The Boston Red Sox Sunday, July 9, 2017

* The Boston Globe

Red Sox bow to Rays

Peter Abraham

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rick Porcello walked off the mound in the eighth inning on Saturday having pitched one of his best games of the season. But it was not enough. The Red Sox wasted the strong performance in a 1-0 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays before a crowd of 23,419 at Tropicana Field.

With the Yankees beating the Brewers, the Sox had their lead in the division trimmed to 3½ games. The Red Sox face the Rays on Sunday afternoon before going into the All-Star break.

David Price faces Chris Archer. The Sox are 6-3 on their road trip but have losses in three of the last four games. They had only three hits on Saturday. Porcello (4-11) allowed one run on six hits over eight innings. He struck out seven without a walk. He threw 80 of 111 pitches for strikes and was in command of the game throughout.

It was one of the few times this season that Porcello pitched to the level he did in 2016 when he won the American League Cy Young Award. The Sox had two hits off Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb over 7⅔ innings.

Down, 1-0, going into the ninth, they rallied against closer Alex Colome. Xander Bogaerts drew a one-out walk and went to second when Mitch Moreland doubled to right field. For the first time in the game, the Sox had runners in scoring position. Hanley Ramirez had a chance to heroics but struck out on four pitches. The Rays intentionally walked Andrew Benintendi to get to Chris Young. Young got ahead in the count 2 and 1 but popped up to shortstop to end the game.

Xander Bogaerts was back in the lineup after missing all but one inning of the first two games of the series. He was hit in the right hand by a pitch in the first inning on Friday night but recovered quickly.

“Xander was adamant about playing,” manager John Farrell said before the game.

Bogaerts reached on an infield single in his first at-bat and that represented a significant chunk of the Red Sox offense over the first seven innings against Alex Cobb.

Mookie Betts singled with two outs in the third inning before Dustin Pedroia grounded out.

Mitch Moreland reached on an error with one out in the seventh inning. With the Rays in a shift, he grounded a ball into shallow right field. Second baseman Brad Miller was there but bobbled the ball.

Cobb retired Hanley Ramirez on a popup to Miller. Andrew Benintendi then grounded out to Miller.

Cobb walked Sandy Leon with one out in the eighth inning. After Tzu-Wei Lin lined out to right field, Rays manager Kevin Cash went to Colome to face Mookie Betts.

With Cobb at 111 pitches, Cash wanted a fresh arm. It was the right move as Betts was retired on a fly ball to center field.

Porcello put seven runners on in the first five innings but allowed one run.

That came in the second inning. Steven Souza Jr. led off with a single and went to second when Miller second.

Adeiny Hechavarria grounded to shortstop and the Red Sox turned a double play. Or at least they did until a replay challenge by the Rays resulted in Hechavarria being safe at first.

Porcello hit Shane Peterson with a pitch to load the bases. A fly ball to center field by Sucre was deep enough for a sacrifice fly.

Porcello was otherwise effective in what was his best start in two months. He struck out Logan Morrison with a runner on third to end the first inning. He then struck out Morrison in the fifth inning, again with a runner on third.

Mallex Smith had a triple with two outs in the seventh inning. But Porcello got All-Star Corey Dickerson to ground to Bogaerts, who made a jump throw from the hole that Moreland dug out.

Dave Dombrowski faces tough decisions ahead

Nick Cafardo

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Dave Dombrowski will return home to Boston after Sunday’s game and watch his son play some baseball games while mulling tough moves he’ll need to make for the Red Sox roster.

While Dombrowski spoke in generalities in his final meeting with the media before the All-Star break, he did say definitively that the Red Sox were not going to engage in the pitching market. Dombrowski cited the improvement in David Price and the return of Eduardo Rodriguez as reasons why he believes the Red Sox will be OK on the starting pitching front.

There’s no doubt his pitching moves have paid off well with Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, and Craig Kimbrel playing huge roles in the team’s climb to first place in the AL East. He was also very aware the team has clicked with the current third base platoon of Tzu Wei-Lin — as threeTaiwanese TV crews peppered him with questions concerning Lin’s future with the Sox — and Deven Marrero.

“You always have some of that thought on your mind when a club is clicking together and winning together, but there are decisions that you have to make and need to make,” said Dombrowski. “You always look at everything. The young guys who have come up, I tip my cap to them, they’ve done very well.”

Dombrowski is preparing for upcoming decisions; Pablo Sandoval needs to return by July 16, ending his 20-day rehab assignment, and Brock Holt has to come off his rehab assignment four days after that. While he doesn’t have to break up the Lin/Marrero platoon right away (he can send Sam Travis down to Pawtucket when Sandoval is ready), he will have to deal with that when Holt returns.

Another option would be to designate Sandoval for assignment, a subject Dombrowski would not address. Eating the remaining $50 million or so of Sandoval’s contract is above Dombrowski’s pay grade. He could recommend it, but that would have to be an ownership decision. Whether he’s already done that or not is anyone’s guess. But while Dombrowski heaps praise on Lin and Marrero, he also knows the facts of life concerning long-term contracts and what they mean to a roster.

“The unfortunate part is that you reach the point where you have to make a decision because of time frames that are involved,” Dombrowski said. “You’ve got disabled list reinstatements that can’t be stretched, you’re forced to make a decision. These guys have done a tremendous job for us. They’ve played very well for us to this point, but you’re forced to make decisions based on time frames.”

On the other hand Dombrowski warns of “taking things for granted” and not helping the team when the opportunity arises. There are plenty of ways to help your team — from acquiring a third baseman such as Martin Prado or Todd Frazier to dealing for a reliever such as Pat Neshek or Joaquin Benoit.

Dombrowski reiterated that Lin and Marrero have “stabilized the position and provided some help for us, but you’re always cognizant of trying to help your club anyway you can.

“I just don’t want to single that spot out, but I am a believer that if you’re going to do anything to help your club, you need to do it by the 31st of July because after that you don’t have control of your own destiny,” he said. “Sometimes guys get through waivers but we’re not at the top of that waiver claim process. If you’re going to do something you need to do it before that date.”

Dombrowski is sensing that most teams “are waiting for the last week.” And he said it’s always tricky trying to identify what your team needs and whether you should do anything at all.

“I’ve been in all situations at this point in my career,” Dombrowski said. “If you’re playing well that’s good. We’re second in batting average but not in runs scored, but we’ve been scoring more runs of late, we’re second in earned run average. Our defense, which wasn’t good early in the season, is very good lately. I read where we’re the first- or second-ranked team defensively in MLB since the middle of May.”

The bullpen could be an area to improve. In a perfect world, Carson Smith would play a role, but there’s uncertainty about his return.

Dombrowski cited the superb seasons of Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly, and Kimbrel, plus the unexpected contribution of Blaine Boyer. He also said Doug Fister, who will get a start in next Sunday’s doubleheader against the Yankees, will then slip into the bullpen to give the Sox a long man.

All things considered, Dombrowski is pleased by how things have unfolded in the first half.

“I think we’ve come together as a club,” he said. “We’ve played much better the last six weeks. We put ourselves in position where we control our own destiny which is always a good thing. As we’ve gotten healthier and have a chance to get even healthier, our overall performance from pitching to offense to defense, has gotten better.”

Dombrowski was also asked about evaluating John Farrell’s performance and politely indicated “I’m not in a position to evaluate a manager publicly.” But he did offer that Farrell has done a good job with the team, has brought along young players, and has worked well with the front office.

In the end, Dombrowski will likely do something at the trade deadline. It’s simply in his DNA but he will likely not give away what remains of the top prospects on the farm. He did that for Sale, Pomeranz, and Kimbrel. Those deals have the Red Sox in first place, but he’s been around long enough to know, sometimes you just leave it alone.

Hanley Ramirez, Red Sox offense need a jump-start

Nick Cafardo

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hang your head in shame, Red Sox offense.

A major opportunity blown.

For the ninth time Rick Porcello received no runs of support in losing his major league-worst 11th game, 1- 0 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon.

How is that possible? Do they not try as hard because he’s the defending Cy Young winner? Porcello has had his own issues this season, but when a pitcher has to feel he has to pitch a shutout everytime out because the offense can’t score any runs, it’s got to be tough.

Granted Alex Cobb pitched a gem over seven-plus innings and the Rays’ defense — particularly shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria — was spectacular. Nevertheless we’re talking about scoring one run to tie, two to win.

In the ninth inning, the Red Sox had runners at second and third with one out against Rays closer Alex Colome. Hanley Ramirez took some of the weakest swings all season in a four-pitch strikeout for the second out in what may have been the worst at-bat of the season. Chris Young then popped out for the final out, leaving us all wondering where Jackie Bradley Jr. was.

Manager John Farrell had an explanation ready to go for that one, citing Colome’s splits were worst against righthanders so he let Young hit.

“Righthanders were hitting nearly .300 against Colome this year so we felt we had the right guys in order where we were. Chris has been so good with the bases loaded where he’s remained patient and laid off some borderline pitches. I thought we had the right guys at the plate,” Farrell said.

But as we often point out, the game was won and lost long before that. The Red Sox might have hit some balls hard, but they were at people as the Rays defense did quite a job positioning. This was a frustrating game for the Red Sox, who watched the Yankees walk off with a win against Milwaukee and thus losing a game in the standings.

In the ninth, Xander Bogaerts walked and Mitch Moreland doubled to right. Second and third, one out. What was required of Ramirez was a fly ball. Some minimal contact, but the Sox DH couldn’t come close to making contact. Now, Colome is not easy to hit by any means, but he had been experiencing a rough patch recently by allowing five runs in each of his last five games. It was the sixth time he’d recorded a four-out save, tops in the American League. His 24 saves now tie him with the Twins’ Brandon Kintzler for the American League lead.

“Hanley offered on some breaking balls that finished out of the zone,” Farrell said. “He was trying to stay in the middle of the field, but it looked like he pulled off some pitches.”

Ramirez has taken a lot of heat this season from fans.

Ramirez has spent everyday in the batting cage with hitting coach Vic Rodriguez and Chili Davis working on his stroke. But his 0-for-4 and two strikeouts didn’t match the work he’s put in. He’s simply having one of those unproductive seasons where he just can’t get his swing right.

One American League scout noted that it was the best pitched game he’d seen all season, but that Ramirez, as a middle of the order hitter, has to be able to get the ball in the air and score at least one run in that situation.

