One highlight from the Rays 3-2 extra innings loss to the Red Sox on Thursday, Matt Duffy (pictured) hit a two-run homer to give them a go-ahead lead. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

“Hot on the heels” of their 3-2, extra innings, walk-off loss on the Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays look to put an even number in the win column this afternoon in Boston. For the Rays, Jacob Faria (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound in his first career start at Fenway, pitching opposite of former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello (1-0, 1.69 ERA)

A few hot-takes from Thursday’s loss before we look forward to Saturday afternoon:

— Rays rookie right-hander, Yonny Chirinos, was dominant over his five inning, 54-pitch (38 strikes, 70.3% strike ratio) outing, relying primarily on a heavy sinker that coaxed a lot of early in the count ground ball outs. The right-hander didn’t walk a batter and struck out four, giving up just three hits along the way — none of which were struck particularly well by Boston’s lineup. Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted how humble, quiet and appreciative Chirinos has been of the opportunity.

The Rays initial idea was to go through at least the off-day heavy first six-weeks of the season with four starters and four long relievers. Yet that plan changed just before Opening Day when Nathan Eovaldi went down with an elbow injury requiring surgery, leaving the team with a three-man starting rotation. One would have to imagine that should Kevin Cash (and the pathologically frugal Stu Sternberg) add another full time arm to the rotation, Chirinos — who now has collected nine scoreless innings, including a four-inning relief appearance on Sunday in his MLB debut — would be the most sound choice.

— Not only did Matt Duffy hit a 410 foot home run to centerfield, he did so with a runner on the base paths. That’s not something that can often be said for the Rays.

— Brad Miller made a series of impressive plays at first base Thursday, repeatedly digging out throws in the dirt and bailing out Duffy and others. All this after he put up some pretty shotty glove work the day before.

— Adeiny Hechavarria took it to the bag himself in the ninth inning, then got it over to Miller in time for a clutch double play to put a victory well within the crosshairs.

Yet with two-outs, Alex Colome gave up the game tying hit that was just out of the reach of Mallex Smith.

I should have, Smith was quoted as saying after the game. It hit my glove, just the tip of it. Maybe if I have a little more room.

The New What Next

Jacob Faria faces the Red Sox again after he allowed one run in four innings against them on Sunday. He got the early hook on Sunday after throwing just 83 pitches (53 for strikes). He posted a solid 3.43 ERA and 8.7 K/9 over 86.7 innings last season, but his 4.16 FIP and .265 BABIP suggests he might have slightly overachieved. Faria will be making his first career start at Fenway Park.

Rick Porcello completed 5-1/3 solid innings and notched a win on Saturday against the Rays after he allowed one earned run on six hits and one walk while striking out four. While the right-hander had a successful 2018 debut, it remains to be seen whether his success will continue; after all he generated just two swinging strikes and allowed eight flyballs. That outing was good, just don’t assume Porcello is back to his 2016 form. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (2-4, 2B, BB), Matt Duffy (5-13), Brad Miller (11-40, 4 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Rob Refsnyder (1-3), Denard Span (14-38, 4 RBI, 2 BB)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 4/7/18 Starting Lineup

Span LF
Smith RF
Gomez CF
Miller 1B
Duffy 3B
Cron DH
Ramos C
Wendle 2B
Hechavarria SS
Faria RHP

Noteworthiness

— Rays starters have now compiled a sterling 0.86 ERA and yielded one or zero runs in each of the seven games. The offense, however, has been another story. Tampa Bay has scored just 17 runs in the first seven contests.

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