This time, Rays didn’t do all the right things, and fall to Red Sox

BOSTON — The Rays have done so much right during the remarkable recent run, in which they had a majors’ best 15-4 record, that it stands out starkly when they don’t.

That was the case Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox.

It wasn’t that they defended poorly, but not making a play on a first-inning line drive that landed in right-centerfield between Jake Mangum and Josh Lowe was a key factor in the loss.

It wasn’t that Ryan Pepiot pitched badly, but the two-run double he allowed to top prospect Roman Anthony and the loud home run he gave up to Trevor Story on his career-high 108th and final pitch in the sixth inning proved to be too much.

The Red Sox’s Trevor Story, right, is congratulated by Kristian Campbell after Story’s solo home run in the sixth inning. [ CHARLES KRUPA | Associated Press ]

And it wasn’t that the Rays failed miserably at the plate even though they had only three hits against Lucas Giolito and two relievers, but that they couldn’t force the action and get the big hit or break as they had been doing when needed.

“You’re not going to win every single one of them,” Pepiot said. “We talk about that all the time. 162 games. If you go 162-0, then there’s going to be something crazy going on in that clubhouse.

“It’s just about putting series wins together, stacking stuff on. We’re on a really, really good run right now, and one night tonight isn’t going to change that. We’re just going to continue (Wednesday), pick up and the bats get hot tomorrow. (Starter Zack) Littell will take the ball and pitch well. And full confidence in all the guys. …

“We just didn’t win tonight. But we’ll come back (Wednesday), win the series and then head to New York.’’

The loss dropped the Rays to 36-31 and requires a win Wednesday to extend their streak of series without a loss to seven.

Pepiot wasn’t feeling well, noticeably congested and his voice scratchy, but, as typical of him, said there were no excuses as he worked into the sixth, allowing the three runs, five hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Even though he wasn’t feeling the best, Ryan Pepiot still worked into the sixth inning for the Rays. [ CHARLES KRUPA | Associated Press ]

“No matter how I feel, I’m going to go out there,” Pepiot said. “This team puts in so much effort. I just want to go out there and give my best for them and play for every single one of the guys in this room.

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“No matter what, I’m taking the ball. Get through the fifth at 90 pitches, and I was like, ‘I’m going out for the sixth.’ I walked in. I said, ‘I’m good. Send me out there.’ ”

Pepiot also tried to take the blame for Boston’s two-run first, as he allowed the two-out double to Carlos Narvaez that put two runners in scoring position, and then the two-run double to Anthony on a changeup that was off the plate where he wanted to throw it, as he needed 29 pitches to get three outs.

“You don’t ever want to put the guys behind the eight ball, and I did that (Tuesday),” he said. “(They) went ahead two runs, we lose.”

But the Red Sox were in position for that rally because of the ball No. 2 hitter Rafael Devers swatted that neither Mangum nor Lowe caught, one of a couple missed plays on Tuesday that stood out given how dazzling the Rays defense has been.

Manager Kevin Cash said he saw it as “one of those tweener balls that just split them kind of perfectly” and may not have been catchable.

The Rays’ Jose Caballero, right, looks back, passing Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez, while scoring on a single by Yandy Díaz during the fifth inning. [ CHARLES KRUPA | Associated Press ]

But Lowe called it “a mistake” by both outfielders.

“It’s not his fault. It’s not my fault. Just like the last ball there (in the seventh inning). Ball goes in the air in the outfield, our job is to catch it,” Lowe said. “We need to do a better job of catching those balls, coming up with those plays, because right there’s the ballgame. Pep pitched as well as he did, and those two runs scored because of us.”

And Mangum insisted he should get the blame, having waited too long to call the ball, creating the costly uncertainty.

“I’ve got to have that. That’s on me. Pep pitched his butt off (Tuesday),” Mangum said. “I’ve got to have that ball. Late communication. Called it late. Got to call it earlier.”

How a Rays offense which has been among the majors’ best for three weeks didn’t do more against Giolito — who allowed seven runs in fewer than two innings in his last outing and had a 10.47 ERA in his first four home starts — is a good question.

Their frustration after Tuesday’s game was the balls they hit hard that didn’t fall as they had been — Christopher Morel’s 399-foot fly ball to the big part of centerfield, Brandon Lowe’s 397-foot flyout to right, Yandy Diaz’s 108.4-mph linger that Kristian Campbell got a glove on, limiting the Rays to one run in the fifth when they could have had two and tied the score.

This time, there would be no celebratory ending.

“Never at any point in the dugout did we think we were out of the game,” Josh Lowe said. “The hard-hit balls just didn’t go our way today. They scored more runs than us at the end of the day. They came up with the big hits. We didn’t. It’s baseball. Just go out and play tomorrow.”

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