Boston Red Sox

Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster had a so-so outing Wednesday night at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. Dempster had a quality start, but still suffered the defeat. 

Dempster fell to 4-8 on the year for Boston with a 4.23 ERA as he allowed three earned runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings. He threw 108 pitches and struck out three batters. Dempster was hurt by a Desmond Jennings solo homer in the first.

The Boston bullpen only allowed the Rays' lead to widen after Dempster left the game. The 36-year-old has lost back-to-back outings despite giving up just five runs over 13 2/3 innings over that stretch. He pitched worse in the two previous outings, but won both of those.

Dempster has struggled this season, but does at least consistently give Boston innings. He is expected to make his next scheduled startTuesday against Colorado. 

Red Sox catcher David Ross, who was just placed on the seven-day disabled list for concussions Tuesday, will visit a concussion specialist Thursday in Pittsburgh. Ross will be seeing Dr. Mickey Collins, the Boston Herald reports. 

Ross took a ball off the mask in his last start and suffered headaches. He went on the concussion disabled list for the second time. He's batting .185 over 65 at-bats. 

Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia found himself back in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays after catching both games of Tuesday's doubleheader. He's caught five straight games with David Ross (concussion) back on the disabled list.

Saltalamacchia enters play Wednesday mired in a 2-for-22 slump in his last six games. However, he's batting .278 (15 for 54) with three home runs, four doubles and 10 RBI in 14 June games.

The Red Sox announced Wednesday they signed prospect Trey Ball, who was the seventh overall selection in the 2013 MLB draft. Ball, who signed a national letter of intent to play at the University of Texas, was the Gatorade Indiana baseball player of the year. 

Ball finished his senior season with a 0.76 ERA and 93 strikeouts for New Castle. He averaged 14.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He also hit .320 with 10 home runs. 

During his weekly radio appearance on WEEI, Red Sox manager John Farrell said Wednesday reliever Andrew Bailey will remain the closer "for the time being." Bailey has been struggling lately, recording two blown saves and an 11.25 ERA in his last four appearances. 

"Andrew Bailey is our closer, and yet we fully recognize that we have some work to do with him," Farrell said. "Right now, what has plagued him is that fastball has been up to his arm side, where left-handers have hurt him with the long ball. So getting him down in the strike zone consistently. And I think more than anything is just getting the breaking ball over in either the first pitch or fastball counts. But for the time being, he is definitely our closer."