Red Sox Lose 2-1 To Tampa Bay Rays

Missed offensive opportunities cost the Boston Red Sox another series win.

Rene Rivera had a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Red Sox 2-1 on Thursday night.

Boston lost two of three to the Rays to drop their first series in four tries this season.

"We got shutdown tonight," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Credit their guys. They didn't fall behind in the count."

Boston went 1 for 23, including fred rour failed opportunities Thursday, with runners in scoring position over the three-game set.

Brandon Gomes struck out the only batter he faced, Boston pinch-hitter Hanley Ramirez, after falling behind 3-0 with two on to end the seventh.

"I thought Hanley had an opportunity there, and Gomes makes a quality 3-2 pitch with a changeup for strike three," Farrell said.

Clay Buchholz allowed one run and two hits over six innings for Boston. He struck out 10 and walked three.

"I felt really good," Buchholz said. "You're supposed to win the games you feel really good. That didn't happen tonight."

Buchholz didn't allow a run over 21 innings in his previous three road starts against the Rays, dating to 2012. The streak ended when the Rays tied it at 1 in the second on an RBI single by Logan Forsythe.

Boston opened the scoring earlier in the second on Daniel Nava's sacrifice fly.

Kevin Kiermaier made a diving catch in center charging toward the infield after first breaking the wrong way on Mookie Betts' fly with two on and two outs in the fifth.

"Mookie looks like he's got a tweener, and Kiermaier makes a heck of a diving catch to preserve a couple of runs," Farrell said. "We're not catching any breaks right now offensively."

Allan Dykstra opened the ninth with a single off Anthony Varvaro (0-1). Pinch-runner Tim Beckham went to second on Kiermaier's one-out single and scored the winning run on Rivera's hit down the third-base line.

"I think any walk-off is great," said Rivera, who is hitting .135 after going 1 for 3. "You win the game. You enjoy it. It's a great feeling."

Brad Boxberger (2-1) struck out one during a perfect ninth for the win.

Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi gave up one run, three hits, three walks and had three strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings.