Chris Archer, pictured warming up prior to the game, celebrated Fenway Park's 104th birthday by allowing six runs over 4-1/3 innings of work. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Chris Archer, pictured warming up prior to the game, celebrated Fenway Park’s 104th birthday by allowing six runs over 4-1/3 innings of work. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Chris Archer’s tough 2016 campaign continued on Wednesday, as the Red Sox plated three runs before an out was even recorded.  All told, Archer allowed six earned runs on eight hits over 4-1/3 innings en route to a 7-3 loss by the Tampa Bay Rays against the Red Sox.

There really isn’t much to say about the game. Sure, the Rays had scoring opportunities a plenty, however, they went 1-7 wRISP as they’re wont to do. And if it wasn’t for a sixth inning, two-run blast off the bat of Corey Dickerson, the score wouldn’t have even been within a slam of a tie.

The real story was Archer, who failed to make it through the sixth inning for the fourth consecutive start. He is now 0-7 with a 6.39 ERA in his last 10 starts (dating back to August 2015).

location.php-pitchSel=502042&game=gid_2016_04_20_tbamlb_bosmlb_1&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1
Chris Archer strike zone plot. (Credit: Brooks Baseball)
Chris Archer strike zone plot by pitch type. (Credit: Brooks Baseball)
Chris Archer strike zone plot by pitch type. (Credit: Brooks Baseball)

Archer again lacked command of his pitches, and he was all over the zone because of it. Meanwhile, the Red Sox ― anticipating a pitcher who may be lacking confidence ― pounded the mistakes the Rays ace left in the zone.

Archer quickly fell behind 15-of-the-23 batters he faced, only collecting eight first pitch strikes. Down in the count early, the righty was forced to throw within the zone and Boston responded in kind. Archer missed high with his fastball, while his slider lacked depth for the fourth consecutive start. In four career starts at Fenway, the righty has never gone more than five innings pitched.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said there were no physical or mechanical issues with Archer, just a lack of execution. Cash acknowledged that Archer, “Might just be in a little bit of a rut.”

The New What Next

Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 2.41 ERA) will get the start for Tampa Bay in the series finale on Thursday. He posted seven shutout innings in his last start on Friday against the Chicago White Sox. Former Ray David Price (2-0, 4.50) will toe the rubber opposite of Odorizzi. It’ll be his fourth career start against the Rays. Price is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in his previous three. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 4/21/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Guyer LF
Longoria 3B
Pearce 1B
Jennings DH
Souza RF
Beckham SS
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

— As expected, both Steve Pearce and Brandon Guyer are in the lineup vs. the left-handed David Price.

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