The Red Sox arrived in St. Petersburg with a straightforward chance to lock up an American League Wild Card berth, but Sunday’s series finale against the Rays got away from them before the first inning was over.
Boston fell 5-1 after Patrick Sandoval endured a 40-pitch opening frame that produced four Tampa Bay runs. The loss denied the Red Sox an immediate postseason clinch in the rubber match of the three-game set, though their spot in the 2026 playoffs could still be secured later Sunday if the Astros lost to the Braves.
Houston’s game began 30 minutes after Boston’s 1:40 p.m. ET first pitch. Even without help elsewhere, the Red Sox remain in strong position entering their final six home games. It would take a dramatic late collapse, combined with a surge from another contender, to keep Boston out of the 12-team postseason field.
Sandoval settles after rough first
The first inning put Sandoval and the Red Sox in an early hole, but the left-hander kept competing. He worked seven innings and allowed only one hit after the initial damage, with that hit coming on a solo home run.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Sandoval | 7 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
Sandoval’s recovery gave Boston innings and prevented the afternoon from getting further out of hand, but the club never found enough offense to make a push.
Short-handed lineup cannot break through
The Red Sox were without Willson Contreras, who was sidelined by a bruised knuckle on his right hand. Ceddanne Rafaela remained on the injured list with a right quadriceps issue, while Wilyer Abreu received a day of rest.
That lineup struggled to generate sustained traffic against Griffin Jax and the Tampa Bay bullpen. Boston managed just one run, leaving its postseason celebration on hold for at least a few more hours.
