For most of 115 seasons, Fenway Park’s quirky dimensions have sparked explosive Red Sox offenses. But the traditional formula of a made-for-Fenway lineup that rattled balls off and over the Wall has been nowhere in sight this season.
On Thursday, the Sox returned off the high of a three-game sweep in Detroit only to fall flat against the Rays in an 8-4 loss. The Sox managed just seven hits — six singles, and one wind-blown pop-up-turned-double to shallow right-center — as they dropped to 6-11 at home.
The Sox rank 26th in the big leagues in home batting average (.222), 26th in on-base (.302), 28th in runs per game (3.1), are tied for last in home runs (7), and are dead last in slugging percentage (.320). It’s not hard to see temperatures rising in an offense that expects more of itself — or among the 33,961 patrons who voiced their displeasure with boos at the end of the contest.
Read more from Alex Speier at BostonGlobe.com/Sports. | 