“I’ve seen him a lot this year and he’s not himself,” said the scout about Ramirez. “He’s not tracking offspeed pitches very well. When your timing is just a tick off, you can look pretty bad and he looked pretty bad.”

The Red Sox offense just couldn’t follow the little deception in Cobb’s delivery. Farrell called it “a constant mix of speeds that he moved around the strike zone.”

Mookie Betts said Cobb “kept keeping the ball down. On hitters’ counts he was mixing it up. We lined out a couple of times, but that’s part of the game.”

The Red Sox were shut out for seventh time, one more than all of last season. They have too often been a hit-or-miss offense this season. They have had some winnable games that would have required one or two timely hits that have eluded them. Yesterday was one of those frustrating days.

Farrell rested Bradley and had Young in the lineup. With the All-Star break coming why sit anyone for the sake of rest? The Red Sox really wanted these wins against Tampa Bay. Now the best they can do is a split. They had an opportunity to make a statement in their division, but will fall short of that through no fault of Porcello’s.

Now the Sox have to hope David Price can give them that same type of pitching effort in the finale Sunday — with a little more offense.

Red Sox face balancing act with Sam Travis

Peter Abraham

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — First baseman Sam Travis has been with the Red Sox for 36 days and 34 games in his two call-ups from Triple A Pawtucket this season.

The 23-year-old has played in 15 games, starting nine of them, and has 44 plate appearances, all but 14 against lefthanded pitchers.

For development purposes, it’s not ideal. Travis would be playing every day in the minors and getting a chance to improve on his weakness. On the major league roster, he’s a spare part with a specific purpose.

For the Sox, balancing the needs of the major league team with what is right for Travis is tricky.

“That’s a challenge, I’ll admit that,” manager John Farrell said Saturday. “We try and pick spots where he gets at least a pinch hit at-bat to stay in the flow of things. We’ve come into two series where there’s just been one lefthanded starter to match him up against.

“At some point you do have to determine what’s best for him, because in the long run, that will be what is best for us as a team. That’s not lost. That’ll all be factored in as we come out of the second half.”

Designated hitter Hanley Ramirez could back up Mitch Moreland at first base but Farrell has been cautious about using him in the field because of a sore right shoulder. Brock Holt and Josh Rutledge can play first but both are on the disabled list.

The answer could soon be Holt, who continued his rehab assignment with Triple A Pawtucket on Saturday. The utility player is making good progress after missing several months with concussion-like symptoms caused by vertigo.

“Things are really moving in the right direction. He’s feeling confident with each added day on the field,” said Farrell, who spoke to Holt on Saturday. “That’s been a real positive development.”

Travis feels like he is able to improve even without playing every day.

“I still come in every day and get my work in. I feel like I’m getting better,” Travis said. “I prepare as though I’m playing. I’m learning every day being around the team and the coaches.”

Travis is hitting .275 with four doubles, nine runs scored and one RBI. He has contributed to several victories. But because he only plays first base, opportunities are limited.

“I’ll do whatever I can for this team,” Travis said. “It has been great being around these guys and talking about the game and learning situations.”

Travis had only 190 plate appearances last season because of a knee injury. Counting the minors, he has 226 this season, a number that won’t go up much if he remains in the majors.

If Holt can play first, Travis could play regularly for Pawtucket then rejoin the Sox as a September call-up.

“I think he definitely has benefited from being in the environment,” Farrell said. “He’s done a very good job with what he can control in his preparation with his daily work. A difficult spot for a young guy.”

Rotation set The Sox will come out of the All-Star break with Drew Pomeranz facing the Yankees on Friday. Chris Sale starts Saturday with Rick Porcello and David Price getting the doubleheader next Sunday.

Eduardo Rodriguez will come off the disabled list to start against Toronto on July 17. Doug Fister would then start July 18.

The schedule gives every starter at least two extra days of rest. Sale would have eight days off outside of the inning he is expected to throw in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is scheduled to pitch for Triple A Pawtucket on Sunday in his final tuneup. He will face Buffalo at McCoy Stadium. Rodriguez is on the disabled list with a right knee injury.

Bradley gets a break Jackie Bradley Jr. was out of the lineup for the first time since May 24. Farrell wanted to give him a day of rest and get Chris Young a start. “Didn’t want to go nine or 10 days without [Young] playing,” Farrell said. The Sox could give Mookie Betts a day off Sunday . . . The St. Petersburg Times reported that the Red Sox will open the 2018 season with a four-game series against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. Opening Day would be March 29 . . . The series ends Sunday with David Price facing his protégé, Chris Archer. Price is 3-1 with a 3.30 earned run average in his last five starts. The former Rays All-Star has a 2.86 ERA on four starts at Tropicana Field against the Rays since he was traded in 2014.

Expect more supply than demand at baseball’s trade deadline

Nick Cafardo

There is likely to be more supply than demand as the trade deadline approaches. Expect a lot of teams to be frustrated by the process as they try to move veteran players in exchange for prospects.

Don’t expect the Twins to add anyone of note and disrupt their long-term plan, despite having some success this season. If they’re significantly behind by the trade deadline, they could still move the much- coveted Ervin Santana.

The Brewers have a comfortable lead in the NL Central, but would they disrupt their long-term outlook by trading away prospects for an available starting pitcher? Don’t expect anything major, but the Brewers have a chance to bury the world champion Cubs and owner Mark Attanasio is known to be a very competitive person.

Right now, the American League’s playoff teams are Boston, New York, Houston, Cleveland, and Kansas City, with Tampa Bay and Minnesota within striking distance. In the National League, Washington, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles lead their divisions and Arizona and Colorado are the wild-card teams, with the Cubs, Braves, and Cardinals on the outskirts.

The small-market Rays have already made a significant move by adding shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, a superb defender who fills a big need. Their offense is finally straightened out and they entered the weekend third in the majors in home runs. Their bullpen still needs reinforcement.

In Miami, an ownership change could occur by October. In the meantime, a debt-laden team — which could lose upward of $70 million this season — needs to shed money and retool. Everyone will be available, including the attractive outfield of Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Giancarlo Stanton, as well as second baseman Dee Gordon, power-hitting first baseman Justin Bour, third baseman Martin Prado, and starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Dan Straily. The Marlins have received a lot of interest in relievers AJ Ramos and David Phelps.

The Blue Jays are looking old, though every so often they perk up. The Jays may go back and forth on whether to give up the ghost, but we know deep down they’d like to sell off and rebuild the way team president Mark Shapiro did with the Indians.

Jays fans have supported the team in a big way, which makes it harder for management to dissolve this group. The big name here is third baseman Josh Donaldson, who would bring the biggest haul. But would it happen before the trade deadline? All-Star first baseman Justin Smoak, second baseman Devon Travis (if healthy), DH Kendrys Morales, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, right fielder Jose Bautista, and starters Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ seem to be the most likely to be dealt. And if you’re rebuilding, why the need for young closer Roberto Osuna?

Everyone on the White Sox has been available for a while, but so far the veterans remain in place. One would think closer David Robertson would be an attractive piece for a contending team such as Washington. But Chicago also wants to move third baseman Todd Frazier, right fielder Avisail Garcia, first baseman Jose Abreu, left fielder Melky Cabrera, and starters Jose Quintana, Derek Holland, and James Shields. The White Sox, who traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton last offseason, have not been able to get the package they’re seeking for Quintana, who has been pitching well after a poor start.

The Tigers would love for a team like the Dodgers to come along and take their veterans. The most desirable would be right fielder J.D. Martinez. But the Tigers would be open to making a creative deal for Justin Verlander and are willing to take on some of the salary. If anyone wants Jordan Zimmermann, he’s yours. Ian Kinsler, anyone? Shortstop Jose Iglesias, catcher Alex Avila, and lefty reliever Justin Wilson are attractive to other teams.

The Braves brought aboard veterans so they could sell them off at the deadline. Lefty Jaime Garcia will have a market, as will first baseman Matt Adams, left fielder Matt Kemp, and right fielder Nick Markakis. There’s lots of interest in Julio Teheran, too.

The Giants have come to the conclusion — as much as they resisted it — that the time has come to break it up and start from scratch on the next dynasty. Other than Buster Posey, the Giants are open to any deals that might include third baseman Eduardo Nunez, right fielder Hunter Pence, shortstop Brandon Crawford, first baseman Brandon Belt, second baseman Joe Panik, starters Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, and closer Mark Melancon. Belt and Panik will be hard to get.

Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole are the Pirates’ most attractive pieces, and they should be listening. It doesn’t appear they can sign Cole long term when he becomes a free agent after next season. Second baseman Josh Harrison, third baseman David Freese, and first baseman/outfielder John Jaso are useful and productive players.

Billy Beane isn’t afraid to deal anyone. With good, young position players and pitchers coming up, the A’s will be looking to get maximum return on pitcher Sonny Gray. The A’s have a few relievers — lefty Sean Doolittle, righty Ryan Madson — that have generated interest. Switch-hitter Jed Lowrie, capable of playing second and third, will have an audience. First baseman Yonder Alonso is drawing interest.

Just what are the Orioles up to? Since their owners won’t make a financial commitment to acquire the pitching they need, they might as well sell off. Adam Jones has 10/5 status so he may not want to move, but he’d be an excellent veteran leader for some team. It appears the Orioles will go the distance with Manny Machado (free agent in 2019).

The Mets are having a disastrous season and they’d like to get something for their pain. Reliever Addison Reed, infielder Jose Reyes, outfielders Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce, and first baseman Lucas Duda are among those the Mets would deal.

The Reds have to decide what to do with shortstop Zack Cozart, a fine player, but the market for shortstops isn’t good. Righty Scott Feldman will also be in demand. The Padres have a few players — infielder Yangervis Solarte (currently on DL), lefty reliever Brad Hand, and starter Trevor Cahill — who would be attractive to teams.

The Phillies are interesting in that they have a top-notch farm system, money to spend, and players to trade. That trifecta is rare. First baseman Tommy Joseph is likely available because prospect Rhys Hoskins will take over the position next season, if not this year. Third baseman Maikel Franco, starter Jeremy Hellickson, and reliever Joaquin Benoit will be available. They also have an eye on setting up for the future, which is why acquiring Stanton and Yelich from Miami isn’t out of the question.

What we can glean from all this is that there will be a market for top-of-the-rotation pitchers. The Astros, Yankees, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Cubs all have such a need.

