Bogaerts has 4 of Boston’s 16 hits in 11-2 win over Rays
![Bogaerts has 4 of Boston's 16 hits in 11-2 win over Rays 1 Bogaerts](https://www.bostonglobe.com/resizer/uxteP89y-N6iWW3O7dOt1BE_8Y4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-bostonglobe/public/67GAS765IAZC4OV2BC7QDLAIW4.jpg)
Tampa Bay got three singles in the eighth before Darwinzon Hernandez walked Manuel Margot and pinch-hitter Yandy Díaz with the bases loaded to make it 7-2. But Hernandez fanned Willy Adames to satisfy the three-batter rule, then Adam Ottavino struck out Mike Brosseau on a 3-2 slider to end the threat. Michael Wacha (0-1) was charged with five runs – four earned – on eight hits and two walks, striking out six in five innings. The reigning AL champions have lost two straight since opening the season with back-to-back wins over the Marlins.
The Red Sox were outscored 18-5 in the opening series against Baltimore, which finished fourth in the AL East last year – one game ahead of Boston. And things didn’t look to improve against the defending division champs, who had won 13 of 14 at Fenway Park since August 2018. But Pivetta, acquired from the Phillies last season, held Tampa Bay hitless for the first three innings and was staked to an early 1-0 lead.
Boston added two in the fourth, but it could have been more if not for Randy Arozarena’s diving leap to catch Renfroe’s liner to right-center. The Rays’ defense hurt them in the fifth, though, when Bogaerts hit a line drive to right-center with two on and one out that bounced off the bullpen wall.
Arozarena dove to grab the carom fired the ball into the cutoff man, and relayed it to catcher Mike Zunino, late and up the first-base line. Bogaerts broke for third on the throw, and Zunino threw the ball into left field, allowing the runner to trot to the plate.
VERSATILITY
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Marwin Gonzalez is the first major league since 1900 to start a team’s first four games of the season at four different fielding positions. He played left field, second base, and third base against the Orioles before starting at first on Monday. Last year, Jonathan Villar had four different positions to start the season, but one was designated hitter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier came out of the game in the middle of the third inning with left quadriceps tightness.
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez threw a bullpen session on Monday to come off the injured list. Rodriguez, slated to pitch the opener before suffering from a dead arm in spring training, could be eligible as soon as Thursday. … Bogaerts remained in the game at SS after a glancing brush with 3B Rafael Devers going for a ball in the hole.
UP NEXT
Red Sox LHP Martín Pérez makes his 2021 debut against Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Sign up for Daily Newsletters
Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC.