Its only four games but what in the hell is wrong with the Boston Red Sox offense? The much maligned designated hitter Rafael Devers has done anything but hit to start the season and the others haven't been much better. Today the Sox got dropped for the third straight game by the Texas Rangers in a game they could have won with better clutch hitting. "Big" Dick Fitts (0-1, 4.50 ERA) cruised through 5 innings and the Sox took a 2-1 lead on another rbi by Wilyer Abreu and an error. Then Fitts allowed two home runs in the top of the sixth to Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia. The Sox had two men on in the eighth inning but Connor Wong was rung up to end the threat. The Sox had two men on in the top of the ninth but Alex Bregman whiffed to end the game. The Sox had dropped three of four to the Rangers including this game 3-2.
Jake deGrom got the ball in the top of the first inning for Texas and Jarren Duran flied out to left to start. Rafael Devers grounded out to first and Alex Bregman grounded out to short to end the inning. "Big" Dick Fitts got the ball in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien flied out to left to start. Wyatt Langford hit a ball that Alex Bregman jumped in front of David Hamilton to field and damn near threw it away. It was ruled as an infield hit and Joc Pederson flied out to center and Adolis Garcia flied out to the right field wall to end the inning.
Triston Casas flied out to center to start the top of the second but Kristian Campbell beat out a double down the right field line. Wilyer Abreu drew a walk but Connor Wong popped up to first in foul territory. Hamilton lined out to center to end the inning, once again leaving two men on. The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the second inning as Jake Burger beat out a roller off the glove of Fitts to start. Kyle Higashioka ripped a base hit to left and Leody Taveras got a base hit to left to load the bases with nobody out. Somehow Jonathan Ornelas struck out swinging and Duran made a great sliding catch to rob Ezequiel Duran, although Burger scored to put Texas on top. Semien grounded out to third to end the inning with the Rangers up 1-0.
Ceddanne Rafaela got a base hit to right to start the top of the third. Rafaela stole second and once again with a runner in scoring positon, Duran struck out swinging. Devers grounded out weakly to first to move Rafaela to third and Bregman struck out swinging to end the inning, another runner left in scoring position. Langford flied out to left to start the bottom of the third before Pederson lined out to short. Garcia grounded out to short to end the inning.
Casas struck out swinging on a straight fastball right down the middle to start the top of the fourth. Campbell struck out swinging but Abreu walked. Abreu stole second and Wong struck out swinging to end the inning with yet another runner left in scoring position. Burger flied out to right to start the bottom of the fourth before Higashioka shattered his bat on a grounder to third. Fitts froze Taveras for strike three to end the inning.
Hamilton popped up to left to start the top of the fifth before Rafaela grounded out to short. Duran got plunked and Devers swung and missed at strike three in the dirt to end the inning with yet another runner left on base. Ornelas struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth before Duran struck out swinging. Semien grounded out to third to end the inning with Fitts at just 57 pitches.
Shawn Armstrong came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Bregman popped up to second to start. Casas drew a walk but was forced at second by Campbell. Abreu slapped a double just inside the left field line to score Campbell with the tying run. Wong hit a routine grounder to third but Burger dropped the throw from Duran for an error to score Abreu with the go-ahead run. Wong looked to have been thrown out at second but the umpire ruled him safe. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy failed to call for a review in time so the stolen base was upheld. Didn't matter as Hamilton was rung up for strike three to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.
The lead lasted exactly one pitch as Langford hit a home run all the way to Cuba to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Pederson grounded out to third and Garcia hit a home run all the way into the Red Sea to put the Rangers up for good. Burger grounded out to short and Higashioka grounded out to short as well to end the inning with the Rangers up 3-2. Defying all logic, that was it for Fitts who was dealing until those home runs. He went 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out four.
Robert Garcia came in to pitch the top of the seventh but Rafaela lined out to center to start. Duran flied out to left and Devers took strike three to end the inning. Justin Wilson came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Taveras struck out swinging to start. Ornelas' bunt attempt was snuffed out by Wilson and Duran grounded out to third to end the inning.
Chris Martin came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Bregman got a base hit to right to start. Bregman stole second and moved to third on the grounder to short by Casas, but Campbell struck out swinging. Abreu was intentionally walked and with a chance to take the lead.....Wong took strike three to end the inning. Justin Slaten came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Semien popped up to short to start. Langford flied out to right and Pederson flied out to left to end the inning.
Luke Jackson came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Hamilton popped up to third to start. Rafaela grounded out to short but Duran smacked a double to left. Devers walked and Sox manager Alex Cora sent in Trevor Story to run for Devers. With a chance to tie the game...Bregman struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had lost their third straight game 3-2.
Jackass of The Night is Connor Wong. He was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts including leaving two men on in the eighth inning.
The Good:
Wilyer Abreu was 1 for 1 with 3 walks, an rbi and a run scored.
Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Justin Slaten pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
David Hamilton was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but was hit with a pitch.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drew a walk.
Alex Bregman was just 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts but stole a base.
Triston Casas was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but drew a walk.
Kristian Campbell was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 4 but stole a base.
Richard Fitts took the loss but tossed 6 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 6 hits but struck out 4.
Honorable Mention:
Trevor Story pinch ran for Rafael Devers in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
This team is gonna drive us all to drink. If you told me before the season started that the Red Sox bullpen wouldn't allow a run in all four games yet lose the series, I would have laughed at you. Offense was not the problem last year but they can't hit the broad side of a barn with men on base so far this year. Its not just Devers that's struggling, everyone not named Abreu or Campbell is struggling. Fitts looked good today and one more run would have gotten him off the hook. The Sox will hit soon, but starting the season 1-3 sucks. Worst part is Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer both had great games for Worcester today. They're chomping at the bit to get up to Boston, if people don't start hitting, someone will be up sooner rather than later. Sean Newcomb makes his Sox debut tomorrow afternoon in a three game set with the Baltimore Orioles against Cade Povich. The game begins at 3:05 PM at Camden Yards.
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