Last week, the Nationals bullpen allowed 18 runs over 19⅓ innings. Robertson, Wilson, Reed, Doolittle, and Madson are on their radar.

The Yankees are weak at the infield corners and could target Abreu, Alonso, Bour, Adams, Frazier, or Prado.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has to weigh the benefits of trading away prospects to acquire a frontline starter. In a truthful moment Cashman would tell you he wouldn’t want to do it, but the Yankees are compelling and it’s hard to not go for it when you have young superstars Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.

The Royals were expected to be the biggest sellers but that has changed. They are back in the hunt for the AL Central and a wild card. Their top five free agents — Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Jason Vargas, and Alcides Escobar — won’t be sold off. Royals scouts have been told to find a starting pitcher, another back-end bullpen piece, and possibly a second baseman.

Apropos of nothing

1. Maybe there’s no proven correlation between taking part in the Home Run Derby and slumping in the second half, but if I were the Yankees and Dodgers I’d be very afraid of Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger taking part in Monday’s derby.

2. The Red Sox said the David Price/Dennis Eckersley situation was handled internally. How? Price didn’t even apologize to Eckersley for his dressing down of a Hall of Fame pitcher aboard the team charter. Apparently there were no repercussions. There seems to be better ways to be “a good teammate” other than going after Eckersley, who went through so much in his own life and in his career to be able to comment freely about the pros and cons of a player and a team.

3. The Pawtucket Red Sox let it be known that while they’re hoping for the best when the Rhode Island legislature reconvenes in the fall and there’s discussion about their Slater Mill stadium site in Pawtucket (which would require some financial outlay by taxpayers), they will pursue interest by other cities, some in Massachusetts.

4. Yes, I know there will be a 30-second pitch clock next season in MLB, but have you noticed times when the pitcher is ready to throw and the batter is still not in the box? Happens all the time. There has to be more reinforcement of the rule for the batter. Red Sox players have said they receive warning letters and fines, but they obviously have not been a deterrent.

5. MLB would love to see Derek Jeter be part of an ownership group to buy the Marlins. But to ask for complete control when you’ve invested only 10 percent of the $1 billion-$1.3 billion asking price? Where else does that happen?

6. Umpire Angel Hernandez filed a racial discrimination suit against MLB and now he’s working the All- Star Game at first base. The Cuban-born umpire alleges he hasn’t been selected to work big events such as the World Series and has never been assigned as a crew chief despite good performance ratings.

Updates on nine 1. Alex Cobb, RHP, Rays — There’s a feeling among baseball people that the Rays would seek to move Cobb at the deadline because he’ll be a free agent at the end of the season. Cobb was 6-6 with a 4.01 ERA entering his scheduled start Saturday. But one Rays official said, “If we’re in it, I don’t think Alex Cobb is going anywhere.”

2. Martin Prado, 3B, Marlins — The Yankees and Red Sox have inquired about him, but both teams have the same concern: he’s owed about $34 million. Both superpowers want to stay under the luxury tax threshold of $197 million, so they’re inquiring about how much the Marlins would be willing to eat of the contract. Both teams like Prado’s leadership, hustle, and devotion to the game.

3. Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations, Cubs — Epstein declared last week that “Our biggest fixes are inside the clubhouse.” But we all know Epstein will act if the fixes don’t occur. The Cubs have the prospects to land any of big-name starter available. Both Sonny Gray and Jose Quintana fit the bill. Quintana makes sense for the Cubs and he has no desire to leave Chicago.

4. R.A. Dickey, RHP, Braves — In his last five starts, Dickey is 3-1 with 3.09 ERA, and eight of his 11 earned runs came June 13 against the Nationals. OK, it’s tough to trade for a knuckleballer at midseason, but this is precisely why the Braves obtained him. When you look for pitchers who are peaking, Dickey fits that criteria.

5. Ricky Nolasco, RHP, Angels — Nolasco has pitched the most innings (1,806⅓) of any active pitcher who hasn’t made an All-Star team, according to MLB Network researcher Elliott Kalb.

6. Scott Feldman, RHP, Reds — Three scouts who have watched him recently think Feldman can fortify the back end of a rotation. He’s started an NL-high 18 games this year. He’s pitched in both leagues. Some think he could be a good fit for the Royals and for the Rockies, who need a veteran presence to go along with their talented young starters.

7. Pat Neshek, RHP, Phillies — Neshek, an NL All-Star, has been scouted by a number of teams, including the Royals, Red Sox, and Yankees. The sidearming 36-year-old has been effective against both lefties (.188) and righties (.233) this season.

8. Ian Kinsler, 2B, Tigers — The Royals are searching for a second baseman and Kinsler’s name has come up. He has an option for 2018. In the past, Kinsler has demanded that the 2018 option be picked up if he’s to move. The Royals won’t do that, but Kinsler would be a nice addition if he’d be willing to waive that to play for a contending team.

9. Cole Hamels, LHP, Rangers — It doesn’t look as if Hamels will have his 2019 option vested since it’s unlikely he’ll meet contract requirements of “400 innings pitched in 2017-18, including 200 innings pitched in 2018 and staying off the disabled list with a shoulder or elbow injury at the end of the 2018 season.” Hamels has pitched only 43⅔ innings this season. The Rangers are on the hook for his $22.5 million salary next season and he does have a $6 million buyout of the 2019 option.

Extra innings From the Bill Chuck files: “Definition of a stopper: Following a Dodgers loss this season, Clayton Kershaw is 8-1 with a 1.54 ERA in 10 starts. Since the start of 2013, Kershaw is now 36-10 (.782) in 60 post-loss starts.” Also, “Hector Velazquez, Kyle Kendrick, and Doug Fister have combined to make seven starts as fill-ins in the back of the Boston rotation. Combined, they are 1-5 with a 7.46 ERA and a .331 BAA.” . . . Happy birthday, Rusney Castillo (30), Robert Manuel (34), Tommy Hottovy (36), and Mike Andrews (74).

* The Boston Herald

Red Sox offense silent in 1-0 loss to Rays

Stephen Hewitt

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sandy Leon looked like he might have had a hit. Adeiny Hechavarria had other ideas.

On a sharply hit liner by Leon, the Rays shortstop dove to his left and nearly caught it but still stayed in the play. With the ball behind him on the dirt, he picked it up with his right hand, spun and fired it to first on a bounce for the out.

That's just the way the ball bounced for the Red Sox today.

Whether it was that play, or when Hechavarria impressively snagged a line drive by Hanley Ramirez, or when Alex Cobb blindly backhanded a liner by Xander Bogaerts, nothing went right for the Red Sox beyond a late uprising as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 at Tropicana Field. The Sox' lead in the AL East was cut to 3.5 games ahead of the Yankees, who beat the Brewers 5-3 on a three-run walkoff homer by Clint Frazier.

With the help of all those defensive plays, Cobb — making his third start against the Red Sox this season — had no issues. The Sox managed just two hits — both singles — off the right-hander. Cobb struck out three as he went eight innings.

At one point, Cobb (7-6) retired 11 straight and 17-of-18 as he continued to make quick, easy work of Sox hitters. He struck out Ramirez looking to end the fourth, which did not sit well with the Red Sox designated hitter, who turned and argued with home plate umpire Ron Kulpa.

Frustration was setting in, and there was nothing the Red Sox could do about it. Their best at-bats resulted in great defense and some bad luck.

The absence of offense wasted a gem by Rick Porcello (4-11), who received no runs of support for the ninth time in 19 starts this season. The right-hander probably had his best start of the season, as he pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts while giving up six hits.

That one run was the difference. And Hechavarria again was the thorn in the Red Sox' side.

Porcello had given up back-to-back singles to start the second, and nearly induced a crucial double play when he forced Hechavarria into a grounder. But after first base umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled it a twin killing, Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged it and the umpires ruled Hechavarria beat out the throw to first.

That extended the inning. Porcello then hit Shane Peterson with a pitch to load the bases with one out. But he was able to avoid serious damage. Jesus Sucre followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center before Porcello struck out Mallex Smith looking to end the inning.

The Rays nearly doubled their lead in the seventh when Smith hit a two-out triple, but Xander Bogaerts — who had one of Boston's two hits on the day in his return — made a nice defensive play to stop that threat.

In the ninth, the Red Sox made a convincing bid. After Bogaerts walked, Mitch Moreland ripped a double to right that put runners on second and third with one out. But closer Alex Colome (24 saves) struck out Ramirez, and after Andrew Benintendi was intentionally walked, Chris Young flew out to end the game.

Jennings: Craig Kimbrel builds old-school case for Cy Young

Chad Jennings

On an inning-by-inning basis, there’s been no more dominant pitcher in baseball this season than Craig Kimbrel.

Whether that makes him the best pitcher in the game, in the league, or even on his own team depends entirely on what you think of relief pitchers versus starting pitchers, and the value of day-after-day impact as opposed to the long-haul workload.

“Obviously, he’s on call on a daily basis,” Red Sox ace Chris Sale said. “And just what he features — he’s got two of the best pitches in the game coming from the same person who’s on my team, who’s locking down wins for me, and not only for me but for us. That’s fun to watch.”

It’s certainly fun to watch, but could it be Cy Young-worthy?

Among those with at least 30 innings this season, Kimbrel has the most strikeouts per nine innings, the lowest opponents’ batting average, and the best FIP (which measures a pitcher’s effectiveness without help or detriment of his defense).

There’s certainly a case to be made for Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, but in the American League at least, Kimbrel has been nearly unbeatable and is at or near the summit. If you’re not accounting for the total number of innings pitched, he’s been as good as it gets.

But total workload matters when it comes to the Cy Young Award.

“It takes the starters not to do that good,” Hall of Fame pitcher and Red Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley said. “That’s typically what happens (when a reliever wins the award). No starter has a great year because if somebody has 20 wins — not necessarily 20 because wins don’t mean anything — but if a starter has a great year, you can’t challenge that. You can’t touch that. To me, it’s more important to pitch 225 innings and be lights-out than to pitch 60 or 70 innings.

“But I’m not giving any awards back.”

Eckersley would know. He’s one of nine relief pitchers to win the Cy Young Award. He did it in 1992, the same year he won the Most Valuable Player Award while saving 51 games for Oakland.

Right now, Kimbrel’s on pace for fewer saves but a lower WHIP, higher strikeout rate and nearly identical walk rate to Eckersley’s Cy Young season.

