Kutter Crawford allowed his league-high 34th home run, a go-ahead hit by Junior Caminero, and suffered his major league-worst 16th loss as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Saturday.
“Command was off today. He didn’t have feel for the four-seamer,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “So, a lot of cutters. He’s very efficient if he attacks the zone. Today he was erratic.”
Caminero had three RBIs for the Rays (80-81), who could avoid their first losing season since 2017 with a series sweep. Caminero and Brandon Lowe both had three hits.
“I felt good,” Caminero said through a translator. “Go out there, play my game that I know how to play. Things are working out for me right now. And just being consistent, that’s the key for me.”
Shane Baz (4-3) won his third straight start, giving up two runs and three hits in six innings while striking out seven, walking one, hitting two batters, and having a run-scoring wild pitch.
“Very encouraged with the way he finished it,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “He looked good today. Limited damage.
Did a nice job of being super efficient, even with the home run in the first inning. The swings and misses that they took, the efficiency. I think you respect the fact that he’s got nasty stuff. Guys don’t want to get deep in an at-bat with him, and that works in his favor if he’s throwing strikes like he was.”
Crawford (9-16) allowed six runs, five hits, and four walks in 4 1/3 innings while striking out six, finishing with a 4.36 ERA. His 33 starts tied for the major league lead.
“Not very good,” Crawford said. “Didn’t have a whole lot of feel for the fastball, so I had to use the cutter a lot, but just not a very good outing.” Tristan Casas hit his 13th homer to put Boston ahead in the first.
Caminero gave the Rays a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the third off Crawford (9-16) after Yandy Díaz walked.
Tampa Bay expanded their lead to 6-1 in the fifth with consecutive one-out singles by Díaz, Brandon Lowe, Caminero, and Jonathan Arando, with the last two driving in runs. Josh Lowe hit a two-run single off Greg Weissert.
