BOSTON
Anthony Ranaudo and a lineup loaded with rookies gave the Boston Red Sox reason to be optimistic for next season.
Starting seven rookies for the first time since 1971, when Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk was a September callup, the Red Sox beat Tampa Bay 11-3 on Wednesday night.
“Youth is served,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “This is a talented group. We’ve got the opportunity to give them experience.”
Garin Cecchini hit his first major league home run to help the fifth-place Boston Red Sox beat the fourthplace Rays. Ranaudo (4-3) settled down after spotting Tampa Bay two runs in the first, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk and striking out two to snap a threegame losing streak.
“I think this is a really good building block for me to take home for the offseason,” said Ranaudo (4-3), “I realized I needed to go deep into this game and really competed. That’s just what I tried to do.”
The victory was the 69th of the season for the defending AL East and World Series champions, who need one more win to beat their total from 2012 — their only season under Bobby Valentine. It was their most rookie laden lineup since Sept. 25, 1971, when the Red Sox beat the Washington Senators 6-3 and sent former Cy Young winner Denny McLain to his 22nd loss of the season.
The Red Sox twice batted around, scoring five runs in the fourth inning and four more in the sixth, when they drew five walks — three with the bases loaded. Jake Odorizzi (11-13) allowed five runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out three in three-plus innings.
In all, six Rays pitchers allowed 10 hits and nine walks.
“This is one of those blips on the pitching radar that we didn’t see coming,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “Jake had a hard time; the relievers had a hard time too. It was beyond them beating us up with hits. We just walked too many.”
It was 2-all in the bottom of the fourth with two on and nobody out when Mookie Betts singled to load the bases and chase Odorizzi. Xander Bogaerts singled to drive in two runs and Daniel Nava doubled to bring home two more. Brandon Gomes got the next two batters before walking Cecchini on a wild pitch that moved Nava to third.
Another wild pitch allowed Nava to score, and then Rusney Castillo walked before Gomes got Bryce Brentz on a grounder to end the inning.
Up next
The teams wrap up the three-game series on tonight when Allen Webster (4-3) takes the mound against Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-4). Then the Red Sox say goodbye to their World Series championship defense — and to Derek Jeter as well — with a season ending three-game series against the New York Yankees.
• Who: Tampa Bay Rays
at Boston Red Sox.
• Where: Fenway Park.
• When: 7:10 p.m.
tonight.
• Starting pitchers:
Tampa (Jeremy Hellickson
1-4) vs. Boston (Allen
Webster 4-3).
• TV: NESN.
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