All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 10-4 loss to the Angels, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Brasier meltdown does in Sox: Ryan Brasier came into the game in the eighth inning, with the Red Sox leading by a run and just six outs away from closing to within 4.5 games of the second wild-card spot. But by the end of the inning, Brasier had given up five hits, blown the lead and watched as the Angels went up 7-4. (Later, after Brasier left, Josh Smith gave up a three-run homer to Albert Pujols). It was the 26th blown save of the season for the Sox bullpen and second in as many nights. (The Sox coughed up a two-run lead in the ninth Friday night, but came back to win the game in the 15th). Since being promoted back from Pawtucket, Brasier has appeared in seven games before Saturday night and allowed just two hits and one run in seven innings. But Saturday, Brasier's location was poor as he continually left pitches out over the middle and paid the price with predictable results. "He just wasn't able to execute,'' offered Alex Cora.
Martinez continues to rake: J.D. Martinez has been the hottest hitter in the league for the last few weeks, and that didn't change Saturday night. In the first inning, he doubled home Mookie Betts for the first Red Sox run of the night. In the third inning, it was more of the same, with Martinez singling Betts home from third. Those two plate appearances produced two RBI, giving Martinez 17 RBI in the seven games on this road trip. But this isn't just a hot week -- Martinez has knocked in 41 runs in his last 39 games. On the current trip, the Sox have been getting very little from a slumping Rafael Devers (6-for-31, two RBI) and the bottom of the half of the Red Sox lineup hasn't been very productive. Martinez's hot streak over the last month has at times carried the Boston offense. On Saturday, through no fault of Martinez, it wasn't enough.
Sox get bunt happy: In a real departure from their usual approach, the Red Sox got down two successful sacrifice bunts Saturday and attempted a third, too, with the Angels committing an error on the try. In the fourth inning, with the game tied 3-3 and Brock Holt on board after a leadoff double, Sandy Leon pushed a bunt up the first baseline, advancing Holt to third, from where he scored when Betts followed with a sacrifice fly. In the eighth inning, leading by a run, the Sox had baserunners at first and second with no outs when Andrew Benintendi laid down a bunt to third, which succeeded in moving both runners into scoring position. But after a walk to load the bases, a double play ended the inning and the Sox didn't score. In all likelihood, Cora was playing for a run at a time, knowing that he navigate a tightrope on a bullpen game.
TURNING POINT
In that fateful eighth, Brock Holt, one of the team's better hitters in clutch situations, came to the plate with two down and the bases loaded. A single would have broken the game open and given the Sox a three-run lead. Instead, Holt bounced into a rally-killing 4-6-3 inning-ending double play and the Angels were out of a huge jam.
ONE DOWN
Brian Johnson: As the Red Sox attempted to piece together a bullpen game, it didn't begin well for Brian Johnson, who allowed two runs to the first five hitters he faced. But Johnson made some nice adjustments and retired 10 in a row, including three straight innings in which the Angles were set down 1-2-3.
ONE DOWN
Marco Hernandez: For the second straight night, Hernandez came off the bench to hit for Sam Travis when the Angels went to a righty reliever. On Saturday, Hernandez came up twice in the final two innings and went hitless, stranding four baserunners.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It's my job to be ready and go out there and perform and I didn't get the job done.'' Ryan Brasier, when asked how difficult it was for so many relievers to pitch on back-to-back nights.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- The Red Sox saw their streak of hitting a homer stop at 19 games, the second-longest streak in franchise history.
- Martinez extended his hitting streak to eight straight games.
- The seven runs allowed by the Boston bullpen in the eighth inning were the most runs allowed in any eighth inning for the Sox this season.