With every week to go earlier than the commerce deadline and the Red Sox on the cusp of the playoff image, these last video games in July needs to be a very good alternative for the entrance workplace to study one thing concerning the roster.
But these Red Sox don’t have a lot to disclose, nor did they, in a deflating 8-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday evening.
The loss pushed the Sox again to .500 (49-49) and, paired with one other win from the upstart Orioles, despatched the Sox to the basement of the American League East for the primary time since May 15. They’re now 3-1/2 video games again within the Wild Card race.
With half the crew on the injured listing, the Sox’ nightly lineups proceed to resemble these utilized in Fort Myers throughout Grapefruit League motion.
The Sox known as up Jaylin Davis and Yolmer Sanchez from Triple-A Worcester over the weekend and began Davis in heart area and Sanchez at second base on Tuesday. Rob Refsnyder was enjoying proper area.
These are the very best choices the Sox have proper now.
Rookie beginning pitcher Josh Winckowski returned from a bout with COVID-19 and appeared rusty, if not fatigued, as he slung low-90s fastballs into the backs and bats of Guardians hitters. He recorded solely 9 outs and gave up 5 runs, together with three on a large blast by Nolan Jones that put Cleveland up 5-0 within the third inning.
It was a less-than-fitting solution to have a good time David Ortiz’s Hall of Fame induction at Fenway Park, the place legends of the previous joined Ortiz for a particular pre-game ceremony.
In a brief speech to the gang, Ortiz proclaimed that he was the Sox’ good luck allure.
They’ll want greater than luck to get again into the playoff race. They’ll want motion, they usually wanted it yesterday, notably at first base and nook outfield, the place they rank within the backside of the league in offensive manufacturing.
The Sox entered Tuesday ranked twenty ninth in fWAR at first base (-1.1 WAR) and twenty seventh within the outfield (0.5 WAR).
Bobby Dalbec was 0-for-4 to decrease his common to .200, proper on the Mendoza Line.
Only within the third inning did the Red Sox offense present indicators of life.
Davis hit a leadoff double and Refsnyder was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Xander Bogaerts drove in a run with an RBI single. J.D. Martinez was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Christian Vazquez singled to left to attain another.
With bases loaded and just one out, it was the Sox’ probability to capitalize. Instead, backup catcher Kevin Plawecki, hitting sixth on this depleted lineup, flew out to proper area and Bogaerts was doubled up attempting to tag from third.
Bogaerts, who shouldn’t be thought of a commerce candidate earlier than the deadline, based on crew officers who spoke publicly on Tuesday, tried scoring with a head-first slide and appeared to sneak below the tag, however the umpiring crew confirmed the out name with replay assessment and the Sox’ menace was over.
It was laborious responsible Bogaerts for attempting to make one thing occur together with his legs. Had he stayed on third, the subsequent batter was Yolmer Sanchez, who has spent a lot of the yr within the minors and has a profession .660 OPS.
Sanchez then made an ill-advised behind-the-back throw to aim a double-play flip and price the Sox two runs within the fourth inning.
Fenway Park was half-empty when it got here time to sing “Sweet Caroline” within the eighth. Bogaerts led off the underside of the inning with a double off the Green Monster and scored on a double by Kevin Plawecki.
Bogaerts had three hits; the opposite eight Red Sox hitters mixed for 4.
That was all from the Red Sox on this one, one other monotone loss for a crew that has appeared lifeless on most nights in July, after they’ve gone 6-16 with an MLB-worst 6.69 ERA and an MLB-worst 20 errors whereas scoring simply 3.7 runs per recreation.
Source: www.bostonherald.com