The Boston Red Sox left Tropicana Field on last night after a tough 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, but they did so with determination and a positive outlook.
As they packed their bags, they were ready to enjoy an upcoming off-day at home and then return to business on Friday night at Fenway Park.
With only 22 games left in the regular season and a five-game deficit in the American League Wild Card standings, this next homestand against the Orioles and Yankees could be their last stand in the fight for the postseason.
Despite the missed opportunity to gain ground on the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays, who both lost on Wednesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora remained upbeat. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming week, stating, “We have the best team in the American League, and then we have the Yankees and we have Toronto and Texas on the next road trip. This week is going to be huge for us.”
Cora acknowledged the grind of the season and the challenges they constantly face.
“It’s hard,” he Cora. “Let’s be honest, we haven’t played good baseball, either [at times]. We put ourselves in that spot in certain weeks. We just have to keep grinding. We came here for three days and they won the series, but we were right there.”
“We just have to keep playing good baseball. Friday night at Fenway, we’ve got Tanner [Houck]. We have a good team coming and we just have to be ready.”
Cora’s optimism came after a gritty performance by Nick Pivetta, who took the mound on just three days of rest. Pivetta’s versatility and commitment to the team were acknowledged by Cora, who said, “He’s been outstanding. He prepares. He wants to compete.”
"We didn't do much offensively but, I think we competed today. It was good. I thought Nick (Pivetta) was outstanding"
Alex Cora on tonight's loss against Tampa Bay | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/pjGu0oDY1x
— NESN (@NESN) September 7, 2023
FanGraphs currently gives the Red Sox a mere 4.1 percent chance of making the playoffs, making every game critical from here on out. Cora acknowledged the challenges faced this season, including inconsistent defense and performance from the starting rotation, but he stressed the importance of perseverance.
First baseman Triston Casas shared his perspective, reflecting on the previous homestand’s struggles and expressing hope for a turnaround.
“I think last homestand was pretty rough, offensively and defensively, but I think we found something in Kansas City those last couple of days,” he said. “We put together really good at-bats the first day here, and then yesterday, and today, just faced a lot of good pitchers.”
Pivetta summed up the team’s collective spirit, emphasizing their dedication and determination: “We live to play baseball. We love playing and showing up every single day for the fans, for the organization, for each other in this room. It’s just the fight of every single dog in this clubhouse.”
Will the Red Sox make the playoffs?
If not, what needs to be done this offseason in Boston?