The scuffling Red Sox offense did something that hasn't been done in 125 years in Thursday's loss to Tampa.
The Boston Red Sox fell to 27-39 on Thursday afternoon after their comeback bid fell short in a 7-5 loss, as the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Tropicana Field. In the loss, the Red Sox's first three batters accomplished something that hasn’t been done in 125 years.
Some not so good history
Boston’s first three hitters, left fielder Jarren Duran, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and right fielder Wilyer Abreu, went a combined 0-for-9 with nine strikeouts in their first three at-bats each. According to NESN play-by-play man Dave O’Brien, that marks the first time since 1901 that a team has had its first three hitters all strike out in their first three at-bats.
A rough start to June
The history-making performance is just the latest in a brutal start to June for the Red Sox offense, which entered Thursday’s loss in the bottom two in baseball in runs scored (22), batting average (.218), on-base percentage (.252), slugging percentage (.354), OPS (.606), and home runs (five) for the month.
After striking out 15 times on Thursday afternoon, Red Sox batters now have a 24.1-percent strikeout rate in the month, a nearly five percent rise from the 19.8 percent rate they entered the day with.
To make matters worse, the Boston offense had gone 79 straight at-bats without working a walk until shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was issued a free pass in the eighth inning of Thursday’s loss.
Circling the drain
With the loss, the Red Sox wrap up a crucial stretch of eight straight games against American League East opponents with a record of 2-6, averaging only 3.3 runs per game.
With a record of 27-39, Boston now finds itself 12 games under .500 for the first time since the disastrous 2020 season, and 13.5 games back of Tampa for first place in the American League East.
Despite being only five games back of Toronto for the third Wild Card spot in the American League, the Red Sox would now have to jump eight other American League foes to get into that playoff spot.
After a week of reports stating the Red Sox were aggressively pursuing lineup help ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, it's looking more and more like they'll be selling off key pieces rather than adding them.
The Red Sox will look to regroup back in Boston during Thursday's off-day before opening a three-game set with the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on Friday night. Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.20 ERA) will get the start for the Red Sox, while Texas has yet to name a starter for the series opener. First pitch from Fenway set for 7:10 p.m. ET. on Friday night.
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