When J.D. Martinez, harmlessly and with little suspense, popped a well-placed Matt Wisler slider to right field with the tying run on third base for the final out of yet another loss to the Rays Sunday, it felt like the first time this season that the Red Sox have failed to conjure a win when they’ve desperately needed one.
Not that there have been many moments of worry so far this season. The Told-Ya-They’d-Stink brigade took their victory lap after the Sox looked miserable in opening the season with three straight losses to the Orioles. The Sox won their next nine, including a sweep of the Rays.