Red Sox Reactions: Roman Anthony's Debut Overshadowed by 4-for-23 with RISP.Duongnhung

BOSTON — Rapid reactions from the Red Sox’ 10-8, 11-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays:

1) Another day, another close loss. This one wasn’t by a single run, surprisingly. But it extended the team’s struggles in extra innings. The Sox are now 4-8 in extra frames. It was a familiar script in other ways, too — the Red Sox fell behind early, gamely staged a valiant comeback effort, scoring twice in the ninth to knot the score, but ultimately came up short in extra innings. The two teams traded runs in the 10th, but in the 11th, Zack Kelly walked in the go-ahead run and the Rays added another on an infield single to first. It’s not as though the home team didn’t have opportunities. But the Sox stranded 14, were just 4-for-23 with runners in scoring position. And naturally, they made two errors.

2) Since the start of the season, Brennan Bernardino has been one of the Red Sox’ most dependable — and durable — relievers. But Monday night wasn’t his night. Bernardino came on in the seventh with one on and one out. But in quick order, he allowed a run-scoring double, threw away a pickoff attempt, tossed a wild pitch that resulted in another run and finally, an RBI-single to center.

3) Roman Anthony, of course, will never forget his major league debut. But he might want to forget the results. In his first game, Anthony was 0-for-4 with a walk and RBI; but in right field, Anthony overran a ground ball hit to him in the fifth, and what should have been a single for Yandy Diaz resulted in a baserunner scoring all the way from first while Diaz ended up on third base with a two-base error on the rookie’s part.

4) Brayan Bello was charged with four runs — three earned — over 6.1 innings and was left with a no-decision but turned in one of his better outings of the season. He was more efficient than he’s been for much of the season, with just 70 pitches needed through the first six innings. But he also had some slippages, including hitting No. 9 hitter Danny Jansen with one out in the fifth, leading directly to a run.

5) Alex Cora has leaned into platoon matchups as he deals with a limited roster and one paid off big time for him in the sixth inning. With lefty-hitting Marcelo Mayer due against Tampa southpaw Garrett Cleavinger, Cora sent up right-handed hitting Romy Gonzalez to pinch hit. Gonzalez drilled a cue shot down the right field line for a two-run double. Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised: Gonzalez is 4-for-5 with a walk as a pinch-hitter this season. The four pinch-hits put him in a first-place tie for the most in the AL this season.

6) Shortstop Trevor Story continues to show signs of life at the plate. Following a hot series in New York where he hit a homer Sunday and had a three-hit, five RBI night Saturday. In his return home, Story had two hits in four trips, with the second single, in the seventh inning, plating a run.

7) Incredibly, Connor Wong is still without an RBI after more than two months. Wong had a couple of chances to change that, but came up empty both times. In the second, he came to the plate in the second with the bases loaded and two outs and grounded out to second. In fifth, with runners at the corners and no out, he hit a topper to short that enabled Marcelo Mayer to score from third. But because the play resulted in a double play, Wong was not credited with an RBI.

8) It wouldn’t be a Red Sox game without some sloppy defensive play. In addition to Anthony’s costly error in right, Jarren Duran juggled a ball in left when he might have had a shot at throwing out the baserunner. He was not charged with an error. Then there was the throwing error for Bernardino — his fourth, leading all AL pitchers — and the wild pitch.

9) In the middle game of the three-game series with the Rays, the pitching matchup will feature RHP Lucas Giolito (1-1, 6.42) vs. Tampa Bay RHP Ryan Pepiot (3-5, 3.20) at 7:10 pm. at Fenway.