So far the Boston Red Sox seem to invent new ways to lose this season. After dropping three straight to the Texas Rangers that came down to the final pitch, they did it one more time against the Baltimore Orioles. Spot starter Sean Newcomb (0-1, 9.00 ERA) got lit up for 4 runs in the first inning. The Sox managed to rally for three runs but the bullpen that hadn't allowed a run in the first four games reared its ugly head in the bottom of the eighth. Justin Slaten got tagged for four runs to seemingly put the game out of reach. The Sox rallied again for two runs in the top of the ninth and got the tying run to the plate, but Alex Bregman failed to deliver to end the game. The O's sent the Sox to their fourth straight loss 8-5 at Camden Yards.
Povich got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jarren Duran flied out to left to start. Rafael Devers walked and Alex Bregman singled to left, but naturally Rob Refsnyder struck out swinging. Trevor Story struck out swinging to end the inning. Newcomb got the ball in the bottle of the first and crapped his pants. Jordan Westburg singled to center, Adley Rutschman got a base hit to left and old friend Tyler O'Neill singled to left to score Westburg to put the O's up for good just 3 batters into the game. Ryan Mountcastle lopped a base hit to left and Duran did a moonsault on the ball for an error to score Rutschman. Heston Kjerstad took strike three and Ramon Laureano struck out swinging, but Cedric Mullins doubled home O'Neill and Mountcastle to ice the game. Ramon Urias struck out swinging to end the inning with the O's up 4-0.
The Sox rallied in the top of the second as Kristian Campbell walked to start. Romy Gonzalez got a base hit to left but Connor Wong took strike three. Ceddanne Rafaela struck out swinging but Duran tripled into the centerfield gap to cut the lead in half. With a chance to do damage....Devers struck out swinging again to end the inning with the Sox down 4-2.
Jackson Holliday got a base hit to center to start the bottom of the second before he was thrown out trying to steal....but wait! O's manager Brandon Hyde challenged he was safe, but the call stood. Westburg walked but Rutschman hit into a double play to end the inning.
Bregman took strike to start the top of the third before Refsnyder got a base hit to left. Story got a base hit to right and both runners moved over when Laureano threw the ball away for an error. Campbell grounded out to second but Refsnyder scored and Story moved to third. With a chance to tie the game....Gonzalez took strike three to end the inning with the Sox down 4-3.
O'Neill got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the third before Mountcastle walked. Kjerstad took strike three and Laureano grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt to start the top of the fourth as Wong grounded back to the mound to start. Rafaela grounded out to third and Duran grounded out to second to end the inning. Mullins popped up to second to start the bottom of the fourth before Urias singled to left. Holliday banged into a double play to end the inning. That was it for Newcomb who allowed 4 runs in 4 innings, that first inning killed him.
Devers took strike three to start the top of the fifth before Matt Bowman came in to pitch to Bregman. Alex flied out to center but Refsnyder got a base hit to left. Rob stole second but Story struck out swinging to end the inning. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth before Westburg grounded out to third to start. Rutschman struck out swinging but O'Neill doubled to center. Mountcastle flied out to right to end the inning.
Seranthony Dominguez came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Campbell took strike three to start. Gonzalez flied out to right and Wong lined out to second to end the inning. The Lock returned for the bottom of the sixth and Kjerstad popped up to third to begin. Dylan Carlson pinch hit for Laureano and struck out swinging before Mullins grounded out to first to end the inning.
Keegan Akin came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Rafaela flied out to right to start. Duran struck out swinging and Devers completed the hat trick by striking out swinging to end the inning. Greg Weissert came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Urias got a base hit to left to start. Holliday took strike three, Westburg lined out to right and Rutschman flied out to right to end the inning.
Yennier Cano came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Bregman grounded out to short to start. Wilyer Abreu pinch hit for Refsnyder and grounded back to the mound before Story struck out swinging to earn the hat trick to end the inning. Justin Slaten came in to vomit up his intestines in the bottom of the eighth as O'Neill got a base hit to right to start. Mountcastle hit a routine grounder to Bregman who totally faceplanted on the ground allowing both runners to advance on the error. Kjerstad did the honors with a base hit to left to score O'Neill. Jorge Mateo came in to run for Kjerstad and promptly stole second base. Carlson walked to load the bases and that was it for Slaten. Cooper Criswell was brought in to pull the Houdini and he failed. Mullins singled to center to score both Mountcastle and Mateo to ice the game. It looked like Urias hit into a double play, but the umpires looked at BOTH calls and kept the out at first, but not the force at second. Holliday singled to nleft to score Carlson but was forced at second by Westburg. Rutschman lined out to second to end the inning with the O's ahead 8-3.
With the game out of reach, the Sox suddenly rallied with Felix Bautista on the mound in the top of the ninth. Campbell drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Gonzalez doubled to left to score Kristian but Wong grounded out to short. Triston Casas pinch hit for Rafaela and naturally grounded out to first. Somehow Duran singled to left to score Gonzalez and Devers drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. With the game on the line....Bregman popped up to third to end it. The O's had won 8-5.
O's win
Jackass of The Night is Alex Bregman. He made a key error in the eighth inning to allow Baltimore to rally and failed to extend the game in the ninth.
Nice one, Jackass
Jackass of The Night is Alex Bregman. He made a key error in the eighth inning to allow Baltimore to rally and failed to extend the game in the ninth.
The Good:
Jarren Duran was 2 for 5 with 3 rbis.
Rob Refsnyder was 2 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Kristian Campbell walked twice in four plate appearances, drove in a run and scored twice.
Romy Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 scoreless innings.
Greg Weissert tossed a scoreless inning.
The Bad:
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Connor Wong was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Triston Casas was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Sean Newcomb took the loss allowing 4 runs in 4 innings. He allowed 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.
Justin Slaten was charged with 4 earned runs without recording an out.
The Ugly:
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked twice.
Trevor Story was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Cooper Criswell allowed 3 inherited runners to score but none of his own in an inning of work.
Final Thoughts:
Who would have thought the strength of the team last year would be its achillies heel to start this year? Devers, Story, Casas, Wong, Bregman and Rafaela have been borderline useless so far at the plate but most, if not all, will turn it around eventually. Still, starting the season 1-4 sucks and the bats not being there is the biggest reason. The Sox being down 3 starting pitchers doesn't help, but apart from the bullpen meltdown today, can't really blame the pitching for the start they've had. If anything everyone but Justin Slaten didn't allow a run in the first 5 games. Still, hopefully the Sox bats will warm up come April because this is going to be a LONG year if this team goes 1992 on us. There are a few silver linings like The Lock looking healthy again, Campbell and Abreu playing well and the running game appears to be back. Just have to get 6 out of the 9 bats going....god help us. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox look to break their four game losing streak this Wednesday night in Baltimore. Garrett Crochet (0-0, 3.60 ERA) takes on Zach Eflin of Baltimore. The game begins at 6:35 PM at Camden Yards.
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