ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For a change, the story with Chris Sale on Thursday night wasn't all the bats he missed, but the ones he didn't.
Wilson Ramos homered and drove in three against Sale despite the All-Star's record-setting performance, rookie Jake Faria remained unbeaten and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1.
Ramos homered on a first-pitch fastball for two runs in the sixth inning, the second homer allowed by Sale in the game.
"I was trying to get ahead," Sale said. "He had other plans."
Sale (11-4) struck out 12 while giving up four runs and seven hits in seven innings. He became the first Red Sox pitcher to strike out 10 or more in 12 games before the All-Star break, surpassing the 11 games of Pedro Martinez in 1999.
"The one thing with Chris -- you look at the walk totals (22 walks in 18 starts), he's going to be around the plate," Boston manager John Farrell said. "If guys are aggressive against him, they may end up getting a pitch that's on the plate because he attacks everyone."
Faria (4-0) gave up a run and four hits while walking four in six innings. The rookie right-hander has pitched at least six innings in each of his six starts.
Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Ramos' homer capped the scoring.
"It sucked the energy out of us, and that's on me," Sale said. "It's easier to fight when you're down one than when you're down three, so I put our guys in a bad spot."
Peter Bourjos had homered earlier to put the Rays up 2-1.
Ramos has three homers in seven games since returning from a torn ACL, and nine RBI in his past five games.
"I feel a lot better at the plate," he said. "I'm happy because I'm getting my timing back with my swing."
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts left in the first inning with a right hand contusion after getting hit by Faria's pitch. X-rays were negative.
Deven Marrero entered for Bogaerts and drove in Boston's run with a sacrifice fly in the third. The Red Sox entered with a four-game lead in the AL East but had only five hits, all singles.
MORRISON STREAKING
Rays first baseman Logan Morrison, who has reached base in 26 straight games, had two of his three hits off Sale and is now 5 for 12 against the left-hander. "His at-bats against Chris Sale are very impressive," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "You don't see too many left-handed hitters willing to stay in there like he does."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since June 2 with a right knee subluxation, pitched batting practice and will make another rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday before rejoining the rotation after the All-Star break.
Rays: INF Tim Beckham was out of the lineup with a sore left ankle.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (8-4) will pitch Friday night's game. He is 5-1 with a 2.52 ERA in his last nine starts.
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (5-3) has allowed a home run in 12 straight appearances, a franchise record, but is 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA in five home starts against Boston
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball





Final
Series: Game 1 of 4

Red Sox 1

(49-37, 24-23 away)

Rays 4

(45-42, 25-18 home)




7:10PM,EDT,July 6,2017
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg,Florida 

123456789 R H E
BOS 001000000 1 6 1
TB 00011200 - 4 8 1
W: J. Faria (4-0)
L: C. Sale (11-4)
S: A. Colome (23)




View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Boston - Top of 1stSCORE
Jacob Faria pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Betts popped out to second.00
Pedroia singled to left center.00
Bogaerts hit by pitch, Pedroia to second.00
Moreland flied out to left.00
Ramírez grounded out to shortstop.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Marrero at third base.00
Lin at shortstop.00
Souza Jr. struck out swinging.00
Plouffe struck out swinging.00
Longoria struck out swinging.00
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 2ndSCORE
Jacob Faria pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Benintendi singled to center.00
Bradley Jr. flied out to center.00
Benintendi caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.00
León grounded out to third.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Morrison singled to left.00
Ramos flied out to center, Morrison to third on throwing error by center fielder Bradley Jr..00
Featherston struck out looking.00
Hechavarria struck out swinging.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors
Boston - Top of 3rdSCORE
Jacob Faria pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Lin walked.00
Betts popped out to third.00
Pedroia singled to center, Lin to third.00
Marrero hit sacrifice fly to left, Lin scored.10
Moreland walked, Pedroia to second.10
Ramírez struck out swinging.10
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Bourjos popped out to third.10
Smith singled to left center.10
Smith stole second.10
Souza Jr. struck out swinging.10
Plouffe struck out swinging.10
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 4thSCORE
Jacob Faria pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Benintendi grounded out to second.10
Bradley Jr. grounded out to first.10
León grounded out to pitcher.10
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4thSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Longoria struck out swinging.10
Morrison singled to center.10
Ramos doubled to deep center, Morrison scored.11
Featherston struck out swinging.11
Hechavarria grounded out to pitcher.11
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 5thSCORE
Jacob Faria pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Lin walked.11
Betts popped out to third.11
Pedroia struck out swinging.11
Lin out at third advancing on play.11
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Bourjos homered to left (360 feet).12
Smith flied out to left.12
Souza Jr. struck out swinging.12
Plouffe popped out to second.12
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 6thSCORE
Jacob Faria pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Marrero reached on infield single to shortstop.12
Moreland grounded out to second, Marrero to second.12
Ramírez flied out to right.12
Benintendi walked.12
Bradley Jr. lined out to right.12
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Longoria doubled to left.12
Morrison grounded out to first, Longoria to third.12
Ramos homered to left center (415 feet), Longoria scored.14
Featherston struck out looking.14
Hechavarria popped out to shortstop.14
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 7thSCORE
Brad Boxberger pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
León struck out looking.14
Lin grounded out to pitcher.14
Betts struck out swinging.14
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Chris Sale pitching for BostonBOSTB
Bourjos flied out to center.14
Smith grounded out to first.14
Souza Jr. struck out looking.14
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 8thSCORE
Tommy Hunter pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Pedroia reached first on infield single, advanced to second on throwing error by pitcher Hunter.14
Marrero struck out looking.14
Moreland grounded out to shortstop, Pedroia to third.14
Ramírez grounded out to third.14
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors
Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Blaine Boyer pitching for BostonBOSTB
Dickerson struck out looking.14
Longoria popped out to first.14
Morrison doubled to deep right. Ramos intentionally walked.14
Featherston grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Ramos out at second.14
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Boston - Top of 9thSCORE
Alex Colome pitching for Tampa BayBOSTB
Benintendi struck out swinging.14
Bradley Jr. grounded out to pitcher.14
León singled to center.14
Lin grounded into fielder's choice to second, León out at second.14
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors





Boston Red Sox
HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Betts RF40000110.274.353.485
Pedroia 2B40300118.304.386.380
Bogaerts SS0000004.308.363.455
20110114.214.257.341
Moreland 1B30001015.263.353.456
Ramírez DH40000111.253.341.433
Benintendi LF30101116.287.365.461
Bradley Jr. CF40000017.280.360.484
León C40100118.247.290.386
Lin 3B-SS21002020.310.429.448
Totals3016146143   
BATTING
RBI: Marrero (20)
SF: Marrero
Red Sox RISP: 0-8 (Ramírez 0-4, Marrero 0-1, Bradley Jr. 0-1, Moreland 0-2)
Team LOB: 8
BASERUNNING
CS: Benintendi (3, 2nd base by Faria/Ramos)
FIELDING
E: Bradley Jr. (2, throw)

Game Notes

SS BOGAERTS (HAND CONTUSION) LEFT GAME BOT 1ST

Game Information

StadiumTropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Attendance23,375 (75.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time2:43
Weatherindoors
UmpiresHome Plate - Ed Hickox, First Base - Jerry Meals, Second Base - Ron Kulpa, Third Base - Chris Conroy