa Bay capitalized on Boston’s missed opportunities with quiet efficiency. Isaac Paredes delivered a two-run homer off Nick Pivetta in the fourth, and Yandy Díaz added an RBI double in the seventh to stretch the lead. The Rays’ bullpen, anchored by Pete Fairbanks, slammed the door with two scoreless frames to secure the win.
Boston’s pitching staff battled but couldn’t overcome the offensive drought. Pivetta struck out seven in five innings but allowed four runs on six hits. The bullpen kept it close, but the lineup’s inability to convert traffic into runs defined the night.
Despite the loss, the Red Sox remain within reach of a playoff spot, but the cushion is razor-thin. The defeat trimmed their lead in the wild card standings to a single game, with several contenders surging behind them. With fewer than two weeks left in the regular season, every at-bat takes on outsized importance.
Veterans stressed the need to move forward quickly. “We know what’s on the line,” Devers said. “We can’t dwell on this. Tomorrow is another chance.”
Boston’s immediate challenge is consistency at the plate. Over their last ten games, the Red Sox have hit just .214 with runners in scoring position, a slump that threatens to undo months of steady progress. Cora hinted at possible lineup adjustments, but emphasized execution over strategy. “It’s not about changing everything,” he said. “It’s about getting the big hit when it matters.”
The series concludes Thursday with Tanner Houck set to start. A strong outing and an early offensive jolt could help Boston reclaim momentum before a critical weekend matchup against a division rival.
For now, the Red Sox leave Fenway frustrated but not defeated. The path to October remains open, but the margin for error has disappeared. To keep their postseason dreams alive, Boston’s bats must ignite—and soon.
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