“Temperament plays into it somehow,” Eckersley said. “How he calms himself. Obviously, the confidence is through the roof. And then it gets into his delivery. He’s got a great, sound delivery. Last year, he was offline a little bit. If he gets offline, he yanks it. He hasn’t yanked anything. His control has been incredible to throw that hard. When you throw that hard, you’re bound to lose it. He’s consistent with both pitches, and he paints (the corners with them), too. He’s unbelievable.”

Whether such an unbelievable season is worthy of the Cy Young depends on factors beyond Kimbrel’s dominance.

Precedent is there

Relievers used to win Cy Young Awards with regularity. Between Mike Marshall in 1974 and Eckersley in 1992, baseball never went more than two years without a Cy Young winner out of the bullpen.

In the 25 years since Eckersley, though, there’s been only one.

Eckersley was the first true closer to win the Cy Young. Before him, most of the rewarded relievers were not limited to one inning, much less reserved for the ninth.

Sparky Lyle had 26 saves in his Cy Young season, but he pitched 137 innings across 72 appearances. Bruce Sutter and Willie Hernandez each pitched more than 100 innings when they were honored, and Marshall — the first reliever to win the award — pitched an unthinkable 2081⁄3 innings out of the bullpen when he won in 1974.

Mark Davis did lead the National League with 44 saves when he won the Cy Young in 1989, but he pitched the seventh inning seven times that season, and he pitched multiple innings 33 times, nearly half of his appearances.

A true Kimbrel-like closer winning the Cy Young has happened only twice: Eckersley in 1992 and Eric Gagne in 2003, a historic season with 55 saves and no blown saves. It was part of Gagne’s streak of 84 straight converted save opportunities that stretched across three seasons.

Saves, though, are not the deciding factor for bullpen Cy Young winners. When Bobby Thigpen set a long- standing record of 57 saves with the White Sox in 1990, he finished fourth in Cy Young voting. When Francisco Rodriguez broke that record with 62 saves for the Angels in 2008, he was third in the Cy Young race. Thigpen got two first-place votes. Rodriguez received none.

Instead, the biggest factor in the most recent Cy Young relief seasons — as Eckersley said — does seem to be the performance of the starting pitchers.

In 1992, the American League had three 20-game winners, but none ranked higher than eighth in the league in ERA. Best among them was Jack McDowell with a 3.18 ERA, and he finished second in Cy voting. Third in the voting was ERA leader Roger Clemens. Eckersley won the Cy Young decisively with 76 percent of the votes.

There was a similar pattern during Gagne’s 2003 season. There was only one 20-game winner in the National League, and that was Russ Ortiz, who had an unremarkable 3.81 ERA. Jason Schmidt and Mark Prior — with 2.34 and 2.43 ERAs respectively — both received first-place Cy Young votes, but Gagne won the award by a large margin.

Sox on Sox crime

Given recent history’s clear preference for starting pitchers as Cy Young winners, it seems Kimbrel’s greatest competition could be his own teammate.

In the past 30 years, the four relievers who won Cy Young Awards did so in leagues without a 20-game winner who had an ERA below 3.00. It’s worth debating whether that’s a worthwhile benchmark, but it’s a historical precedent.

And right now, the American League is on pace to have no such season. That’s because of Sale.

The Sox ace could reach 22 or 23 wins with an ERA around 2.50 and close to 300 strikeouts. Numbers like that have been difficult for Cy Young voters to ignore.

“I mean, what (Sale) brings to a team, the excitement, just the energy he brings when he starts, every time he starts,” Kimbrel said. “You know you’re going to have a chance to see a great pitched ballgame.”

That admiration goes both ways.

“I get to sit down for four days and take a breather,” Sale said. “You watch (Kimbrel) on his third day in a row, or if he’s had a week off. It’s the same. I haven’t been there in a while, but I was pitching out of the bullpen (in 2010 and 2011), and it’s not easy being able to have your best stuff even when you’re a little bit tired. You flip on the TV, you wouldn’t know if he’s thrown four days in a row or had two weeks off. That’s really impressive.”

Sale and Kimbrel do basically the same thing but in different ways and different roles. Sale’s job is one of durability and repetition, going through the order multiple times every fifth day. Kimbrel’s job is one of availability and consistency, performing night after night with the game on the line.

“He works really hard at what he does, too, to get there,” Sale said. “It’s not like he just rolls out of bed and does what he does. He takes care of himself really well, and he works really hard for that. I think that’s what I’ve come to appreciate is the process as a whole, watching him do what he does.”

It doesn’t take any level of expertise to notice Kimbrel’s dominance. But through the eyes of an expert — through the eyes of a Cy Young winner — there’s a clear appreciation for what he’s done and how he’s done it.

“I don’t really know, but he must be a really mellow dude because he’s not hyper at all,” Eckersley said. “He’s not surprising himself. He expects to be great, and he is. And he’s good with it.

“A lot of guys are afraid of success, but he doesn’t seem the least bit bothered.”

Hardware hunt

Sale seems to be the early Cy Young favorite in the American League despite Thursday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, with Kimbrel as a kind of dark horse should he keep his current pace while the league’s starters falter in the second half.

But those two aren’t the only Red Sox in the awards conversation heading into the break.

Mookie Betts is an MVP candidate, but once again he’s being overshadowed by one of his fellow young outfielders. Reigning MVP Mike Trout has been injured this season, but Yankees rookie Aaron Judge has emerged as the league’s WAR leader by a sizeable margin. Betts, though, is right there on pace with the next-best group of contenders.

Judge’s breakout season has also left Andrew Benintendi among the secondary Rookie of the Year candidates. He kept pace early in the season, but Benintendi’s WAR has since fallen behind a group that includes Mariners outfielders Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger as well as Yankees lefty Jordan Montgomery.

John Farrell’s chances of winning Manager of the Year largely depend on what voters think of A.J. Hinch’s impact on the league-leading Astros, as well as what they make of the American League East, which is either a closely contested group of contenders or an inconsistent batch of flawed rosters.

“From our on-field experience, I don’t think it’s mediocrity,” Farrell said.

Buckley: War heroes, not David Ortiz, deserve streets named after them

Steve Buckley

It strikes me as petty that there was some grousing a few weeks back when the Red Sox retired David Ortiz’ No. 34 barely eight months after the Life of the Fenway Party retired from baseball.

Why put off the obvious? It took the Red Sox 24 years to formalize the retirement of Ted Williams’ No. 9. While nobody had worn the number since Teddy Ballgame’s fabled last at-bat on Sept. 28, 1960, it seems kind of dumb, looking back on it, that the Sox waited so long to affix No. 9 to Fenway Park’s right field facade.

But we — as in we, the people — are guilty of a well-intentioned but nonetheless needless overreach in naming a bridge and a street extension in honor of David Ortiz. True, we’re not taking about re-naming the Zakim Bridge, merely a stretch of Brookline Avenue between Fenway Park and Kenmore Square that carries pedestrians and drivers over the Mass. Pike. And the newly-named David Ortiz Pass is really just a path from Brookline Avenue to Yawkey Station.

David Ortiz Drive used to be called Yawkey Way Extension. I’ll be honest: Prior to the announcement, I had never even heard of the Yawkey Way Extension, which is a portion of Jersey Street that was renamed in memory of the late owner of the Red Sox.

Jersey Street never should have been named for Yawkey in the first place. And while we’re at it, Yawkey does not belong in the Hall of Fame, either. His charitable deeds aside, he was the last big-league owner to integrate, with Pumpsie Green joining the big club more than 12 years after Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.

David Ortiz is guilty of no such exclusiveness. Quite the contrary; he has always been a unifying force in Boston, a friend to all. We’ll never forget the way he spoke for all of us in the days following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. When the day comes that the Red Sox erect a statue honoring David Ortiz, propriety demands that it show Big Papi holding a microphone, not a bat, and the inscription should include those (scrubbed up) famous words: “This is our (expletive) city. And nobody’s gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”

Thanks for that, David Ortiz. But the statue will remind us of what Ortiz did that day, just as No. 34 on the right-field facade will serve as our reminder that he was an exciting, charismatic ballplayer who did more than anyone to deliver those three World Series championships.

But a bridge?

A street?

This is where it gets personal.

I was a child when the body bags from Vietnam began to arrive, and in high school when the protests were ripping our country apart. It was around that time, with riots breaking out just blocks from my house, and with images fixed in my head of returning vets being spat upon and scorned as “baby killers,” that I happened upon a World War II monument named in memory of a Cpl. Albert S. “Stan” Teevan Jr., listed as being killed in February 1945.

Because of where I was in my life, I couldn’t understand why the Stan Teevans of earlier wars had things named after them, while the returning vets from Vietnam were treated so shabbily. Years later, I made it my business to learn about Stan Teevan — how he was raised on Hollis Street in North Cambridge, was an altar boy at St. John’s Church and had an older sister, Barbara, who responded to my requests for information with photos, letters and dozens of anecdotes.

Stan was a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator. It went down over the Adriatic. In addition to Stan, seven other members of the crew died, including Charles Spettel of Newton.

They were just kids, as were the thousands of Americans who died in Vietnam. That’s what we can’t forget: Whatever the war, whatever the cause, whatever the fallout, we can’t forget those kids who never made it back.

It’s small solace, perhaps, but, yes, we name things after them.

We named the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Mather Street in memory of Cpl. Eric Fassitt, killed in Vietnam on Jan. 6, 1968. Years ago I asked Eric’s mom to tell me a funny story about her son. She said, “We had to make cookies for a Halloween party Eric was going to,” she said. “So we’re in the kitchen, and I have the mix out, and all of a sudden Eric — he was just a little boy then — put his hand all the way into the mix. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, ‘Mom, I read the directions, and it said to mix by hand.’ ”

We should reserve the streets, the corners, the squares, the playgrounds, to remember the men and women who died serving our country. We do forget, of course, because time marches on, because new people move into old neighborhoods, and because, for the lack of any other way to put it, we’re always in a hurry.

I’m not naive; I don’t expect everyone to run down to their neighborhood playground and write the biography of the person for whom it was named. But it wouldn’t hurt to slow down once in a while and ask questions. It can be educational. It can be inspirational. It can even be fun.

Try it sometime. And then step inside Fenway Park and honor David Ortiz by gazing at his retired uniform number.

Rick Porcello finishes first half with strong effort vs. Rays

Michael Silverman

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If last impressions mean anything, Rick Porcello is going to have a very good second half.

Porcello finished a disappointing first half on a high note yesterday, throwing a complete-game 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in which he allowed just one run and six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

For a pitcher who has been struggling to regain a semblance of his 2016 Cy Young form, Porcello’s start was the exclamation point to a recent swing toward reliable and effective performance.

“Definitely, my last three or four have felt a lot better in overall aggressiveness and amount of hits, and hard-hit balls have definitely decreased so that’s a positive for sure,” said Porcello.

Porcello has posted a 3.71 ERA over his last four starts, a far better representation of where he’s at now than his overall 4.75 mark.

“Quite a bit,” said manager John Farrell when asked how much Porcello has improved. “His location is much more consistent. The shape to his curveball is there. He had four pitches (yesterday) that he was throwing extremely well. Front-door sinker to left-handers on occasion, elevated by design, that was a strong effort on Rick’s part.

“He’s on, his own right, a pretty good run right now. That’s probably four of the last five where he’s been consistent with his location to the bottom of the strike zone, which is key for him. Stays out of the middle of the plate going to the lane in which he’s intending to, whether that’s to the glove side or arm side. A strong effort on his part.”

The run was scored in the second inning after the second out of a double play was overturned, allowing a runner to advance to third and then score on a sacrifice fly.

That offensive roundup was brought to you by Porcello and Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb, with closer Alex Colome providing the save despite the Red Sox having runners on second and third with one out in the ninth.

“I feel good about us scoring runs at any point in our lineup,” said Porcello. “They had their closer in the game, and obviously if he throws really well it’s going to be tough but we made a really good push, got to second and third with just one out, just fell a little short, that’s all.”

Porcello will get a chance to build off yesterday’s start in the post-All-Star break series against the New York Yankees at Fenway. He sounded as if he could not wait to get back out on the mound.

“I feel great, physically my body feels good, mentally I’m ready to go out there and have a good second half for our ballclub,” said Porcello.

Red Sox notebook: David Price looks back on track

Stephen Hewitt

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Outside distractions aside, the Red Sox are starting to get what they hoped for out of David Price.

And as they head into the All-Star break following his start today, that’s welcome news for a first-place team that is starting to look more and more like the one it was predicted to be on paper.

Much of that preseason hype centered around the top of the starting rotation, and particularly Price. After suffering an elbow strain in spring training, there were questions about whether the left-hander would return, and if he did, how much of an impact he could make.

Price has answered both of those questions.

“The way he’s pitched the last couple times out, you wouldn’t think he’s missed any time this year, and I think that’s probably the greatest validation of all,” manager John Farrell said. “To say, OK there were two months missed here, but he’s powerful, he’s strong, he’s used a full assortment of pitches, so he’s done a great job of getting back to this level and continuing on.”

Price is coming off his best start of the season last Tuesday in Texas. He pitched six innings, struck out nine and didn’t give up any runs for the first time this season, and the first time since last Aug. 22 — coincidentally, on the road against Tampa Bay.

Now eight starts since his return, Price seems confident, effective and, most importantly, healthy. Outside of a minor blister and fingernail problem, the lefty has come out of his starts without elbow issues. His pitch count is back to normal — 112 two starts ago, his most this season — and the results are back to what they’re supposed to be.

“The fact that he’s come out of each of these starts feeling good physically, that’s the most important thing,” Farrell said. “We’ll continue to keep a close eye.”

Final call

Farrell had no regrets in opting to keep Chris Young at the plate with the bases loaded in the ninth inning yesterday, even with Jackie Bradley Jr. available to pinch hit off the bench.

Facing Alex Colome, the Rays closer who right-handers are batting .292 against, Farrell played the numbers game. The results didn’t work out as the righty-hitting Young popped out to end the 1-0 defeat.

“I felt like we had the right guys in the order where we are,” Farrell said. “Chris has been so good with bases loaded situations where he’s remained patient. He’s laid off some borderline pitches. But like I said, I thought we had the right guys at the plate.” . . .

Bradley has been one of the team’s hottest hitters, but he was due for a day off. The center fielder hadn’t missed a game since May 24. Andrew Benintendi took his place in center and Young started in left.

“He’s played exceptional,” Farrell said of Bradley, who’s batting .321 in his last 50 games. “We’re going to get two left-handers likely in the series over the weekend, so kind of a natural break for Jackie here (yesterday).”

Bogey is back

Xander Bogaerts returned to the Sox lineup after a quick recovery from a right hand injury he suffered Thursday when he was hit by a pitch. The shortstop missed Friday’s game, but was much improved when he arrived to Tropicana Field yesterday after responding well to treatments.

In his return, Bogaerts had one of the Sox’ three hits, and he didn’t appear to have any setbacks with his hand.

Farrell said he did not consider holding Bogaerts out until after the break.

“Bogey was adamant about continuing to play when he was first ready, so the fact that he’s responded the way he has, this was about getting him back on the field,” Farrell said. . . .

Farrell announced his starting rotation coming out of the All-Star break. Drew Pomeranz will start Friday at Fenway Park against the New York Yankees. Chris Sale will go on Saturday, then for Sunday’s doubleheader Rick Porcello will get the day game and Price the night game.

The plan then is for Eduardo Rodriguez to start a week from tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays, followed by Doug Fister.

* The Providence Journal

Even with some holes patched, Dave Dombrowski ready to improve Red Sox in July

Tim Britton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With a little more than three weeks to go before the trade deadline, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s task looks a lot simpler now than it did in late May.

After dropping a third straight game to the Athletics on May 20, the Red Sox were a .500 team with plenty of flaws. Their starting pitching was still a mess, with plenty of physical question marks. Their offense was inconsistent, brought down by underperformance from otherwise established players and a black hole at third. Their bullpen was good, but not in an apparently sustainable way.

In the seven weeks since, Boston has looked like one of the best and most complete teams in baseball.

Since that loss to Oakland, the Red Sox own the third-best record in all of baseball (behind only Los Angeles and Houston). In that span, the Sox have been 5.5 games better than any team in their division, and the club’s playoff odds have essentially doubled from 46 percent to 92 percent, according to Baseball Prospectus.

Their starting pitching has gotten healthier. David Price has returned to the mound and to form, Drew Pomeranz has been lights out for nearly two months, and Doug Fister provides the type of veteran depth option the team lacked in April and May.

Their bullpen has continued to excel. Joe Kelly looks more and more like the real deal, provided he’s available on a given day, while Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree have remained reliable.

And even third base looks less like an abyss now than it used to, thanks to the unforeseeable contributions of Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin.

Do the Red Sox need to do anything — anything at all — between now and July 31?

Well, let’s not go too far.

While Dombrowski conceded that standing pat is a possibility, he didn’t sound like a man perfectly content with his roster just yet.

“We’ve played better. Sure, that affects your decisions,” said Dombrowski. “But I’m also of the thought process that you’ve got the trading deadline. If you’re going to try to get better, this is the time you need to do it.”

You can apply that thought most keenly to third base, where in the short term Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin have been stabilizing godsends. Given the lack of major-league track record and the small samples involved, though, it seemed as if Dombrowski were still leaning toward an external addition.

“You are always inspecting what possibilities are out there. You always want to make your club better,” he said. “Right now out guys are playing very well, but it’s short-term looks.”

Players such as Chicago’s Todd Frazier, Oakland’s Jed Lowrie and Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison would all make some sense as longer-term options at the hot corner.

In the bullpen, Carson Smith’s prolonged return from Tommy John surgery means the team can’t necessarily count on him being a relief mainstay over the final two months. That adds some uncertainty to whether another bullpen arm is a luxury or a necessity.

Dombrowski said the Sox wouldn’t look to add an arm just for the sake of adding an arm, saying he liked the team’s bullpen depth. But he didn’t rule out an addition there the way he did in the rotation.

Dombrowski saying he’s not in the market for a starter makes sense given the performance of those currently in the rotation and the imminent return of Eduardo Rodriguez. Even so, we’ll point out that Dombrowski said he wasn’t in the market for a starting pitcher about four weeks before dealing for Chris Sale last winter.

At this point, the trade market hasn’t changed much from where it was in April and May, with a handful of teams set as clear buyers and sellers and much of the league stuck somewhere in the middle. Entering play Saturday, 12 of the 15 American League teams were within five games of a playoff spot.

“The reality is that most people are saying they want to push their decisions off until as late as they possibly can,” Dombrowski said.

The Red Sox have put themselves in a solid position entering the All-Star break — “We control our destiny, which is always good,” Dombrowski said. But the executive knows full well there’s work to be done.

“You can never take things for granted, and you know how things can change,” he said. “We have a long way to go ahead of us, and we’ll take care of business.”

Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Boston blanked despite Rick Porcello’s best start of season

Tim Britton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — None of this loss could be pinned on Rick Porcello.

In spite of submitting his best performance of the season, Porcello lost for the 11th time before the All-Star break — the first Boston pitcher to achieve that ignominious distinction since 1973. Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb was masterful, shutting out the Red Sox over 7 2/3 innings as the Rays hung on for a 1-0 nailbiting win at Tropicana Field.

Perhaps the biggest blow to Porcello’s day came during a 94-second pause in play, when a double-play out at first was correctly overruled in the second inning. Adeiny Hechavarria’s ability to just beat out the relay throw meant that Jesus Sucre’s subsequent fly ball to center field was enough to score the runner from third with the game’s lone tally.

Porcello was saddled with the loss despite completing the game, allowing the single run on six hits over eight innings. He struck out seven, he walked none and he hit two batters.

“There’s a lot of things out of your control as far as wins and losses go,” said Porcello, echoing a sentiment he repeated throughout last season when his run support was inverted. “I’m ready to go out there and have a good second half for our ballclub.”

The Red Sox mounted a single rally in the game, in the ninth against Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome. But with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, Hanley Ramirez struck out on a cutter down. After an intentional walk, Chris Young popped up to end the game.

Although the Red Sox are obviously not in the business of moral victories, especially in games against divisional opponents, they’d be lying if they didn’t say this was an encouraging effort from Porcello. The right-hander’s first half of the season has perhaps been the club’s most disappointing individual performance, as the reigning Cy Young winner hasn’t been able to achieve the same consistent results as a year ago.

He’s started to turn the corner of late, however, with three solid starts in his last four, Saturday’s being the definitive best. Porcello excels when he’s able to spot his two-seam fastball down and his four-seam fastball up, with the former eliciting weak contact on the ground and the latter generating some swing-and- miss.

