While we wait for the Red Sox offense to consistently engage we can take comfort from a solid pitching performance by starter Wade Miley and the Boston bullpen in yesterday’s 1-0 win over the Rays. It was the 25th Boston shut out over Tampa Bay, the first since August 31, 2014. It was the first 1-0 shut out by the Red Sox against any team since beating the Twins on June 16, 2014.
The Red Sox improved to 9-5, including a 5-2 road record.
Despite a very good outing by Chris Archer on Tuesday, the Rays have now lost 4 in a row and are 1-6 at home this season.
With just one Red Sox run last night the club’s average scoring per game is now down to 5.07 behind the Blue Jays (5.93), Royals (5.79), Padres (5.33), and Tigers (5.14).
As noted previously, if we acknowledge starting pitching weakness, the Red Sox will need to rely on great offense, solid defense, and health. In the absence of any of those Boston has successfully created opportunities for generating opponents’ errors. As Peter Abraham reported in this morning’s Boston Globe, last night’s game marked the 21st error committed by a Red Sox opponent which has led to 19 unearned Red Sox runs, the most in the majors.