Facing a matinee at the Rays, the Red Sox want to avoid a sweep after their latest loss pushed their series record to 6-14-2. Catcher Mickey Gasper called the effort to win “incredibly frustrating” as Jake Bennett is expected to start Wednesday’s finale, with
The Red Sox have been knocking on the door night after night, and Tuesday’s result still didn’t open it.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” catcher Mickey Gasper said. “We’re all trying to help the team win, and we’re knocking at the door every night.”
The frustration lands on a familiar day-and-time setup for Boston: a 1:10 p.m. matinee as the Red Sox aim to avoid a sweep in Game 66 against the Rays. The Rays enter the day as the steeper side in form and in record, and Boston is trying to snap that momentum before heading back home.
Jake Bennett is expected to get called up from Worcester to start Wednesday afternoon’s finale. The 25-year-old left-hander has gone 3-2 with a 1.60 ERA in nine starts with the WooSox. He made his major league debut on May 1, throwing five innings of one-run ball in a win over the Astros.
Tampa Bay will counter with Drew Rasmussen. His last time out, Rasmussen tossed seven innings of one-hit ball in a 6-0 win over the Marlins.
Boston’s lineup for the game is Duran LF, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, Contreras 1B, Gasper C, Yoshida DH, Durbin 3B, Kiner-Falefa SS, Monasterio 2B. Pitching: LHP Jake Bennett (1-1, 4.35 ERA).
The Rays’ lineup is Diaz DH, Slater RF, Caminero 3B, Vilade LF, Aranda 1B, Williamson 2B, Fortes C, Mullins CF, Walls SS. Pitching: RHP Drew Rasmussen (5-2, 3.00 ERA). TV and radio are NESN and WEEI-FM 93.7.
The matchup between the Red Sox and Rasmussen has already left traces. Rasmussen is 1-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 10 games, including six starts, against the Red Sox.
Boston’s last time seeing Bennett also provides a storyline for how this day could swing. Bennett faced the Rays once before and allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one in 5⅓ innings in an 8-4 loss on May 7.
There are other stubborn numbers hanging over Boston’s timing. The Red Sox are 1-32 when trailing after seven innings, and 0-35 when they were behind entering the ninth. Day games have been a tougher route, too: the Red Sox are 10-17 in day games.
Series play has offered its own weight. Tuesday’s loss dropped the Sox to 6-14-2 in series play.
After this afternoon’s game, the Sox will head back to Boston and will be off on Thursday before opening a six-game homestand on Friday against the Rangers.
The hitters’ past work against these starters adds more color to the afternoon’s stakes. Red Sox vs. Rasmussen: Wilyer Abreu 1-3. Willson Contreras 1-1. Jarren Duran 2-12. Caleb Durbin 0-2. Nate Eaton 1-2. Mickey Gasper 0-1. Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3-6. Marcelo Mayer 0-1. Carlos Narváez 0-2. Ceddanne Rafaela 1-2. Connor Wong 1-1. Masataka Yoshida 2-4.
Rays vs. Bennett: Jonathan Aranda 0-3, Junior Caminero 1-3, Yandy Díaz 1-2, Nick Fortes 1-2, Cedric Mullins 1-2, Ryan Vilade 1-3, Taylor Walls 0-1, Ben Williamson 1-2.
The Red Sox can’t afford to treat any of it like background noise. In their effort to avoid the sweep, their math is unforgiving, and their timing matters—especially when games start to lean the wrong way late.
Red Sox Rays Game 66 Mickey Gasper Jake Bennett Drew Rasmussen matinee Worcester NESN WEEI-FM 93.7 series play