BOSTON — The Purple Sox dropped the primary of their ultimate three video games of 2024 to the Rays, 2-1, at Fenway Park on Friday night time.
With the loss, Boston dropped to 80-80 whereas Tampa Bay improved to 79-81.
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ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora simplified the group’s goal coming into its ultimate three video games of the season: play exhausting till the very finish.
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Nick Pivetta, in what might be the right-hander’s ultimate begin in a Boston uniform earlier than coming into free company this offseason, took word of Cora’s needs and delivered. Pivetta surrendered simply two runs in a top quality outing, strolling off Fenway Park’s mound and receiving a much-deserved spherical of applause from Boston’s most loyal in attendance.
The offense, nevertheless, could not scrap throughout sufficient runs to help Pivetta.
Boston collected simply three hits earlier than plating residence its first run of the night time, tallying zero whereas Pivetta stood on the bump. Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley matched Pivetta’s power and outdueled the right-hander by holding the Purple Sox scoreless throughout six innings of labor earlier than handing the remaining three off to the bullpen.
Except for a crowd-uplifting one-run rally within the seventh inning, Boston’s bats did not have a lot to point out for, no matter who Tampa Bay pitched. The Purple Sox went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring place, dedicated their American League-leading 113th error of the season and struck out 9 instances as the primary 5 hitters of the lineup went a mixed 2-for-19 with seven strikeouts.
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With one down, the Purple Sox have two left to go earlier than the official finish of 2024.
STARS OF THE GAME
— Pivetta supplied the Purple Sox devoted with a ultimate on-brand efficiency earlier than closing the door on 2024 as soon as and for all, giving Boston 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball whereas surrendering 4 hits and one stroll, recording six strikeouts.
— Bradley was elite for Tampa Bay, pitching six shutout innings whereas permitting simply three hits and one stroll with seven strikeouts tallied. The 23-year-old hurler improved his ERA to 4.11 to conclude his 2024 marketing campaign with the Rays.
— Purple Sox slugger Triston Casas was answerable for recording the membership’s solely extra-base hits (a double) of the night time, ending the competition 1-for-4 on the plate.
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ON DECK AT NESN
The Purple Sox and Rays will play their second-to-final sport of the season on Saturday night. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET, and You’ll be able to catch the sport, plus a full hour of pregame protection, dwell on NESN.