You can usually get a read for his effectiveness by the distribution of his outs. It’s a good sign when his outfielders are bored, as they were Saturday. In addition to his seven strikeouts, Porcello recorded eight outs on the ground and three more on infield pop-ups. His outfield was needed for just five putouts, one of them a spectacular leaping catch in left-center by Andrew Benintendi.

“His location is much more consistent,” manager John Farrell said.

It was the one ground-ball out the Red Sox came oh-so-close to getting that doomed them.

Porcello can take solace in the idea that he’s hardly the first accomplished pitcher to post a first half this poor. Tampa Bay’s Sunday starter Chris Archer was 4-12 at the break a season ago. Cole amels, Barry Zito and Zack Greinke have all posted 11 losses in a first half in their careers. John Smoltz went from 2-11 in 1991′s first half to 14-13 and the starter in an epic pitcher’s duel in Game Seven of the World Series.

Porcello has perhaps set the stage for a similar reversal of fortune. Saturday was the first time he allowed fewer than three runs since May.

The bats could do nothing against Cobb, who continues to look more and more like the pitcher who was as good as any in the division prior to Tommy John surgery in 2015. Boston recorded only one hit after the third inning.

“We hit the ball well. They were positioned right there,” said Mookie Betts, who had one of the club’s three hits. “It’s part of the game.”

Blaine Boyer brings veteran durability to Boston bullpen

Tim Britton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Earlier this season, the Red Sox bullpen leaned to the left. Despite a rotation that included three and at times four left-handers, the Boston pen had three lefties as well. That meant a heavy workload for the remaining righties, especially Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree.

That burden has been lightened by Blaine Boyer.

Signed to a minor-league deal in April and called up in late May, Boyer has become a right-handed jack-of- all-trades for the Red Sox bullpen. Entering Saturday, the 35-year-old has delivered 23 innings out of the bullpen with a 3.13 ERA.

“Maybe the correlation is he’s an offensive lineman,” manager John Farrell said. “He might not get all the accolades, but he’s been a workhorse lately in our bullpen.”

“I love it. We’re up here to pitch. We’re not up here just to hang out,” Boyer said. “I’m getting my opportunities to pitch in different varieties. I love being able to contribute in whatever way, shape or form I can.”

Boyer’s done a bit of everything this road trip. He got the win in the series opener in Toronto, working two high-leverage innings in the extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays. He’s eaten some innings in blowout wins, and he kept Thursday’s loss to the Rays tight with a quick inning.

“You get used to it,” Boyer said of bouncing back between shorter and longer stints, high-leverage and low-leverage. “It’s figuring out what your tool is going to be for the team. Mine needs to be to bounce back and throw in different situations. I’m up for it.”

“He gives us a dimension out there we hadn’t had — that’s a veteran guy who will take the ball quite often,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

Boyer’s in his 11th year in a big-league bullpen. That’s critical for a pen lacking that kind of experience.

“That presence is a calming one,” Farrell said. “He’s durable and willing to pitch whenever called upon.”

Red Sox struggling to find playing time for Sam Travis

Tim Britton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — During his latest stint in the majors, Sam Travis has been with the Red Sox for 18 games. He’s only started five of them. He has only 25 plate appearances. Such is life for the short side of a platoon.

After excelling in a small sample in late May, Travis has struggled more in that role this time around, with just three hits in 23 at-bats. Manager John Farrell acknowledged Saturday that the team has to balance what’s best for the major-league club now and what’s best for Travis’ long-term development.

“That’s a challenge,” Farrell said. “It’s a delicate balance. We try to pick spots where you get at least a pinch-hit at-bat to keep him in the flow of things. At times, we do have to determine what’s best for him because in the long run that will be best for us as a team.”

If the Red Sox have visions of Travis taking over as the full-time first baseman next year, it would behoove him to get more regular at-bats. This is a player who missed three months last season, and whose development has been staggered this year with the lack of recent playing time.

Boston is likely to face a pair of left-handed starters in their first series out of the All-Star break against the Yankees. Perhaps after that series, though, the Sox will send Travis back down to Triple-A to get more everyday at-bats.

***

The Red Sox set their rotation for coming out of the All-Star break, with Drew Pomeranz opening the second half against the Yankees on Friday at Fenway Park. He’ll be followed by Chris Sale on Saturday with Rick Porcello and David Price pitching the Sunday doubleheader.

Eduardo Rodriguez is in line to pitch a week from Monday against the Blue Jays, followed by Doug Fister. Boston needs to use six starters those first five days because of that doubleheader. At that point, Fister may be moved to the bullpen.

Hanley Ramirez has turned it around against left-handers

Tim Britton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was the afternoon of June 28 when Hanley Ramirez learned — and we use the term loosely — that he was struggling against left-handed pitching. Asked about his troubles with southpaws that day, Ramirez expressed surprise, then optimism that the results would change soon.

“Come back to me with [those stats] in August,” he said.

He hasn’t had to wait that long.

Prior to that day, Ramirez was 5-for-35 with a single extra-base hit against lefties. Entering Saturday, he’s 6-for-9 since with two homers and two doubles.

It would be nice — and egotistical — to point to the media’s questions as driving that turnaround. However, it’s more likely a product of regression to the mean. As Ramirez pointed out 10 days ago, his strikeout-to-walk ratio against lefties was excellent. His low batting average on balls in play was likely holding down his overall results.

That’s played out in the time since, including Friday’s ninth-inning opposite-field home run off Tampa Bay lefty Adam Kolarek. Ramirez has raised his OPS against lefties from .562 to .889 in nine at-bats.

“Even before the left-hander came in the game, [he had] balls hit hard to the right side of the field,” manager John Farrell said. “That’s when we feel Hanley is locked in.”

Ramirez has been solid overall over these past 10 days, hitting .366 with seven extra-base hits in his past 43 plate appearances.

* The Springfield Republican

Rick Porcello allows just one run, but Red Sox fail to score in loss to Tampa Bay

Jen McCaffrey

It marked the ninth time in 19 of his starts this season that Rick Porcello received zero runs of support from his teammates.

Porcello allowed a sacrifice fly in the second inning accounting for the only run of the game as the Red Sox fell to the Rays 1-0 on Saturday.

Porcello allowed one run on six hits and no walks while striking out seven over eight innings of work in one of the best starts of his season. He threw 111 pitches, 80 for strikes.

The outing lowered his first half ERA to 4.75.

But Alex Cobb was even more impressive on the mound for the Rays. Cobb allowed just two hits and a walk (which he didn't issue until the eighth) over 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out three.

Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts were the only two batters to record a hit off Cobb.

Mitch Moreland hit a double in the ninth off Rays closer Alex Colome after Bogaerts drew a one-out walk. Hanley Ramirez struck out and Colome intentionally walked Andrew Benintendi before Chris Young popped out to end it.

The Red Sox send David Price to the mound on Sunday for their final game before the All-Star break.

Red Sox set starting rotation for after the All-Star break

Jen McCaffrey

The Red Sox haven't reached the All-Star break yet, but they've already mapped out the starting rotation for the first two series following next week's midseason vacation.

Manager John Farrell told reporters in Florida that Drew Pomeranz, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello and David Price would start in that order for the weekend series at home against the New York Yankees.

The Red Sox have a doubleheader Sunday, July 16 against the Yankees so they will stick with six starters for now.

Boston then begins a four-game series against Toronto before heading out to the west coast for a week to play Anaheim and Seattle.

Against Toronto, the Red Sox will start Eduardo Rodriguez, Doug Fister and Pomeranz and Sale.

Rodriguez's start will be his first since partially dislocating his knee in early June.

Dave Dombrowski thinks John Farrell 'has done a good job' managing the Red Sox this season

Jen McCaffrey

The Red Sox are guaranteed to finish in first place in the American League East at the break.

It will be the first time the club has been in first at the halfway mark since 2013.

The Red Sox currently sit four games ahead of the second-place Yankees in the division and though there have been plenty ups and downs through the first part of the season, the results are all that matter and Boston is winning.

On Saturday, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski continued to voice his support for manager John Farrell.

"John is a good manager. He's done a good job for us," Dombrowski told reporters. "I'm not publicly in a position to evaluate managers. I never really have done that. I think it speaks for itself that we work together well, we've done a nice job, our club has played well, he's on top of things. He's doing well."

* RedSox.com

Porcello's gem not enough as Red Sox shut out

Bill Chastain and Ian Browne

ST. PETERSBURG -- Zeros were the order of the day on late Saturday afternoon when Rick Porcello and Alex Cobb took the mound for the Red Sox and Rays, respectively, at Tropicana Field.

The right-handers were on, making runs precious. In the end, one proved enough as the third-place Rays took a 1-0 win to move to within 4-1/2 games of the American League East -leading Red Sox heading into Sunday's first-half finale. The Rays last won a 1-0 contest on Aug. 20, 2015, at Houston.

"Exciting win to say the least," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It was awesome to see the crowd get into it there at the end. Not a lot of hitting, but a lot of pitches were made. A lot of plays on defense. Their guy was outstanding. Our guy was just a tick better. Alex set the tone. We knew we needed a big start out of him."

The Red Sox looked primed to tie it up or even take the lead in the top of the ninth against Rays closer Alex Colome when Mitch Moreland smashed a double to right that put runners on second and third with one out. But Hanley Ramirez struck out and Chris Young popped up to end it. Red Sox manager John Farrell could have used lefty Jackie Bradley Jr. -- who had a rare day off -- to pinch-hit for Young, but opted not to.

"Right-handers are hitting nearly .300 against Colome on the year," Farrell said. "Felt like we had the right guys in the order where we were. Chris has been so good with bases-loaded situations where he's remained patient, he's laid off some borderline pitches. Like I said, I thought we had the right guys at the plate."

The only run scored came in the second when Steven Souza Jr. and Brad Miller singled to open the inning. Adeiny Hechavarria then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play but the Rays challenged, and the call was overturned to leave runners at first and third with one out. Porcello then hit Shane Peterson to load the bases for Jesus Sucre, who seized the moment by delivering a sacrifice fly to center that scored Souza Jr. and put the Rays up 1-0.

That run was the only blemish during Porcello's eight innings of work, but it was enough to hand the 2016 AL Cy Young Award-winner his 11th loss of the season.

"Hats off to Alex Cobb, he threw an incredible ball game and did a great job," Porcello said. "When their guy's throwing the ball that well, runs are at a premium. Just a tough one. We'll get back out there tomorrow."

