“Boston’s offense ends quietly with loss to Rays”

BOSTON – The Red Sox lost the first of their final three games of 2024, 2-1, to the Rays on Friday night at Fenway Park.

The loss dropped Boston to 80-80, while Tampa Bay improved to 79-81.

Check out the full box score here.

A LARGE TAKEAWAY
Red Sox manager Alex Cora simplified the team’s goal heading into the final three games of the season: play hard until the end.

Nick Pivetta, who made perhaps the right-hander’s last start in a Boston uniform before leaving in free agency this offseason, took note of Cora’s wishes and fulfilled them. Giving up just two runs in a first-class game, Pivetta walked off the mound at Fenway Park and received well-deserved applause from Boston’s most loyal crowd.

However, the offense couldn’t score enough runs to support Pivetta.

Boston mustered just three hits before making its first run of the night and scoring zero points with Pivetta on the mound. Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley matched Pivetta’s energy and outplayed the right-hander, holding the Red Sox scoreless for six innings before turning it over to the bullpen for the remaining three innings.

Aside from a stirring one-run rally in the seventh inning, Boston’s bats didn’t have much to show for it no matter who Tampa Bay fielded. The Red Sox went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, committed an American League-leading 113th error of the season, and recorded nine strikeouts while the first five batters in the lineup combined for a 2-2. Posted a 19-for-1 record with seven strikeouts.

With one down, the Red Sox have two left before the official end of 2024.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Pivetta gave Red Sox faithful one last trademark performance before closing the door on 2024 for good, giving Boston 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball while giving up four hits, a walk and recording six strikeouts .

– Bradley was elite for Tampa Bay, pitching six shutout innings but allowing just three hits and one walk while tallying seven strikeouts overall. The 23-year-old hurler improved his ERA to 4.11 to complete his 2024 season with the Rays.

– Red Sox slugger Triston Casas was responsible for recording the club’s only extra-base hits (a double) of the night, finishing 1-for-4 at the plate.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox and Rays will play their second-to-last game of the season on Saturday evening. First pitch at Fenway Park is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. You can watch the game, as well as a full hour of pre-game coverage, live on NESN.