

BOSTON — It was a bad night at the ballpark for the Red Sox.

Not only did the Red Sox suffer a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, extending Boston’s losing streak to four games. But they also watched as their talented left fielder, Hanley Ramirez, walked off the field in pain in the first inning after slamming into the wall along the left field line at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox, who fell under .500 for the first time all season Sunday after being swept by the New York Yankees, need to right the ship soon. Boston is in the midst of a tough, 22-game stretch against American League East foes and can’t afford to pile up losses.

GAME IN A WORD

Painful.

Ramirez has been Boston’s biggest power threat this season, so him going down with an injury in the first inning was a scary sight regardless of whether the outfielder misses any time. The team announced shortly after Ramirez exited the contest that he suffered a left shoulder sprain.

The Red Sox have been struggling to find a winning formula of late. They can’t afford to lose Ramirez, especially with Boston suddenly struggling to score runs.

IT WAS OVER WHEN…

The Red Sox again dug themselves an early hole.

Ramirez’s injury seemed to throw Clay Buchholz off his game in the first inning, as the Boston starter surrendered three consecutive hits after opening the game with back-to-back outs. Evan Longoria doubled home James Loney for the game’s first run, and David DeJesus gave the Rays a 2-0 lead with an RBI single.

The hole grew deeper in the second inning when Joey Butler launched a two-run homer to give Tampa Bay a 4-0 advantage. The homer was the first of Butler’s career.

The Red Sox’s offense couldn’t fight back.

IN THE BATTER’S BOX

— Brock Holt and Xander Bogaerts combined for Boston’s lone run.

Holt and Bogaerts produced back-to-back triples in the second inning. Bogaerts’ triple, which knocked in the run, was a line drive down the right field line that scooted past Steven Souza Jr., who lifted his glove too early while trying to retrieve the baseball.

— Holt also doubled, elevating his average to .365.

— Pablo Sandoval has been raking this homestand, but he had a tough night.

Sandoval grounded into a double play in the sixth inning after the first two batters reached. He also struck out looking in the second inning.

— Allen Craig went 1-for-4 upon replacing Ramirez in left field. He struck out twice.

— The Red Sox went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

ON THE BUMP

— Clay Buchholz somehow managed to last into the seventh inning after a disastrous start to the game.

Buchholz allowed four runs on five hits, including a homer, and a hit batter over the first two innings. He buckled down from there and ended up being charged with five earned runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out seven, walked two and threw 107 pitches (67 strikes).

The outing pretty much was a microcosm of Buchholz’s season (and career): up and down.

— Junichi Tazawa, who started the season with an eight-appearance scoreless streak, continues to endure some hiccups.

Tazawa entered the contest having allowed runs in three of his last four outings. He kept the Rays off the scoreboard Monday, but he walked two and surrendered a single in the seventh inning — enabling a run charged to Buchholz to score — before escaping a bases-loaded jam.

Tazawa needed 29 pitches to record two outs.

TWEET OF THE GAME

He’s the ace.

[tweet https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/595387087928565760 align=’center’%5D

UP NEXT

The Red Sox and Rays will do it again Tuesday. Rick Porcello is scheduled to face Drew Smyly in the middle game as Boston looks to snap its four-game losing streak.

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images