Cobb notched his third scoreless start of the season, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out three in 7 2/3 innings to pick up the win and move to 7-6 on the season. Colome recorded the final four outs of the game to preserve the win and pick up his 24th save of the season.

"Just an exciting game," Cobb said. "The electricity in the stadium. The ability to work deep into the game. There's so many good things to point out from tonight. What the defense was able to do behind me. [Hechavarria] was making probably two of the top 10 plays of the night [in MLB].

"Sucre coming up with the big RBI and the way he was able to handle the game calling behind the plate was just fun. And then walking off the mound at the end and hearing the fans. ... All the way down to the wire, and Colome came up huge. Settled down. I don't know how he doesn't show any emotion on the mound."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Sucre delivers: Sucre's offense has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Rays this season. While spelling everyday catcher Wilson Ramos on Saturday, opportunity came Sucre's way in the second when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Porcello fell behind 1-0 when his first-pitch slider missed. Sucre then swung at Porcello's second pitch, an 86.9-mph slider, and flied out to center field. Souza scored on the play and that run held for the eventual game-winner.

"I've never done good against [Porcello]," Sucre said. "So I just tried not to get too big and put the ball in play."

Colome to the rescue: Colome entered the game with two outs in the eighth and retired Mookie Betts on a flyout to center to end the inning. Things then got interesting in the ninth when Xander Bogaerts drew a one-out walk and Moreland followed with a double. But Colome recovered to strike out Hanley Ramirez swinging. After intentionally walking Andrew Benintendi to load the bases, Colome retired Chris Young on a popout to shortstop to end the game.

QUOTABLE

"I went up to [Colome] and said, 'Nobody said it was going to be easy. You got one out. Don't try to do too much.'" -- Sucre, on his ninth-inning mound visit

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

• Saturday marked just the 11th time since 1913 that the Red Sox have lost a 1-0 game when the only run allowed was on a sacrifice fly. It was the first time Boston has lost in such fashion since Sept. 10, 2007, on a sac fly by Tampa Bay's Josh Wilson at Fenway Park.

• Sucre's sacrifice fly was the 55th RBI from Rays catchers this season, matching their total from the 2016 season.

UNDER REVIEW

The Rays challenged in the second inning when Hechavarria was called out at first on the back end of an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. After a delay of 1 minute, 34 seconds, the call on the field was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rays: Chris Archer (7-5, 3.95) gets the nod for the Rays in the series finale against the Red Sox on Sunday in a 1:10 p.m. ET contest at Tropicana Field. On Tuesday against the Cubs, the right-hander threw a season-high 116 pitches and notched his 11th quality start of the season.

Red Sox: Left-hander David Price (4-2, 4.02) closes out his abbreviated first half when he starts the finale of this four-game series against the team that drafted and developed him. Price is 36-30 with a 2.88 ERA lifetime at Tropicana Field. Price missed the first two months of the season with a left elbow strain, but is coming off two strong starts in wins over the Twins and Rangers.

Lin, Marrero force tough decisions for Red Sox

Ian Browne

ST. PETERSBURG -- Tzu-Wei Lin and Deven Marrero have given the Red Sox a recent jolt of energy filling in at third base, and it will create some interesting decisions shortly after the All-Star break.

Third baseman Pablo Sandoval's Minor League rehab stint ends on July 16, and Brock Holt's will be up four days later.

Sandoval has struggled during his opportunities this season, slashing .212/.269/.354 and making five errors in 58 total chances. The Red Sox owe him the balance of his $17 million salary for this season, and he is on the books for $18 million annually in 2018-19. The Red Sox also have a $5 million buyout on Sandoval's $17 million option in '20.

"The unfortunate part is that you end up in a position that sometimes you have to make various decisions because of time frames that are involved," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "You've got disablements that become reinstatements. You have trading deadlines that can't be stretched any longer. So, you're forced into making decisions. I don't know what we're going to do.

"But I have no qualms that these guys have done a tremendous job for us. Really, it's a situation where they've played very well here at this point. Sometimes you're just forced into making decisions because of time frames."

Holt's ability to play first base could allow the Red Sox to option Sam Travis, a top prospect who has only been starting against lefties. That could allow Marrero or Lin to remain on the roster when Sandoval and Holt are ready to return.

Despite the contributions by Marrero and Lin, the Red Sox could also look to make upgrades at third base via a trade by the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

"They've stabilized the position is the best way to say it. Stabilized and provided some help for us," Dombrowski said. "But I think you're also in a spot that you're always cognizant of trying to help the club however you can. I don't want to just single that spot out. I am a believer that if you're going to do something to help your club, you need to do it by the 31st of July or August 1. Because after that, you don't control your own destiny."

Holt is finally turning the corner in his recovery from vertigo, which put him on the disabled list April 21. His Red Sox return will be significant given his ability to play seven positions and his left-handed bat.

"He's been pretty much symptom-free coming out of the games in which he's played," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "So we'll get him on the infield a little bit more frequently while with [Triple-A] Pawtucket but the way he's tracked the baseball at the plate, the way he's moved defensively, it's all been moving in a positive direction."

As for how the roster will shake out within the next couple of weeks, the Red Sox will make that evaluation as best they can when the time comes.

"Those two guys as we've talked about repeatedly for the past three or four, five days, they've done a fantastic job," Farrell said. "Tzu-Wei and Deven have been very good and I think when you have good players that are performing well, those are the type of decisions you want. You want difficult decisions.

"That's a testament to our depth. Some of it may be a pleasant surprise, particularly in Linnie's case. So, you know, we've got these first two games to take care of before we go to the break and we'll take care of the decisions when they come about."

Even in loss, Red Sox can celebrate Porcello

Ian Browne

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rick Porcello's best performance of 2017 resulted in yet another loss, his 11th of the season. Though the 1-0 defeat to the Rays stung in the short-term, the big-picture implications of Porcello's recent resurgence is no small thing for the Red Sox.

In a rotation that already includes Chris Sale, David Price, the recently-hot Drew Pomeranz and the soon- to-be-returning Eduardo Rodriguez, a resurgent Porcello would allow manager John Farrell to send a solid starter to the mound during each turn through the rotation.

"He's on a pretty good run right now," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "That's probably four of the last five where he's been consistent with his location to the bottom of the strike zone, which is key for him."

Over eight innings on Saturday, Porcello (4-11, 4.75 ERA) allowed six hits and walked none while striking out seven. The only run he allowed in his eighth career complete game was on a sacrifice fly.

This was the fourth consecutive strong start from Porcello, who has held opponents to a .228 average during that span. In his 15 prior starts, he was getting hit at a .316 clip.

"His location is much more consistent," Farrell said. "The shape to his curveball is there. He had four pitches today that he was throwing extremely well. Front-door sinker to left-handers on occasion, elevated by design. That was a strong effort on Rick's part."

In nine of Porcello's 11 losses, he has received zero runs of support.

But you won't hear Porcello complain about a trend like that. Instead, he continues to focus on trying to give the Red Sox more consistent results.

"Yeah, definitely, my last three or four have felt a lot better in overall aggressiveness and amount of hits," Porcello said. "And hard-hit balls have definitely decreased so that's a positive for sure."

Keys to the turnaround?

"It's hard to really say," Porcello said. "Some of it's mechanical, being aggressive, picking up the tempo, doing some different things. There's not one thing in particular, but I'm just getting into the flow of the game and trying to eliminate that big inning."

With the All-Star break coming up, Porcello looks forward to a brief recharge and a solid second half.

"I feel great," Porcello said. "Physically, my body feels good. Mentally, I'm ready to go out there and have a good second half for our ballclub."

* ESPNBoston.com

Red Sox exec Dave Dombrowski: No need for more starting pitchers

Scott Lauber

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- With three weeks to go before the trade deadline, Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is still "not sure what we're going to do." One thing the team won't consider: Trading for a starting pitcher.

"We're not looking for starting pitching at this point," Dombrowski said Saturday. "That's not a need for our club."

Third base, on the other hand...

Despite entering Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays with a four-game lead in the American League East, the Red Sox have gotten a .620 OPS from the third-base position, the second-least production ahead of only the San Francisco Giants (.609). Fill-ins Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin have played solid defense and provided unexpected sparks at the bottom of the order over the past two weeks, and the Sox are 26-14 when at least one of them starts.

But Dombrowski still sounds like he plans to pursue a possible upgrade. Among the third basemen who could be available before the July 31 deadline: Todd Frazier (Chicago White Sox), Martin Prado (Miami Marlins) and Jed Lowrie (Oakland Athletics).

"They've done a good job for us, no question," Dombrowski said of Marrero and Lin. "They've stabilized the position, is the best way to say it -- stabilized and provided some help for us. But I think you're also in a spot that you're always cognizant of trying to help the club however you can."

The Red Sox also will have to deal with the return of third baseman Pablo Sandoval, whose minor-league rehab assignment from an inner-ear infection will expire on July 17. Sandoval is batting only .212 with four homers and a .622 OPS in 99 at-bats, but has approximately $50.2 million remaining on a contract that runs through the 2019 season.

Bullpen help is another area the Red Sox could pursue. But when it comes to the rotation, David Price is back from a spring-training elbow injury and fellow left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is expected to return from the disabled list after the All-Star break. The Red Sox recently addressed their rotation depth by claiming veteran right-hander Doug Fister off waivers.

"We can always get deeper," Dombrowski said. "But I don't know how much deeper you can get at this particular time in that regard."

Based on conversations with every team, Dombrowski said only a handful have identified as full-fledged sellers. With a majority of teams at least on the verge of contention for a playoff spot, most clubs won't decide to sell until July 31 draws closer.

"The reality is that most people are saying they want to push their decisions off until as late as they possibly can," Dombrowski said. "I'm not saying that somebody wouldn't do something (soon), but I think most people are saying, let's just see where we go in the next couple weeks."

* WEEI.com

Xander Bogaerts' hand is still really swollen

Rob Bradford

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Xander Bogaerts was hopeful he could play Friday night. But when he woke up, that option quickly went out the window.

Bogaerts showed up to Tropicana Field before the Red Sox' second game of their series with the Rays with a right hand that was extremely swollen. It was, of course, a byproduct of being hit in the side of the hand with a 92 mph fastball in the first inning of the Sox' 4-1 loss the night before.

"I knew coming into today it would be tough to play, but I didn't expect it to feel this bad," Bogaerts said. "Hopefully tomorrow it's much better than it is today."

