Frustrated Red Sox catcher ‘put in a bat order’ with equipment manager after just missing 2 homers

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Catcher Mickey Gasper hit two deep fly balls that looked like home runs off the bat Tuesday, but both were caught at the wall in the Red Sox’ 4-3 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Rays right fielder Austin Slater leaped up against the wall to catch Gasper’s 338-foot drive to lead off the fifth inning with Boston down 3-1.

Slater then caught Gasper’s 345-foot fly-out that ended the seventh inning right in front of the wall. It came with a runner at second base and Boston down 4-1.

“I thought I got them both, honestly,” Gasper said. “I just put in a bat order with (equipment manager/home clubhouse manager) Tommy (McLaughlin) because I’m pretty frustrated with the wood I got.”

The drive during the fifth inning would have been a home run in eight of 30 major league ballparks. His fly-out in the seventh would have been a home run in 16 of 30 major league ballparks.

“The (first) one I felt a hair on the bottom of the barrel, but I knew I spun it right,” Gasper said. “I’ve seen that ball go out before. And then the second one, I really thought that was going over the fence.”

Both long outs came against Rays starter Nick Martinez, who pitched seven-plus innings and beat the Red Sox for the second time this season.

“I hit the ball hard. Only matters if it finds grass,” Gasper said. “I wasn’t able to do that tonight.”

The Red Sox dropped to a season-high 11 games under .500 at 27-38. Gasper has been one of the few bright spots, batting .284.

“I felt like I had a good game-plan against Martinez,” Gasper said.

The Red Sox cut the deficit to one run in the eighth inning. Caleb Durbin and Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit back-to-back singles to open the inning.

Marcelo Mayer‘s two-run double down the first base line made it 4-3, knocking Martinez out of the game.

Righty reliever Kevin Kelly took over for Martinez. Jarren Duran grounded out to first base, advancing Mayer to third base with one out. But Ceddanne Rafaela hit a groundout to second base with the infield drawn in for the second out. Wilyer Abreu then grounded out to shortstop to end the inning with Boston still trailing.

Boston dropped to 1-32 when trailing after seven innings and 0-35 when trailing after eight innings.

“It’s incredibly frustrating,” Gasper said. “We’re all trying to help the team win. We’re knocking at the door every night. As much as it is frustrating, it’s not bringing us down. We’re still coming out and putting in our work before the game. And we’re trying to execute a game-plan. I think we’re doing a great job. We’re coming up a little short right now, and the only thing you can do is look in the mirror and (ask), ‘How do I help the team?’ If 26 guys do that, they get you in a good spot.”

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