ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s only been two games, but so far it hasn’t been much of a September to remember for the Rays.
Thursday was their second straight loss since the calendar flipped and the second night they have looked bad in doing so, losing 4-0 to the Red Sox.
Shane McClanahan, the 24-year-old rookie left-hander who has emerged as their top starter, had a bad night, allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings.
But the bigger problem for the second straight night was the lack of offense, as the team that came in leading the majors in runs was shut out on just five hits.
The Rays managed just four hits through six-plus innings off Boston lefty Eduardo Rodriguez and nothing again until Joey Wendle’s single off reliever Garrett Richards to lead off the ninth.
Also, prized rookie Wander Franco left the game after drawing a walk in the seventh — extending his on-base streak to 33 games — after pointing to his right ear and indicating to the dugout that he couldn’t continue. The Rays said later he left due to a headache.
The loss dropped the Rays’ American League-best record to 84-50 and reduced their East division lead over the Yankees to 6 1/2 games.
The Tropicana Field crowd again was small, an announced 7,923 after drawing 6,753 Monday, 6,868 Tuesday and 7,808 Wednesday.
The Sox didn’t hit McClanahan hard but often enough to take an early lead and add on, twice taking advantage of leadoff walks.
They got one run in the first on a leadoff single by Hunter Renfroe and two more with two outs by Rafael Devers and Bobby Dalbec.
They got another run in the second when Danny Santana drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a bunt and scored on a two-out single by Renfroe.
And they added two in the fifth when Jonathan Arauz led off with a walk, then Kyle Schwarber and J.D. Martinez singled with one out and Dalbec with two.
The Rays didn’t get a runner on base until Mike Zunino opened the third with a single off Rodriguez.
They didn’t get a man to second base until Yandy Diaz followed Franco’s walk with a single, advancing pinch-runner Wendle. But Wendle got no further, as right-handed reliever Garrett Richards struck out Manuel Margot and Brandon Lowe, and Zunino flied out.
The Rays’ paltry offensive showing came a night after they lost 3-2, going 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven on and hitting into three double plays.