Bogaerts did try and go out in the field after suffering the injury in the top of the first, but after making one throw it became clear Tsu-Wei Lin would be forced to move over to shortstop. A little time later he was receiving X-rays, which ultimately came back negative.

"I was looking to play today, but I can't," said Bogaerts, who recently missed two games due to a sore groin muscle. "I've missed a lot of games this past week so I just want to be out there and play a few games because otherwise it's going to be a long time off. It went down a lot but it still has some swelling in areas. I'm lucky it didn't get me on the bone, but it still hurts. ... To hold a bat and to throw a bat is pretty tough. Throwing-wise a bit more, to be honest."

Bogaerts is currently hitting .308 with an .818 OPS, having just finished second to Kansas City's Mike Moustakas for the final spot on the American League All-Star team.

Rays 1, Red Sox 0: Rick Porcello bounces back, but bats are silenced

John Tomase

The Red Sox lost to the Rays on Saturday in St. Petersburg, but we may look back on the outing as a turning point for Rick Porcello.

The defending Cy Young Award winner delivered his best start of the season in the 1-0 defeat. Though he fell to 4-11 after being outdueled by Alex Cobb, he limited the Rays to one run on six hits over eight innings, striking out seven and walking none.

With the Red Sox looking like the class of the American League East, they can pretty much put things away with a return to form by Porcello, who went 22-4 last year. On Saturday, he gave himself some positive momentum heading into the All-Star break.

"Hats off to Alex Cobb. He threw an incredible ball game, did a great job," Porcello told reporters. "When their guy's throwing the ball that well, runs are at a premium. It's just a tough one. We'll get back out there tomorrow."

Porcello was undone by a run in the second inning that scored after two singles and a double play overturned on replay. The Red Sox never threatened against Cobb, who limited them to two hits over 7 2/3 innings. Alex Colome nailed down the four-out save, but not before putting runners at second and third with one out in the ninth before striking out Hanley Ramirez and popping up Chris Young to end it.

In the big picture, the real story was Porcello, who authored his best outing since limiting the Twins to one run in seven innings of an 11-1 victory on May 6.

"He's on, in his own right, a pretty good run right now," manager John Farrell told reporters. "That's probably four of the last five where he's been consistent with his location to the bottom of the strike zone, which is key for him. He stays out of the middle of the plate, going to the lane in which he's intending to, whether that's to the glove side or arm side. A strong effort on his part."

With Chris Sale dealing, David Price pitching surprisingly well, and Eduardo Rodriguez due back shortly, the Red Sox are positioned to ride their pitching to a division title. Porcello's return to form would make that task infinitely easier.

* CSNNE.com

Drellich: Red Sox still need to seek help at third base via trade

Evan Drellich

BOSTON — The Red Sox would be taking a big risk if they convince themselves Tzu-Wei Lin’s immediate success is reason to pass on a trade for a third baseman.

Indications are the team is well aware of that potential pitfall.

The 23-year-old from Taiwan could prove the real deal. There’s reason to believe that he can help the Sox down the stretch.

But there’s not enough evidence to look at him as the solution, or even one half of it. There’s not enough time, not enough plate appearances available, for the Sox to feel settled at their most unsettling position before the trade deadline.

In a championship-caliber season, Sox president of baseball operations Dombrowski cannot look at Lin and Deven Marrero and back away from the trade market.

The Sox have the worst production at third base of any team and the fewest homers in the American League. They have an excellent club, but so do the Astros, who have an offense that can blow the Red Sox’ out of the water.

Dombrowski knows that. Third-base prospect Rafael Devers clearly isn’t going to get a look in the majors before the trade deadline, and that’s the most pragmatic pace for the 20-year-old’s development.

So here’s betting Dombrowski upgrades the greatest question mark he faces, despite the excitement Lin has brought and the great glove work of Marrero.

Lin is physically stronger this year than in the past. His minor league performance took a dramatic upturn this year before he was called up to the big leagues. He had an .870 OPS at Double-A Portland, after posting a .580 OPS at the same level a year ago.

The Sox believe in Lin’s maturity. They’re not surprised he’s taken a step forward. But 13 games in the majors isn’t enough of a sample size. The same will be true 26 games in.

Consider the expectations the Red Sox have and who’s running them. If Dealer Dave decides he doesn’t need a third baseman, what’s left for him at this trade deadline? Another Fernando Abad?

A reliever, if priced reasonably, would actually be beneficial. But third base has been a drag for too long for Dombrowski to stand pat.

There’s no point in chasing the past, but the winter could influence his mindset. Where was the known quantity he needed?

Dombrowski traded away Travis Shaw and didn’t land anyone else as a back-up plan for Pablo Sandoval. Dombo’s paid for it.

Sox manager John Farrell seems to be crushing hard on the intangibles Lin is bringing. What’s most important are the hits he has brought so far.

Emphasis on, so far.

Lin’s discovery is a pleasant one as the Sox get on a roll. But the Sox need to still prioritize third base as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

* Associated Press

Cobb, Rays blank Porcello, Red Sox 1-0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays made the most of a replay reversal. Alex Cobb led the way.

Cobb pitched two-hit ball into the eighth inning and the Rays beat Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox 1- 0 on Saturday.

"Their guy was outstanding," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said, "our guy was just a tick better."

Cobb (7-6) retired 11 straight over one stretch. Alex Colome got the final four outs for his 24th save.

The Red Sox put runners on second and third with one out in the ninth. Hanley Ramirez then struck out swinging. After rookie Andrew Benintendi was walked intentionally, Chris Young popped out to end the game.

"A great game," said Mookie Betts, who had one of Boston's three hits. "You can't ask for a better pitchers' duel."

Porcello (4-11) became the majors' first 11-game loser despite pitching a gem. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked none in his first complete game of the season.

"There's a lot that's out of your control as far as wins and losses go," said Porcello, who was 11-2 at the All- Star break a year ago. "I've just got to go out there and give us a chance to win every fifth day, and we're going to win a lot more games than we're going to lose."

Jesus Sucre drove in the game's only run with a sacrifice fly in the second after singles by Steven Souza Jr., and Brad Miller.

The inning was kept alive by a replay reversal of a double-play call. A 94-second review determined Adeiny Hechavarria had beaten Dustin Pedroia's throw to first base. Porcello then hit Shane Peterson with a pitch before Sucre hit a fly ball to center, driving in Souza.

"A bang-bang play at first that they overturned to give them an extra out, and the sacrifice fly, otherwise that's the end of an inning," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "So unfortunately the way things have gone for Rick, he pitches well and yet we come up on the short end offensively."

Xander Bogaerts beat out an infield chopper in the first, Betts singled to center in the third and Mitch Moreland doubled in the ninth for Boston's only hits.

Mallex Smith had two of Tampa Bay's six hits, including a two-out triple in the seventh.

The win got the Rays within 4 1/2 games of the AL East-leading Red Sox with one game left before the All-Star break.

"When you're walking off the mound you feel like that was just cool to be part of it," Cobb said. "The magnitude of it being the Red Sox and going into the All-Star break and us being in and out of the wild card -- all those factors come into play when you think about tonight."

PORCELLO WOES

Porcello received no run support for the ninth time in his 19 starts. He is 0-3 against the Rays this season after going 5-0 in six starts against them last season.

Porcello is the second reigning Cy Young Award winner to have 11 losses by the All-Star break the following season. Gaylord Perry did it in 1973.

SETTING THINGS UP

Farrell said left-hander Drew Pomeranz will start Friday night's first game after the All-Star break against the New York Yankees, with left-hander Chris Sale starting Saturday. Porcello and lefty David Price face the Yankees in a Sunday doubleheader.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: Bogaerts, who sat out Friday's game with a sore right hand, returned to the lineup. ... LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) will make a third rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Rays: 1B Rickie Weeks Jr. (right shoulder) is set to resume on-field batting practice.

UP NEXT

Tampa Bay All-Star RHP Chris Archer (7-5) and one-time Rays ace Price (4-2) are Sunday's starters. Archer is 2-11 with a 5.14 ERA in 17 starts against Boston.

* The Tampa Bay Times

Alex Cobb is brilliant as Rays shut out Red Sox

Marc Topkin

ST. PETERSBURG — Alex Cobb delivered a great start and Alex Colome provided a dramatic finish Saturday as the Rays squeaked out a 1-0 win over the Red Sox.

Cobb worked 72/3 innings in one of his best outings of the season, allowing just two hits. Then Colome finished, recording the final four outs for his 24th save, though not without some now seemingly requisite drama.

After getting the first out of the ninth, Colome, who has been struggling, walked Xander Bogaerts and gave up a double to Mitch Moreland. He came back to strike out Hanley Ramirez and, after intentionally walking Andrew Benintendi to load the bases, he got Chris Young to pop out to short.

The win improved the Rays to 46-43 and pulled them within 4½ games of the American League East- leading Red Sox heading into Sunday's final game before the All-Star break.

Cobb said on Friday he was sick of hearing people laud him for "grinding" his way through starts without his best stuff, that he wanted to "have some nice comfortable one-two-three innings and turn that into a quality outing."

He certainly accomplished that Saturday, before a Game of Thrones Day crowd of 23,419 at Tropicana Field — four of them to be exact on his way to a high-quality outing, allowing just two singles and a walk.

Cobb also pitched in with an impressive defensive play, a behind-his-back grab of Bogaerts' bouncer for the first out of the seventh.

But shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria put on the real defensive show, with a pair of dazzling plays. He leaped to snare Ramirez's liner in the second then dived to get a glove on Sandy Leon's laser in the fifth, scrambled to his feet and fired a throw to first.

The Rays got on the board in the second with Steven Souza Jr. singling, going to second on Brad Miller's single and third on Hechavarria's fielder's choice (that was originally called a double play then reversed on replay) and scoring on a sac fly by Jesus Sucre.

The Rays had chances to add on.

Three times, they stranded a runner at third base:

In the first, as Mallex Smith singled and moved up on two groundouts but was stranded when Logan Morrison struck out.

In the fifth, as Evan Longoria doubled with two outs and took third uncontested but Morrison struck out again, slamming his bat in frustration.

And in the seventh, as Smith tripled with two outs but All-Star Corey Dickerson grounded out, continuing an extended skid that is now at 3-for-31.

Plus in that second, they had the bases loaded with one out and got just the one run.