The Red Sox appeared to have preserved their season for a while. It seems to be going away once more now.
The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox 9-0 on Friday, resulting in the team’s sixth consecutive defeat. With just three at-bats with runners in scoring position and a 0 for 3 record, the lineup only produced four hits and never came close to maintaining any kind of offensive rhythm.
The Red Sox are currently 40-43 and three games below.500 as a result. The team has regained almost all of the ground it gained during its mid-June hot streak.
Regarding the team’s recent difficulties, especially offensively, Cora stated, “It’s been going on for a while, even before the road trip, we grinded some games, winning 2-0, 3-1, and that’s part of the season, you’re going to do that.” However, we need to improve.
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The team’s six-game losing skid is the longest Boston has had this season and since the Red Sox’s six-game losing streak from September 21–26, 2022. Since 2020, when the team suffered nine straight losses from August 10–18, the Red Sox have not dropped seven or more games in a row.
Outfielder Jarren Duran admitted that the team has been pressing after the game.
“We’re putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to score a lot of runs every day, and when we’re playing at our best, we’re just passing the baton and stringing at bats together,” Duran said. Additionally, it seems to me that we are currently searching for that one huge hit, such as a home run.
He subsequently added, “It feels a little tense right now, but that’s just part of it.” At the moment, we’re grinding.
After Brayan Bello secured two quick outs in the first inning, the Blue Jays broke the ice by getting three consecutive baserunners against the Red Sox starter. After stealing second base and singled, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. eventually came home to score on an RBI single by George Springer.
After a close play at the plate, Guerrero was first ruled out, but the call was later overturned on review, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead.
From then, Toronto continued to put pressure on the ball, getting two men on to start the second inning before Bo Bichette singled for an RBI to increase the lead. By the end of the inning, Bello had already thrown fifty-two pitches, and in the third, an RBI single from Ernie Clement gave the Blue Jays another run.
Connor Wong’s inning-ending pickoff to nail Andres Gimenez at first allowed Bello to escape without more damage despite three hits in the frame.
Despite being ineffective for extended periods of time, Bello managed to record his fifth consecutive strong start. Despite retiring nine of the last 11 batters he faced, he gave up three runs on eight hits, two walks, and just one strikeout.
Through translator Carlos Villoria Ben tez, Bello stated, “Obviously, I didn’t have my best stuff today; I was battling out there, fighting every single batter.” Additionally, I was able to get quick outs in the second half of the game, even if the first couple of innings were lengthy.
“Look at the scoreboard, one bad day, that should be you right there, you did a good job for us,” Cora remarked of Bello following the outing. It was six innings, three runs, but there was a lot of traffic and it appeared worse than it was.
As has frequently happened in recent years, the offensive was the problem.
The Red Sox have averaged 3.1 runs per game over their previous nine games since dealing Rafael Devers to San Francisco on June 15. This has put them fourth in MLB during that time, behind only the Royals, Guardians, and Athletics. The lineup put up little of a fight against Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios on Friday, which was more of the same.
Over seven scoreless innings, Berrios hammered Boston for eight strikeouts, drew 14 Red Sox whiffs, and gave up four hits and a walk. Roman Anthony’s ground rule double in the first and Ceddanne Rafaela’s single and subsequent walk to second base in the fifth were the only two baserunners from Boston to reach first base against the Blue Jays starter.
The Red Sox never had a chance other from that.
With two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth, Toronto increased its lead to 9-0. Brennan Bernardino was mostly responsible for the five walks that were given during those two innings. Eight walks were given by the Red Sox pitching staff as a whole, which is the third time the team has permitted as many free passes this week.
The team had only done so once this season before June 20.
Not very good. “We preach getting ahead, staying ahead, and first pitch strikes, and we haven’t done that,” Cora stated. Giving extra outs will cost you at this level when it comes to defense, and the same is true for walks.
The Blue Jays ended up outhitting the Red Sox 16–4 after position player Nate Eaton threw the top of the ninth for Boston. When Lucas Giolito (3-1, 4.53) takes the mound against Chris Bassitt (7-3, 3.61) on Saturday, the Red Sox will try to rally and end their losing streak. Toronto now leads Boston 6-2 in the season series.
Duran remarked, “I’m not too worried about this group.” We are aware of our capabilities and know how to recover.
