First-inning implosion costs Red Sox chance to punch own postseason ticket

The Boston Red Sox woke up on Sunday knowing they could punch their ticket to the postseason in one of two ways.

They could beat the Tampa Bay Rays in their series finale, or the Atlanta Braves could defeat the Houston Astros in theirs.

A first-inning shellacking put Boston’s fate in the Braves’ hands, as the Rays ultimately took the series with a 5-1 victory.

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval needed 40 pitches to complete the nine-batter frame. The first five Rays reached, and put up a 4-0 lead on back-to-back two-run base hits by centerfielder Jonny DeLuca (double) and left-fielder Chandler Simpson (single) before the Red Sox starter could record an out. Sandoval issued his second walk of the inning to Victor Mesa Jr. before finishing the frame and stranding two runners.

Then came a complete 180. Sandoval looked like a new man when he returned for the bottom of the second. He set the Rays down in order on eight pitches, then needed six to do so again in the third.

Sandoval retired eight consecutive Rays before Mesa homered with one out in the fourth to push the lead to five. But it marked Tampa Bay’s fourth and final hit of the day; Sandoval retired his last 11 batters, and newly-returned righty Tyron Guerrero extended the streak to 14 with a 1-2-3 eighth.

Yet the Red Sox, who left 17 men on base over the first two games of the series, were blanked by righty Griffin Jax and the Rays bullpen until a brief rally bid in the top of the ninth. Boston out-hit Tampa Bay 6-4, but went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and stranded six.

Roman Anthony led off the game with a groundball single to right, but he was erased and replaced when catcher Adley Rutschman popped into a force out. The Red Sox did not put another man on base until Rutschman singled with one out in the fourth, an opportunity quickly erased by shortstop Trevor Story grounding into an inning-ending double play.

Boston’s best chance came and went in Jax’s fifth and final frame, when they loaded the bases on a one-out single by third baseman Caleb Durbin, and walks to centerfielder Jarren Duran and right-fielder Nate Eaton. Jax, who had not exceeded 67 pitches in a start since Aug. 2, was up to 69 when Anthony came to bat with two outs and the bases loaded. It took five pitches to end the threat; Anthony swung and missed at Jax’s last two, a 95.3 mph sinker and 90.2 mph changeup.

Much like Saturday’s 2-1 loss, Boston had no hope against the Tampa Bay bullpen. The Red Sox went in order against Cole Sulser in the sixth, and Brody Hopkins in the seventh.

Facing 2025 Red Sox trade deadline acquisition Steven Matz in the eighth, Anthony doubled with two outs. Jahmai Jones came in to pinch-hit for designated hitter Mickey Gasper. Jones has dominated left-handed pitching since the Red Sox acquired him from the Detroit Tigers during the All-Star break, but Matz struck him out swinging on four pitches.

After his 40-pitch first, Sandoval completed his remaining six innings on a mere 54. He became just the fourth Red Sox pitcher in the last 26 years, and first since Rick Porcello in 2016, to pitch at least seven innings after giving up at least four runs in the first. Sandoval yielded five earned runs on four hits, walked two (both in the first), and struck out five over seven innings. He threw 73.4% of his 94 pitches for strikes.

Activated from the injured list Sunday morning, Guerrero was sharp in his first inning of work since Aug. 31. The towering righty retired the Rays’ No. 2-4 batters, including American League home-run leader Junior Caminero, in order on 12 pitches (nine strikes). Guerrero’s return will bolster a Boston bullpen currently without closer Aroldis Chapman (day-to-day with lat tightness), and righty Justin Slaten (season-ending flexor injury).

Story ensured the Red Sox would not be shut out. His fifth home run of the year, off righty Ty Johnson, soared 405 feet to left at 102.7 mph with one out in the ninth.

Thus concludes the final Red Sox road trip of the season. They went 2-4 against the Texas Rangers and Rays, were outscored 23-15, and left 42 men on base.

After an off-day Monday, their final homestand of the season begins Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.

But first, all eyes turn to the Braves and Astros.