If the Red Sox are going to begin beating groups within the division on a constant foundation, they should cease beating themselves first.
In one more loss to an American League East group on Wednesday night time, the Red Sox continued that worrying theme. On an evening when there was no room for error as they went up towards Rays ace Shane McClanahan, too many errors as soon as once more doomed them in a 4-1 defeat at Tropicana Field. Boston has dropped three consecutive video games and might want to win Thursday night time’s finale to keep away from a sweep.
With the loss, the Red Sox misplaced their ninth collection in 10 towards the division, with the opposite being the break up with the Yankees over the weekend. They’re 11-23 this season towards A.L. East groups.
The takeaways:
1. Red Sox battle to capitalize on McClanahan
As anticipated, offensive alternatives have been at a premium towards McClanahan, who’s an early Cy Young favourite and appears like a simple selection to begin for the American League in subsequent week’s All-Star Game. He struck out six over 6 1/3 innings and allowed only one run on Wednesday, however the Red Sox threw away their probabilities to do injury.
The hardest sequence got here within the fourth, when Rafael Devers smoked a one-out double to proper because the Red Sox tried to rally from 2-0 down. But on the subsequent pitch, he was thrown out. Facing J.D. Martinez, McClanahan’s pitch squirted away from catcher Francisco Mejia. Devers took off for third, however he made a mistake on his learn. The ball didn’t get far sufficient away from Mejia, who recovered to dig it out of the filth and throw Devers out at third.
It was a nasty out to make underneath any circumstances, however particularly with a pitcher nearly as good as McClanahan on the mound with considered one of their greatest hitters on the plate. Devers can be nursing a sore again, and Alex Cora doesn’t need his star pushing it.
The Red Sox’ solely run got here within the fifth, however they might have had extra. Xander Bogaerts and Alex Verdugo singled to place runners on first and third with no outs, however Christian Vazquez grounded out right into a double play, which scored Bogaerts however ruined the rally. Boston didn’t threaten once more.
2. An inexcusable mistake
On Monday night time, defensive lapses sealed a Red Sox loss. Alex Verdugo was picked off third in a crucial spot in Tuesday’s ugly defeat. Wednesday, a scarcity of fundamentals value the Red Sox one other run.
Trailing 3-1 within the seventh, Jake Diekman’s struggles continued as he walked Josh Lowe. But with two outs, the protection behind him let him down. Yandy Diaz hit a pointy grounder that rolled previous a diving Jeter Downs at second, after which Lowe caught the Red Sox asleep. Rob Refsnyder was too gradual getting the ball again into the infield. Downs was seemingly nowhere to be discovered as a cutoff man, forcing Refsynder to throw the ball throughout the sphere to Bogaerts, who let the ball bounce by him. An alert Lowe took full benefit as he went all the way in which from first to attain on the play.
3. Walks value Winckowski once more
Josh Winckowski was efficient over six innings as he struck out 5 and gave up three runs on 4 hits. But after going through Gerrit Cole final Friday, the rookie was up towards top-of-the-line pitchers within the league for a second consecutive begin. His room for error was slim, and walks got here again to hang-out him once more.
After two shutout innings to begin the sport, Winckowski struggled within the third. It began with a four-pitch leadoff stroll to No. 8 hitter Lowe, then No. 9 hitter Mejia singled. That invited hassle, and a group nearly as good because the Rays capitalized. Ji-Man Choi hit an RBI single earlier than Harold Ramirez hit a bloop single over Bobby Dalbec’s head to place Tampa up, 2-0, and that proved to be the distinction.
Source: www.bostonherald.com